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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'It's ours': Zubiri rejects idea of giving up Kalayaan islands

'It's ours': Zubiri rejects idea of giving up Kalayaan islands

Published Feb 9, 2026 01:07 pm
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri rejected on Monday, Feb. 9, the idea of giving up the Kalayaan Island Group, emphasizing that it's clearly part of Philippine territory.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri (Senate PRIB photo)
"Hindi tayo papayag na isuko ang Kalayaan Island Group dahil malinaw na bahagi ito ng teritoryo ng Pilipinas under the Constitution, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), at pinagtibay ng 2016 arbitral ruling (We will not allow the surrender of the Kalayaan Island Group, as it is clearly part of Philippine territory under the Constitution, UNCLOS, and as affirmed by the 2016 arbitral ruling)," he said in a statement.
He also stressed that two laws were passed during the 19th Congress that strengthened the country's rights over the West Philippine Sea and the KIG.
This includes the Philippine Maritime Zones Act (RA 12604) and Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act (RA 12065).
"There are actual Filipinos and Filipino communities in KIG, at obligasyon ng gobyerno na ipaglaban ito para sa kasalukuyan at susunod na henerasyon (There are actual Filipinos and Filipino communities in the Kalayaan Island Group, and it is the government’s obligation to defend it for the present and future generations)," he said.
During a committee hearing of the Commission on Appointments last Wednesday, suggested "giving up" the KIG because its features were "way beyond" the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
"Ano ba talaga ipagpapatayan natin dito? (What exactly are we supposed to die for here?) We will offer our lives, including the lives of our children, to die for it for something that is not even within our EEZ?" Marcoleta asked.
"Ang gawin po natin para madali i-give up natin yung KIG (To make things easier, let’s just give up the KIG)," he added.
Zubiri said that he will have to check first what Marcoleta really meant, especially since he is now denying the statement, and he should be given the chance to explain.
"Pero malinaw ang prinsipyo natin: ang Pilipinas ay atin, ang WPS ay atin, at ang KIG ay atin at hindi puwedeng isuko kailanman (But our principle is clear: the Philippines is ours, the West Philippine Sea is ours, and the Kalayaan Island Group is ours and must never be surrendered)," he said.

Related Tags

Migz Zubiri Kalayaan Island Group West Philippine Sea rodante marcoleta
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