MANILA — Senator Rodante Marcoleta clarified that his statements regarding the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) and the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) were “misinterpreted,” amid criticism that he had suggested the Philippines should “give up” the disputed islands.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Marcoleta said his reference to “giving up” only applied to mapping purposes.

“Para lang maka-drawing kayo, i-give up nyo. Pero hindi ko sinasabing i-give up. Atin yun eh. Ngayon, kung hindi natin igi-give up, hindi po nyo maido-drawing,” he said.
(Just so we can have a drawing, give it up. But I never said to give it up. That is ours. Now, if we don’t give it up, you cannot draw it.)

He also rejected accusations of being a traitor, insisting that he was only seeking a legal basis to strengthen the Philippines’ maritime claims.

“Sila po ang traydor sapagkat di nila pinapaliwanag po. Ako po ang sinasabi ko lang palakasin natin ang ating claim. Lagyan natin ng legal foundations ang claim natin. Huwag kayo magdadadakdak ng hindi pala ninyo nalalaman,” he added.
(They are the traitors because they did not explain. I am only stating that we should strengthen our claims. Let us put legal foundations on our claims. Do not talk as if you know anything.)

Marcoleta stressed that his goal is to clarify the waters generated by features in the West Philippine Sea for mapping purposes.

“Ang pinagtatalunan lang natin, yung tubig po na na-gegenerate nitong mga features na ito. Sapagkat ang ating plano nga, magdo-drowing po tayo ng West Philippine Sea,” he said.
(What we are fighting over is the waters generated by these features. Our plan is to draw a West Philippine Sea.)

Residents of the Kalayaan Island Group, however, expressed outrage and said they would file a resolution with the Sangguniang Pambayan ng Kalayaan sa Palawan to remove Marcoleta’s statements from the Senate record.

“We were offended. We take offense at what he has said kasi parang ano’ng silbi ng bayan namin? Ano’ng silbi ng magigiting na mamamayan namin? They have already given up greener pastures elsewhere just to stay there for decades,” said Kalayaan Vice Mayor MP Albayda.
(We were offended. What then is the purpose of our municipality? What is the purpose of our honorable citizens? They have already given up greener pastures elsewhere just to stay there for decades.)