The Commission on Appointments (CA) ordered the removal of the word “satsat” from its official records after Senator Rodante Marcoleta used it to describe statements made by several speakers on the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

The dispute arose during the ad interim appointments of 70 generals and senior officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday, March 11.

Marcoleta had raised a resolution urging the Senate to discuss the mapping of the Philippines, including the WPS. He claimed the scheduled Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing on March 12, was abruptly canceled due to national security concerns.

The word was applied by Marcoleta to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, former Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, and maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal.

“Mr. Chair, si Commodore Tarriela, si retired Justice Antonio Carpio, si Batongbacal na propesor sa UP, satsat nang satsat sa ating media,” Marcoleta said.

During the hearing, Senator Risa Hontiveros moved to expunge the term from the CA records.

Marcoleta defended his choice of words, saying he used “satsat” to describe statements he believed were “no basis.” He clarified that the term referred to what he saw as unsubstantiated claims regarding the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Hontiveros, however, criticized the characterization, saying “satsat” refers to idle gossip, chatter, or babble, and argued that it was inappropriate for the CA to entertain such remarks during a formal hearing.

“Alam ko na ang salitang 'satsat' ay karaniwan nagre-refer po sa isang Tagalog term para sa idle gossip, chatter o babble,” Hontiveros noted.

“Dahil Commission on Appointments Committee ito, at kung meron sino man po sa atin ay may issue tungkol sa mga matters pending sa harap ng buong Senado, ito pong CA panel ay hindi po ito yung lugar para i-raise ito,” she added.

Despite this, Marcoleta insisted that Tarriela, Carpio, and Batongbacal’s statements amounted to “satsat,” prompting Hontiveros’ intervention. At one point, the hearing was suspended by Aquino following the debate.

CA Committee on National Defense Chair Agusan del Norte Rep. Jose Aquino II approved the substitution, allowing Marcoleta’s term “satsat” to be replaced with words such as “statement,” “remarks,” or “explanation.”

Marcoleta agreed, citing that his close friend, LPGMA Representative Allan Ty, endorsed the change.

“Dahil po sa matalik ko pong kaibigan si Congressman Allan Ty Ay payag po ako, bakit hindi?,” he said.

Meanwhile, the request from Kalayaan town in Palawan to remove Marcoleta’s controversial remark suggesting that the Kalayaan Island Group be “given up” to China remains unresolved.