Philippine Coast Guard West Philippine Sea spokesperson Commodore Jay Tristan Tarriela has invited Senate Deputy Minority Leader Rodante Marcoleta to personally visit the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), saying locals on Pag-asa Island would be glad to receive him.
Tarriela extended the invitation after Marcoleta suggested during a Commission on Appointments hearing that the Philippines consider “giving up” the KIG, arguing the islands lie beyond the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“I suggest that the good senator join the MDA (Maritime Domain Awareness) flight to the Kalayaan Island Group in the future. He does not have to worry; I can arrange it, and I would be happy to join the operation as well,” Tarriela said in a social media post.
Marcoleta’s remark drew backlash online, with netizens tagging him and eight other senators as “Tsina-tors” for not signing a resolution condemning statements from the Chinese Embassy.
He later clarified that his comment was taken out of context, saying he was referring to technical issues with the International Hydrographic Organization listing, and noted that giving up the KIG would violate UNCLOS.
The Kalayaan Islands form part of the disputed Spratly Islands, which China continues to claim despite the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated Beijing’s expansive claims in the West Philippine Sea.