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February 10, 2026 | 6:22pm
Composite photo showing Senators Panfilo Lacson and Rodante Marcoleta.
Senate PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson appealed to retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and University of the Philippines law professor Jay Batongbacal to decline a proposed "friendly debate" with Sen. Rodante Marcoleta on the sovereignty of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).
In a statement issued Tuesday, February 10, Lacson warned that such a discussion would be "agonizing and pointless" and could inadvertently undermine the legal standing of Filipinos living on Pag-asa Island.
"An earnest appeal to Justice Tony Carpio and Atty Jay Batongbacal: Let’s spare our countrymen, especially our ‘kababayans’ from Barangay Pag-asa, KIG, Palawan from the agony of another pointless debate that might put into question their basic right of abode," Lacson said in a post on X.
Lacson stressed that Philippines' sovereignty over the Kalayaan group is anchored on the legal principle of res nullius, noting that the islands were discovered and occupied by lawyer Tomas Cloma before being turned over to the Philippine government.
RELATED: Tarriela invites Marcoleta to join West Philippine Sea mission flight
Debate dare
The proposed debate emerged after Jay Tarriela invited Marcoleta to join the Philippine Coast Guard on a Maritime Domain Awareness flight over the island group.
Marcoleta said he would prefer to engage first in a "friendly debate" with Tarriela, Carpio and Batongbacal, who is a maritime law expert, before participating in the flight.
Reports earlier Tuesday indicate that Carpio did accept the debate invitation.
"I accept Sen. Marcoleta’s debate challenge," the former associate justice was quoted on an Inquirer report as saying.
The islands lie about 280 nautical miles west of Palawan and forms part of the Philippines’ territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Despite the regular presence of Chinese Coast Guard vessels in the area, Pag-asa Island remains the Philippines' main foothold in the KIG, hosting a civilian population, a local government unit and a military contingent.
