Kalayaan council to Marcoleta’s abandonment of islands: Strike it off

MANILA, Philippines — The Sangguniang Bayan of Kalayaan in Palawan has adopted a resolution condemning the remarks of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta who earlier suggested the abandonment of the Kalayaan Island Group. 

The local government’s measure earnestly petitioned the Commission on Appointments to “expunge” the sentiments from Congressional records. 

In a resolution furnished to Senate President Vicente Sotto III’s office, officials of the Sangguniang Bayan in Kalayaan expressed their “vigorous indignation” and formal protest against the statements of Marcoleta. 

“For the people of this municipality, the Kalayaan Island Group is not a mere dot on the map or a subject of academic debate, but our home, our ancestral heritage, and the source of our life and livelihood,” the measure states.

They pointed out that the residents of Kalayaan, particularly the fisherfolk and local officials, brave the vast seas and face daily challenges to maintain a Filipino presence in the West Philippine Sea.

The council said the islands serve as the country’s first line of defense and living symbols of Philippine sovereignty. 

“The statement made by a public official to ‘give up’ the Kalayaan Island Group is felt by Kalayaan constituents as a betrayal of their sacrifices and a dismissal of their right to live securely within their own territory,” the resolution notes. 

“Such insinuation effectively orphans a legitimate political subdivision of the Republic of the Philippines and mocks the bravery of the men and women stationed at Pag-asa Island and surrounding features,” it went on to say. 

The Sangguniang Bayan underscored its belief that not one inch of their municipality is negotiable and that any record suggesting otherwise is a “historical error” that must be corrected. 

Marcoleta, who earlier faced backlash due to his remarks, said that his statement was taken out of context. 

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, meanwhile, confirmed receiving such a resolution, but he said there’s a need for him to review the Senate procedure in order to know the best option to address the issue. /apl