Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri has dismissed proposals for the Philippines to abandon the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), stressing that it is firmly part of Philippine territory under both domestic and international law.
Zubiri said the country cannot give up KIG, citing the Constitution, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the 2016 arbitral ruling that affirmed the Philippines’ maritime rights.
“Hindi tayo papayag na isuko ang Kalayaan Island Group dahil malinaw na bahagi ito ng teritoryo ng Pilipinas under the Constitution, the UNCLOS at pinagtibay ng 2016 arbitral ruling,” Zubiri said.
He also pointed to recently enacted laws—the Philippine Maritime Zones Act (Republic Act No. 12604) and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act (Republic Act No. 12065)—as measures that further strengthen the country’s claims in the West Philippine Sea.
Zubiri emphasized that Filipino communities are already living in KIG, making it the government’s responsibility to protect the area for present and future generations.
“There are actual Filipinos and Filipino communities in KIG, at obligasyon ng gobyerno na ipaglaban ito para sa kasalukuyan at susunod na henerasyon,” he added.
The statement came after Senate Deputy Minority Leader Rodante Marcoleta allegedly suggested during a hearing that the Philippines give up KIG for being outside the country’s exclusive economic zone—a remark Marcoleta has since denied.
Zubiri said Marcoleta should be given the opportunity to clarify his position.
“I will have to check first what Sen. Marcoleta really meant, especially since he is now denying the statement, and he should be given the chance to explain,” he said.
Despite this, Zubiri reiterated the Senate’s firm position on the issue.
“Pero malinaw ang prinsipyo natin: ang Pilipinas ay atin, ang WPS ay atin, at ang KIG ay atin at hindi pwedeng isuko kailanman.”