No treason in Marcoleta’s statement on WPS, says Palace

Malacañang on Monday said it does not see any element of treason in Senator Rodante Marcoleta’s recent statement on the West Philippine Sea.

At a Palace briefing, Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro acknowledged the freedom of expression of every Filipino but maintained that the Philippines is not surrendering any part of its territory.

“Pero ang nais ng Pangulo ay maipahatid ng bawat Pilipino kung ano ba ang ating karapatan sa ating teritoryo, kung ano ba ang interest natin sa West Philippine Sea,” Castro said.

(But what the President wants is for every Filipino to understand and convey our rights over our territory and our interests in the West Philippine Sea.)

“Ganoon pa rin ang posisyon ng Pangulo: Wala pong anumang bahagi ng teritoryo natin o anumang interest ang isusurrender sa anumang foreign power. Pero dapat din po tayo maging tugma sa ating ipinapahayag,” she added.

(The President’s position remains the same: None of our territory or interests will be surrendered to any foreign power. But we must also ensure that our actions are consistent with what we say,” she added.)

She also said that one of the elements of treason is the existence of an actual state of war, which is not the current situation in the Philippines.

Marcoleta earlier drew criticism after saying that the Kalayaan Group of Islands is not part of the country’s exclusive economic zone and that it should be let go.

However, he later clarified that he never said the KIG should be surrendered, adding that some people were ‘taking his statements out of context.’ —RF, GMA Integrated News