MANILA – Senator Rodante Marcoleta challenged Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, to a “friendly debate” before joining a maritime domain awareness flight over the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).

Marcoleta, who previously drew criticism for suggesting the Philippines could “give up” the KIG because some features lie beyond the country’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, said the debate should also include retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and University of the Philippines maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal.

“Bago ‘yun, pakisabi niyo kay Commodore Tarriela kasama si Justice [Antonio] Carpio. Sino ba ‘yung professor sa UP? Para sa isang friendly debate bago pa ‘yung pagpunta roon para sa ganoon maayos natin para sa kapakanan ng ating bansa,” Marcoleta said in an ambush interview.
(Before that, please tell Commodore Tarriela, along with Justice Carpio and the UP professor, that we have a friendly debate before going there so we can address this for the sake of our country.)

Tarriela responded that discussions on the West Philippine Sea are matters of settled law, national interest, and patriotic duty, not subjects for public debate.

“I would be happy to arrange a light-hearted discussion on less consequential matters—perhaps food preferences, current fashion trends, or other societal topics—but our nation’s territorial integrity and legal entitlements in the West Philippine Sea are not subjects for public debate,” he said in a Facebook post.

The PCG official warned Marcoleta that framing the country’s claims as debatable could undermine his constitutional duties.

“As a Senator of the Republic, Senator Marcoleta is duty-bound to uphold and defend these very rights. By framing them as debatable, he risks undermining the very oath he took to preserve true faith and allegiance to the Republic and to support its Constitution and laws,” Tarriela said.

The PCG spokesperson also said he believes Carpio, Batongbacal, and any Filipino who fully understands the Philippines’ position would decline to participate in such a debate.

Tarriela had earlier invited Marcoleta to join a maritime domain awareness flight over the KIG, saying residents of Pag-asa Island would be “happy to welcome” the senator. The flight invitation followed controversy over Marcoleta’s remarks during a Commission on Appointments hearing for Armed Forces of the Philippines generals, where he suggested that some KIG features lie beyond the country’s exclusive economic zone.

Marcoleta later defended his comments, saying critics had deliberately taken his statements out of context. He explained that for the West Philippine Sea to be listed in the International Hydrographic Organization, the Philippines would need to deposit maps with the United Nations, which could be interpreted as “usurping part of the high seas” because some KIG features lie beyond the exclusive economic zone.

The Kalayaan Island Group, located about 280 nautical miles west of Palawan, remains part of the Philippines’ claimed territory in the South China Sea. Pag-asa Island, the largest feature held by the Philippines, hosts civilians, a local government unit, and military personnel.