Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Commodore Jay Tristan Tarriela, has invited Senator Rodante Marcoleta to personally visit the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) amid controversy over the senator’s remarks suggesting that the Philippines should “give up“ the disputed territory.
In a post on X late Saturday night, Tarriela invited Marcoleta to join a maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight to the Kalayaan Island Group, saying that Filipinos living in the area would be ready to welcome him.
“Let us give Senator Marcoleta a chance. I am sure that he is truly a patriotic public servant who can stand for our rights in the West Philippine Sea,” Tarriela said.
“I suggest that the good senator join the MDA flight to the Kalayaan Island Group in the future,” he added.
The invitation came after Marcoleta’s controversial statement proposing that the Philippines relinquish the KIG, arguing that it is already outside the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“Ang gawin natin po para madali, i-give up natin yung KIG. Then makokoordinate na natin lahat. But until and unless nandun yung KIG, wala na nga po sa labas ng ating exclusive economic zone. Papano po malalagay sa entire West Philippine Sea? ” Marcoleta said earlier.
The remarks sparked backlash from fellow lawmakers, maritime law experts, defense analysts, and residents of the Municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan.
Marcoleta later said his statements had been misunderstood, but criticism continued.
Tarriela reiterated his stance that the Philippines will not surrender the Kalayaan Islands, stressing that uniformed personnel stationed there are prepared to defend both the territory and its residents.
The PCG spokesperson also extended a similar invitation to Marcoleta’s son, SAGIP Party-list Representative Paolo Marcoleta, following the latter’s remarks suggesting that a “Coast Guard spokesperson” and “arrogant senators” be used as “cannon fodder” should war break out between the Philippines and China.
“Kung sakaling giverahin tayo ng Tsina, ihelera ninyo sa harap ng bakbakan ang spox ng Coast Guard at iyong mayayabang na senador. Sila ang unang lumusob. O kaya ibala ninyo sa kanyon. Tingnan natin ang tapang nila,” Rep. Marcoleta said on February 6.
Tarriela reponse: “I extend to you the same invitation I am offering to your father: join us one day in an MDA flight and stroll along the coastline of Pag-asa Island. It would be an honor to bond with the Marcoleta father-and-son duo in KIG.”
Pag-asa Island is the largest Philippine-held feature in the Kalayaan Island Group and hosts a civilian community, as well as government and military facilities.
The PCG has consistently maintained that the Kalayaan Islands are an integral part of Philippine territory and sovereignty, rejecting any suggestion of abandoning them despite mounting tensions in the WPS.
