Any suggestion at “giving up” the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) is no different from surrendering Luzon or even the entire country, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.
Lacson reiterated that under international law, the first discovery and possession of land that “belongs to no one” – like in the case of the KIG – is a recognized mode of sovereign ownership.
“’Giving up’ the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) is no different from giving up Luzon Island or the entire country. Under international law, first discovery and possession of land that belongs to no one under the legal principle of ‘res nullius’ or ‘terra nullius’ is a recognized mode of sovereign ownership. Even non-lawyers were taught this in school,” he said on X.
In Filipino: Lacson: Ang Pagsuko sa Kalayaan Islands, Walang Pinagkaiba sa Pagsuko ng Buong Bansa
“Giving up” the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) is no different from giving up Luzon Island or the entire country. Under international law, first discovery and possession of land that belongs to no one under the legal principle of ‘res nullius’ or ‘terra nullius’ is a recognized mode…
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) February 7, 2026
He noted that lawyer and adventurer Tomas Cloma discovered the Spratly islands and occupied them as under “res nullius,” whoever discovers and occupies the land is recognized as its owner. Cloma turned over the ownership of the land to the Philippine government.
During a committee hearing of the Commission on Appointments last Wednesday, Lacson cited this long-standing legal principle that supports the Philippines’ ownership of KIG.
This was after Sen. Rodante Marcoleta suggested “giving up” the Kalayaan Group of Islands because its features are “way beyond” the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
“Yan ang hindi ko mapalampas,” Lacson said in an interview on DZBB last Thursday.
Lacson, who visited the KIG in 2021, pointed out that Kalayaan is a municipality of Palawan, inhabited by some 300 Filipino families.
“When I heard Sen. Marcoleta say that we should give up KIG, I had to clear the issue and assert why KIG is ours. Sen. Marcoleta claimed the KIG is outside the EEZ, and I cannot accept that because there were Filipinos living on Pagasa Island,” he said in Filipino.
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Lacson: Ang Pagsuko sa Kalayaan Islands, Walang Pinagkaiba sa Pagsuko ng Buong Bansa
Walang pinagkaiba ang anumang mungkahi na isuko ang Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) sa pagsuko ng Luzon o maging ng buong bansa, giit ni Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Sabado.
Ayon kay Lacson, sa ilalim ng international law, ang unang pagtuklas at pananakop sa lupang hindi pag-aari ninuman — tulad sa kaso ng KIG — ay kinikilalang paraan ng pagkuha ng soberanong pagmamay-ari.
“’Giving up’ the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) is no different from giving up Luzon Island or the entire country. Under international law, first discovery and possession of land that belongs to no one under the legal principle of ‘res nullius’ or ‘terra nullius’ is a recognized mode of sovereign ownership. Even non-lawyers were taught this in school,” ani Lacson sa kanyang post sa X.
Paliwanag ni Lacson, ang abogado at adventurer na si Tomas Cloma ang nakatuklas sa Spratly Islands at sinakop ang mga ito sa ilalim ng prinsipyo ng “res nullius,” kung saan ang sinumang makatuklas at makapanakop sa lupain ay kinikilalang may-ari nito. Kalaunan, isinuko ni Cloma ang pagmamay-ari ng nasabing mga lupain sa pamahalaan ng Pilipinas.
Sa pagdinig ng Commission on Appointments noong nakaraang Miyerkules, binanggit ni Lacson ang matagal nang umiiral na legal na prinsipyo na ito na sumusuporta sa pagmamay-ari ng Pilipinas sa KIG.
Kasunod ito ng mungkahi ni Sen. Rodante Marcoleta na isuko ang Kalayaan Group of Islands dahil umano ang mga ito ay hindi na sakop ng exclusive economic zone ng Pilipinas.
“Yan ang hindi ko mapalampas,” ani Lacson sa isang panayam sa DZBB noong nakaraang Huwebes.
Binigyang-diin ni Lacson, na bumisita sa KIG noong 2021, na ang Kalayaan ay isang munisipalidad ng Palawan na tinitirhan ng humigit-kumulang 300 pamilyang Pilipino.
“Nang narinig ko sabi ni Sen. Marcoleta na ipamigay na lang natin, hindi ako makapigil doon kailangan liwanagin natin kasi sa atin yan at may basehan kung bakit atin yan. Sabi niya sa labas ng EEZ. Di ko matanggap yan kasi nandoon na nga may Pilipino sa Pagasa Island,” ani Lacson.
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