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Marc Jayson Cayabyab - The Philippine Star
February 25, 2026 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Another word war between Senate President Pro-Tempore Panfilo Lacson and Sen. Rodante Marcoleta over the Kalayaan Island Group erupted yesterday, centering on what Tomas Cloma should be remembered for – as a discoverer of the KIG or just a seafarer.
At the Senate hearing on national defense and security, peace, unification, and reconciliation yesterday, Marcoleta insisted Cloma was a seafarer and not a discoverer, disregarding historical records on the latter’s 1947 discovery of the Spratly features and his staking claim of the island group in 1956. He turned over ownership of the land to the Philippine government, prompting its occupation of the KIG, now a municipality in Palawan.
The late strongman Ferdinand Marcos signed Presidential Decree 1596 in 1978 delineating the portion of the Spratlys near Palawan that Cloma discovered as part of the Philippines and formally calling it the KIG.
“It should be corrected if Tomas Cloma was really there. It should not be distorted. Tomas Cloma was a seafarer, he’s not a discoverer,” Marcoleta claimed as the topic centered on whether Cloma’s seafaring journeys were taught at military schools.
Marcoleta also claimed he was misquoted in his remarks that the KIG should be given up, saying he was just stressing the need to make a map of the West Philippine Sea.
He also claimed that a senator “spliced” his remarks about the KIG, hinting that he would file an ethics case against him. He was reportedly referring to Lacson.
“Somebody suggested, that I said, I’m trying to remove the KIG from the territory of this country, by presenting a spliced narrative,” Marcoleta said.
“This is serious. No less than a senator of the republic did this. We will come to this in proper time,” he added.
Lacson taunted Marcoleta for not having moved on from the issue, adding in jest that Cloma might now be rolling in his grave.
Citing historical information from the Kalayaan municipality’s website, Lacson said Cloma took formal possession of the Kalayaan Islands on May 15, 1956, when he issued a “Notice to the Whole World” asserting ownership over 33 features in the Spratlys.
Lacson said an “Independence Claim” was made on July 6, 1956, when Cloma established a separate government for the “Free Territory of Freedomland” with its capital on Flat Island (Patag Island). Cloma ceded his claim to the Philippine government for P1.
“This paved the way for president Ferdinand Marcos to officially establish the Municipality of Kalayaan under Presidential Decree. 1596 in 1978,” Lacson said.
“Cloma’s actions were heavily opposed by Taiwan (which occupied Itu Aba) and China. However, his claim provided a basis for the Philippines’ subsequent claim to the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea,” he added.
“Some people still cannot move on from Tomas Cloma. Here are the historical facts, so Cloma can be left alone to rest in peace,” Lacson said.
Preserving peace
Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the military’s continuing effort to modernize is not an act of aggression but a way of preserving peace.
He gave the assurance at the commissioning of the Philippine Navy’s new offshore patrol vessel BRP Rajah Sulayman and fast attack interdiction craft BRP Audrey Bañares at the Naval Operating Base in Subic, Zambales.
“Let me be clear: modernization is not a signal of aggression. It is a statement of responsibility,” Brawner said.
Also at the event was Navy chief Vice Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta.
“A credible defense posture deters conflict. Preparedness prevents miscalculation. Capability preserves peace,” Brawner stated.
The AFP said the launch of Rajah Sulayman and Audrey Bañares marks “another milestone in the military’s ongoing modernization program to secure
