Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Representative Leila de Lima condemned recent statements made by Senator Rodante Marcoleta and his son, SAGIP Party-list Representative Paolo Marcoleta, regarding the West Philippine Sea (WPS), calling their position “disturbing and out of line.”
According to a report by RH Milky Rigonan, De Lima, who serves as deputy minority leader of the House of Representatives urged her fellow lawmakers, national leaders, and the Filipino people to unite in defending the country’s sovereignty and maritime rights.
“That is disturbing and out of line,” De Lima said.
“Nananawagan tayo sa mga kapwa natin mambabatas, at sa lahat ng ating mga lider at kapwa Pilipino, magkaisa tayo na ipagtanggol ang atin. Atin ang [WPS] (We call on our fellow lawmakers, and on all our leaders and fellow Filipinos, to unite in defending what is ours. The [WPS] belongs to us,” she added.
De Lima emphasized that asserting the country’s rights in the WPS does not amount to provoking war, noting that no Filipino wants armed conflict. She stressed that the Philippines’ position is grounded in international law, which recognizes and affirms the country’s maritime entitlements.
According to De Lima, the priority should be to uphold national dignity and sovereignty, rather than siding with what she described as a foreign power that engages in bullying, harassment of Filipino fishermen and personnel, and the unlawful claiming of Philippine territory.
Her remarks were made in response to Sen. Marcoleta’s statement suggesting that the Philippines should “give up” the Kalayaan Group of Islands, which form part of Palawan province.
The senator’s stance was echoed by his son, Rep. Marcoleta, who went further by making inflammatory remarks against Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Spokesperson in WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela and several senators. The young Marcoleta suggested that they should be placed on the frontlines as “cannon fodder” should China declare war on the Philippines.
“Kung sakaling giyerahin tayo ng Tsina, ihelera niyo sa harap ng bakbakan itong spox ng coastguard at yun mayayabang na senador. Sila ang unang lumusob. O kaya ibala niyo sa kanyon. Tignan natin ang tapang nila” Rep. Marcoleta said in a social media post.
Earlier, Akbayan Party-list President and Atin Ito convenor Rafaela David also criticized the Marcoletas, remarking that their statements reflected a “like father, like son” attitude. David mocked the pair, saying the father appeared ready to surrender sovereignty, while the son was openly defending China.
David added that public criticism labeling the senator a “Tsina-dor” and his son “Sagip-China” reflected growing public frustration over statements perceived as undermining Philippine sovereignty in the WPS.
