Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday delivered a fiery privilege speech, rebuking Senate Deputy Minority Leader Rodante Marcoleta for what he described as personal attacks and pro-Beijing rhetoric in discussions on the Philippines’ maritime dispute with China.
In a 45-minute address, Lacson criticized Marcoleta’s remarks during the Senate blue ribbon committee’s probe into alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
As chair of the antigraft panel, Lacson said the deputy minority leader’s comments had crossed the line from policy disagreements into repeated personal accusations.
The veteran lawmaker also claimed Marcoleta appeared to be defending contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya, whose companies allegedly secured billions in government infrastructure contracts.
Lacson explained that he initially chose not to respond to provocations but decided to speak out after the attacks became personal.
“Marcoleta has become so obsessed with tagging and badmouthing this representation as he has become obsessed with defending China in many fora,” Lacson declared.
“So obsessed that he had to resort to rigorous stalking of all my interviews and social media updates, nitpicking from every statement I uttered, and tricking this august chamber to cry foul, armed with nothing but his draining litany.”
The dispute, Lacson said, traces back to Marcoleta’s motion to dismiss an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte in August 2025, which he argued was premature since the Senate had not yet convened as an impeachment court.
“Simula nung nasopla ko si Senator Marcoleta sa floor ay tila nagtanim na siya ng poot sa kanyang dibdib,” Lacson remarked.
He further suggested that Marcoleta may have taken offense at his earlier privilege speech exposing alleged ghost and substandard flood control projects.
“May natapakan po ba akong ego sa aking privilege speech… If yes, I refuse to apologize and feed on Senator Marcoleta’s ego and pride.”
On foreign policy, Lacson dismissed Marcoleta’s criticism of his earlier hypothetical remarks about “giving up” the Kalayaan Island Group, arguing that Marcoleta’s interpretation mirrored Chinese talking points.
“Curiously, these narratives align with those of the Chinese narratives, plucked directly from the People’s Republic of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ official website,” Lacson pointed out.
He then posed sharp questions about Marcoleta’s stance:
“On the West Philippine Sea, which side of the South China Sea is Senator Marcoleta on? On the anomalous graft-ridden flood control projects, is Marcoleta for the Discayas or the people of the Philippines? We all know the answers.”
The confrontation underscores rising tensions in the Senate over corruption allegations, impeachment procedures, and the Philippines’ position in the ongoing maritime dispute with China.