Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson said on Saturday, March 14, that the Commission on Appointments (CA) could be held liable for violating the law if it amends the minutes of its Feb. 4 hearing.

This specific hearing included Sen. Rodante Marcoleta's "give up the Kalayaan Island Group" remark.

Lacson said Article 170 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) imposes penalties for the falsification of legislative documents. He said this was the reason why he cautioned against it during his privilege speech in the Senate last March 10.

"Falsification of legislative records is punishable under Art. 170 of the Revised Penal Code. That is why we must carefully study the legal implications. As of now, Marcoleta's motion to amend his remarks is still pending," he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.

"I have relayed this concern to Senate President Vicente Sotto III because he is also the CA chairman. We must be careful lest we be charged with falsification of legislative records and be implicated as co-conspirators because we approved the amendment," he added.

To recall, Marcoleta formally objected to the proposed minutes of the Feb. 4 hearing of the CA, seeking to correct what he said were material mischaracterizations of his interpellation on issues surrounding the West Philippine Sea and the KIG.

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

For now, Lacson said Marcoleta's motion to amend a portion of the records has been referred to the CA Committee on Rules for analysis.

Article 170 of the RPC covers the falsification of legislative documents. Under it, prision correccional in its maximum period and a fine of P6,000 "shall be imposed upon any person who, without proper authority therefor alters any bill, resolution, or ordinance enacted or approved or pending approval by either House of the Legislature or any provincial board or municipal council".

Lacson also noted the situation was compounded by a resolution from the Kalayaan municipal council, which sought to expunge Marcoleta's remarks from congressional records.

"No less than the people of Kalayaan municipality have aired their sentiments to remove his remarks from records. That is in page 22 of the journal, which I bookmarked. We must consider the resolution of the Sangguniang Bayan of Kalayaan," he said.

Meanwhile, Lacson reiterated his call to Filipinos to love their country above all else, regardless of their appearance or second citizenship.

On Friday, Lacson posted on X that all Filipinos, regardless of appearance, must remember that the Philippines is their only country and that they should love and defend it.

"Pilipino tayo. Mag-iba man ang ating anyo - kumulubot ang balat, mabawasan ng ngipin at malagas ng buhok - kahit tayo ay magpa-botox, magpustiso at magpeluka - Pilipinas pa rin ang ating bansa na dapat nating mahalin, itaguyod at ipangtanggol (We are Filipinos. Even if our appearance changes—our skin wrinkles, our teeth fall out, and our hair thins—even if we get Botox, wear dentures, or put on wigs—the Philippines will still be our country, the one we must love, uphold, and defend)," he said on X.

"We must love our country even if we have gained a second citizenship or have friends abroad. We must always remember that our country comes first because we were born as Filipinos and we will die as Filipinos. The Philippines' interests must come first for us, not those of other countries," he said in the DZMM interview.