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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider De Lima finds Marcoleta's comments on WPS issue 'disturbing'

De Lima finds Marcoleta's comments on WPS issue 'disturbing'

Published Feb 10, 2026 08:27 am

At A Glance

  • Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima can't help but feel disturbed by the recent remarks of her fellow House minority bloc member, SAGIP Party-list Rep. Paolo Marcoleta on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue.
Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima (left), SAGIP Party-list Rep. Paolo Marcoleta (Facebook)
Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima (left), SAGIP Party-list Rep. Paolo Marcoleta (Facebook)


Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima can't help but feel disturbed by the recent remarks of her fellow House minority bloc member, SAGIP Party-list Rep. Paolo Marcoleta on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue.
"That is disturbing and out of line," De Lima, the deputy minority leader, said in a statement.
"Nananawagan tayo sa mga kapwa natin mambabatas, at sa lahat ng ating mga lider at kapwa Pilipino, magkaisa tayo na ipagtanggol ang atin. Atin ang [WPS] (We call on our fellow lawmakers, and on all our leaders and fellow Filipinos, to unite in defending what is ours. The [WPS] belongs to us," she said.
The outspoken Rep. Marcoleta, son of Senator Rodante Marcoleta, recently took a swipe at Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Spokesman Jay Tarriela and certain senators over the Philippines' position toward China in the WPS.
"Kung sakaling giyerahin tayo ng Tsina, ihelera niyo sa harap ng bakbakan itong spox ng coastguard at yun mayayabang na senador. Sila ang unang lumusob. O kaya ibala niyo sa kanyon. Tignan natin ang tapang nila," Rep. Marcoleta said.
(If ever China wages war against us, line up the coast guard spokesperson and those arrogant senators at the front. Let them be the first to charge. Or better yet, load them into the cannons, let’s see how brave they really are.)
In response, De Lima clarified that nobody from the Philippine government was seeking war with any country.
"Hindi tayo nag-uudyok ng gyera, walang may gusto nyan sa atin. Ipinagtatanggol lang natin ang ating karapatan, na kinikilala at pinagtitibay ng international law. Ipinagtatanggol lang natin ang ating soberanya at pambansang dangal," she said.
(We are not inciting war, none of us wants that. We are simply defending our rights, which are recognized and upheld by international law. We are defending our sovereignty and our national dignity.)
The former Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary went on to reiterate her call for unity amid the threat posed by "foreign bullies".
"Magkaisa po tayo sa laban na ito, sa halip na kampihan ang dayuhan na nambu-bully, nanghaharass sa ating mga kababayan, at nang-aangkin ng teritoryo (Let us stand together in this fight, instead of siding with foreigners who bully and harass our people, and who lay claim to our territory)."
De Lima is part of the self-styled "WPS bloc" in the House of Representatives. 
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