Senator Rodante Marcoleta has formally objected to the proposed minutes of the February 4 hearing of the Commission on Appointments (CA), seeking to correct what he said were material mischaracterizations of his interpellation on issues surrounding the West Philippine Sea and the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).

During the CA hearing on February 25, Marcoleta asked that the portion of the draft minutes covering pages 7 to 8 — specifically his exchange with Philippine Navy Captain Jess B. Pilar — be deleted and replaced with a detailed narration that he said more accurately reflected what transpired on record.

“As members of the Commission, it is our right and responsibility to ensure the accurate summation of our statements are rightfully reflected in our minutes,” Marcoleta said, stressing that committee minutes are part of the CA’s official and enduring legislative record.

To recall, the Municipality of Kalayaan had sent to the Office of the Senate President this week its Resolution 099-016 of 2026, expressing vigorous indignation and protesting the remarks of Marcoleta suggesting that the Philippines "give up" the Kalayaan Island Group.

In that earlier hearing, Marcoleta said the KIG lies outside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), triggering controversy and public backlash.

“We will offer our lives, including the lives of our children and to die for it, for something that is not even within our EEZ. Ang gawin natin po para madali, i-give up natin yung KIG (What we need to do for it to be easier, is to give up KIG),” Marcoleta said at the time, adding that the presence of the KIG complicated the delineation of the West Philippine Sea.

He later clarified that he did not intend to suggest relinquishing Philippine territory, but was illustrating the legal and technical complexities involved in defining maritime zones.

Action on Kalayaan's resolution was deferred due to lack of material time, as the CA prioritized the confirmation of ad interim appointments of 81 general, flag, and senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The CA also said it needed sufficient time to review Marcoleta’s proposed amendments to the minutes.

In his motion, Marcoleta proposed a revised narration detailing his views on the diplomatic and legal dimensions of the West Philippine Sea issue, including concerns over public messaging and escalation.

According to the revised account he submitted, Marcoleta questioned the strategic value of public statements made by Commodore Jay Tristan Tarriela that criticized Chinese President Xi Jinping and featured caricatures that offended the Chinese Embassy. He cited a letter from the Department of Foreign Affairs to Senator Risa Hontiveros, which emphasized that disputes between states are best addressed through diplomatic channels and that public escalation should only occur when it advances national interest.

Marcoleta also expounded on technical distinctions between the West Philippine Sea and the Philippines’ EEZ, noting that under Republic Act No. 9552, archipelagic baselines define the country’s maritime zones, but that the 2016 arbitral ruling only covered the EEZ. He argued that key features of the KIG — Pagasa, Parola, Kota, and Lankiam — are located beyond the EEZ and, as rocks, do not generate their own EEZs.

He further pointed out that Administrative Order No. 29 (2012) mandated the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority and the DFA to prepare and submit an official map of the Philippines with the West Philippine Sea to the United Nations, a process he said has been delayed due to legal complexities surrounding the KIG.

Marcoleta also cited regional examples of joint resource management, noting that Vietnam, Malaysia, and China have managed disputes in the South China Sea to allow oil and gas exploration, while the Philippines has lagged behind due to unresolved tensions.

He concluded by disclosing that the Chinese Ambassador had expressed willingness to engage Philippine agencies in dialogue, suggesting that initial cooperation could focus on less contentious areas such as fishing rights.

“These proposed amendments are not intended to alter the substance of the proceedings, but merely to ensure that the minutes of the committee hearing faithfully and accurately reflect what was actually stated on record,” Marcoleta said, urging the CA to adopt the revised minutes in the interest of accuracy and institutional integrity.