Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said on Thursday, February 19 he supports calls to  expunge from the records of the Commission on Appointments (CA) remarks made by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta suggesting the Philippines “give up” the Kalayaan Island Group to China.

Lacson was referring to the motion submitted by the Sangguniang Bayan of the Municipality of Kalayaan to the powerful appointments body.

However, Lacson said there should first be a formal motion to the effect addressed to Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III in his capacity as chairman of the Commission on Appointments.

“A motion to strike off the records of the CA is needed. A letter addressed to CA Chairman Senate President Vicente Sotto III through the CA Defense Committee Chairman will serve as a strong basis for such a motion,” Lacson said.

Just this week, the Municipality of Kalayaan sent to the Office of the Senate President its Resolution No. 099-016 of 2026, expressing vigorous indignation and protesting the remarks of Marcoleta suggesting that the Philippines "give up" the Kalayaan Island Group.

It also petitioned the CA to "expunge such defeatist sentiments from the congressional records to preserve the dignity and integrity of our municipality."

Marcoleta had since defended his statements, insisting that his words were taken out of context during the Feb. 4 hearing of the CA Committee on National Defense.

Local officials of the Kalayaan Municipality maintained their stance on the issue saying not one inch of their municipality is negotiable. Moreover, they said that any record suggesting otherwise, is a “historical error that must be corrected.”

In an earlier interview, Lacson warned that the Philippines' position on the KIG could be weakened if Marcoleta's remarks remain in the records.

“Definitely because that remark came from a senator and it may weaken our position. It is better if it is removed from the CA's records),” he said in an interview on DZBB radio, when asked if he supports the move to expunge Marcoleta's "give up Kalayaan" remark from the records.

“I'd like to believe Marcoleta did not mean what he exactly said, but his 'give up' remarks are on the record. How else can we interpret his statements, other than to give up the Kalayaan Islands to avoid trouble with China,” he added.

Lacson had countered Marcoleta’s suggestion that the Philippines give up the KIG by citing "res nullius," a long-standing legal principle supporting the Philippines’ ownership of the KIG.

Under “res nullius,” whoever discovers and occupies the land is recognized as its owner.

Lacson pointed out Tomas Cloma, who discovered the Spratlys, turned over the ownership of the land to the Philippine government. Filipino families now occupy the KIG, a town in Palawan.