Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson slammed suggestions to “give up” the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), saying it would be akin to surrendering Luzon or the entire Philippines.
He cited the international legal principle of res nullius, noting that the Spratly Islands were first discovered and occupied by Tomas Cloma, who later turned over ownership to the Philippine government.
Lacson emphasized that KIG is a municipality of Palawan, home to around 300 Filipino families, and stressed that its sovereignty cannot be dismissed.
His remarks came in response to Senator Rodante Marcoleta, who allegedly suggested giving up KIG because it lies “beyond” the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, a claim Marcoleta later denied.
Lacson maintained that the islands remain indisputably Philippine territory and warned against undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Source: PhilNews24 | February 8, 2026
LACSON: ABANDONING KALAYAAN ISLANDS EQUALS SURRENDERING THE PHILIPPINES
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