Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson called out on Sunday, February 8 lawmakers who use “ad hominem” or personal attacks against officials and lawmakers who uphold a pro-Philippine stance on the territorial dispute with China in the West Philippines Sea (WPS). 

Lacson was referring to Rep. Paolo Henry Marcoleta who took the cudgels for his father, Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, after getting flak for suggesting that the government give up the Kalayaan Group of Islands or KIG.

The younger Marcoleta had suggested that a “Coast Guard spokesperson” and some “senators” be at the frontline or be used as cannon fodder if China declares war on the Philippines after his father was criticized over his pro-China stance.

In his post on X, Lacson said the younger Marcoleta should stick to the issue and visit Pag-Asa Island in the KIG, which is part of Palawan province, so he can get a firsthand look at the functioning Philippine local government there.

"The son also rises with his own ad hominem. Suggesting to use the PCG spokesman and some senators as cannon fodder if China declares war against the Philippines is uncalled for,” Lacson said.

“He should visit Pag-Asa Island in KIG and see for himself the functioning local government there,” he added.

In a DZBB radio interview on Sunday, Lacson admitted he was also shocked and surprised to hear from fellow senator, Marcoleta, his stance on the KIG. Nevertheless, he refuted this by citing a long-standing legal principle supporting the Philippines’ ownership of the KIG.

“I was also surpised when I heard him say to just give up the KIG, and it immediately made me raise my hand to set the record straight,” Lacson said, adding that Marcoleta’s statements during a Senate hearing were on record.

“KIG is a municipality of Palawan. There is a community there. I even augmented funds for Pag-asa (island),” he further said.

“I’d like to believe that he didn’t say that. But it was clear when he suggested to give it up to avoid conflict,” Lacson reiterated.

Lacson recalled his visit in KIG in November 2021, after which he pushed for a budget to improve the Philippines’ defense posture as well as additional school facilities and teachers for the island.

Among the proposed amendments to the 2022 budget to fund facilities in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), which amounted to P254.241 million, included:

l  P5.393-million for the procurement of power system requirements;

l  P15.351-million for the procurement of rubber boats with outboard motors;

l  P233.497-million for the procurement of communication and other mission-essential equipment for KIG detachments.

l  additional P38.509-million for the Pagasa Island Research Station (PIRS), whose support and development would be key to understanding and sustainably utilize marine resources in the West Philippine Sea. This includes P10 million for a two-storey dormitory building/marine facility and P28.509 million to purchase marine scientific and oceanographic equipment.

Also, Lacson sought additional school facilities and teachers in Pagasa Island as well as added benefits for teachers. He also proposed that the government put up a high school building or integrate the high school facilities with the existing elementary school building; and hire at least one multigrade teacher who can teach high school.

He also sought the Department of Education’s (DepEd) commitment for a Special Hardship Allowance (SHA) for the two teachers in Pag-asa Island, noting this can be taken from the budget for the Last Mile Schools program.

The DepEd then approved the Pagasa Island Integrated Elementary and High School effective School Year 2022-2023.

“Kalayaan Island Group is a municipality of Palawan. I visited the area, there is a functioning local government unit (LGU) there, with a barangay and school,” Lacson stressed in the radio interview.

He recalled that when he visited the island in 2021, Chinese Coast Guard ships were visible to the naked eye, while the local Marines said Chinese vessels would enter the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) but would leave when challenged.

“I told them to keep challenging the Chinese vessels because they are testing them and would likely enter if not challenged. That would be an invasion because there are Filipinos living in Pagasa,” he said.

Last February 6, the younger Marcoleta had posted on his Facebook account that if China declares war on the Philippines, Coast Guard spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela, and some senators should be made the frontliners or cannon fodder.

According to the younger Marcoleta, those advocating a pro-Philippine stance are the traitors who have put Filipinos at risk, adding that one cannot fight for the WPS through posturing and “pahashtag-hashtag lang.”