Marcoleta dares Tarriela to ‘friendly debate’ over Kalayaan remark

Senator Rodante Marcoleta on Monday challenged Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, to a “friendly debate” as a response to Tarriela’s earlier invitation for the lawmaker to join a maritime domain awareness flight to the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).

Marcoleta, who earlier criticized Tarriela’s remarks against China, said the debate should also include retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and University of the Philippines Institute of Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea professor Jay Batongbacal.

"Bago ‘yun, pakisabi niyo kay Commodore Tarriela kasama si Justice [Antonio] Carpio. Sino ba ‘yung professor sa UP? Para sa isang friendly debate bago pa ‘yung pagpunta roon para sa ganoon maayos natin para sa kapakanan ng ating bansa," Marcoleta said in an ambush interview.

(Before that, please tell Commodore Tarriela, along with Justice Carpio and the UP professor, that we have a friendly debate before going there so we can address this for the sake of our country.)

Tarriela, in response, said that discussions about the West Philippine Sea are not a matter for debate, but one of settled law, national interest, and patriotic duty.

"I would be happy to arrange a light-hearted discussion on less consequential matters—perhaps food preferences, current fashion trends, or other societal topics—but our nation’s territorial integrity and legal entitlements in the West Philippine Sea are not subjects for public debate," the PCG official said in a Facebook post.

Tarriela cautioned Marcoleta that questioning the Philippines’ claims in the West Philippine Sea could undermine his constitutional duties.

"As a Senator of the Republic, Senator Marcoleta is duty-bound to uphold and defend these very rights. By framing them as debatable, he risks undermining the very oath he took to preserve true faith and allegiance to the Republic and to support its Constitution and laws," he said.

Tarriela also expressed his belief that Carpio, Batongbacal, and any Filipino who fully understands their position would refuse to participate in such a debate.

Marcoleta previously made statements suggesting that the Philippines could “give up” the Kalayaan Island Group because some of its features lie beyond the country’s exclusive economic zone.

The senator later backtrack on his statement, saying his critics were “deliberately abbreviating the context” of his statements.

Tarriela on Monday expressed disappointment over Marcoleta’s remarks, saying it was troubling for an elected official to appear to downplay the Philippines’ position in the West Philippine Sea.—MCG, GMA Integrated News