Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson let the facts do the talking as he debunked on Tuesday the claims of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta claiming Tomas Cloma did not discover the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea.
During a hearing of the Committee on National Defense earlier Tuesday, Marcoleta had insisted that Cloma did not discover the Kalayaan Islands.
Lacson cited information from the official website of Kalayaan municipality in Palawan showing Cloma indeed discovered the then previously uninhabited islands now known as the Kalayaan Islands.
“Merong hindi pa rin maka move on kay Tomas Cloma. So, eto ang historical facts para matahimik sa rin sa himlayan niya si Tomas Cloma (Some people still cannot move on from Tomas Cloma. Here are the historical facts, so Cloma can be left alone to rest in peace),” he said.
In Filipino: Lacson, Sinopla ang mga Pahayag ni Marcoleta hinggil kay Tomas Cloma sa Pamamagitan ng mga Katotohanan
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). By the 1970s, 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 No. 1596 in 1978,” he said.
“Geopolitical Impact: 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.
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Lacson, Sinopla ang mga Pahayag ni Marcoleta hinggil kay Tomas Cloma sa Pamamagitan ng mga Katotohanan
Hinayaan ni Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson na ang mga katotohanan ang magsalita nang pasubalian niya nitong Martes ang pahayag ni Sen. Rodante Marcoleta na hindi umano nadiskubre ni Tomas Cloma ang Kalayaan Island Group sa West Philippine Sea.
Sa pagdinig ng Senate Committee on National Defense noong Martes, iginiit ni Marcoleta na hindi si Cloma ang nakadiskubre sa Kalayaan Islands.
Binanggit ni Lacson ang impormasyong makikita sa opisyal na website ng Munisipalidad ng Kalayaan sa Palawan na nagpapakita na si Cloma ang tunay na nakadiskubre sa noo’y hindi pa tinatahang mga isla na ngayon ay kilala bilang Kalayaan Islands.
“Merong hindi pa rin maka-move on kay Tomas Cloma. Kaya narito ang mga historical facts para matahimik na rin sa kanyang himlayan si Tomas Cloma,” ani Lacson.
Batay sa mga historikal na impormasyon mula sa website ng Munisipalidad ng Kalayaan, sinabi ni Lacson na pormal na inangkin ni Cloma ang Kalayaan Islands noong Mayo 15, 1956 sa pamamagitan ng pag-isyu ng “Notice to the Whole World,” kung saan iginiit niya ang pagmamay-ari sa 33 tampok o bahagi ng Spratlys.
Ayon pa kay Lacson, isang “Independence Claim” ang ginawa noong Hulyo 6, 1956 nang itatag ni Cloma ang isang hiwalay na pamahalaan para sa “Free Territory of Freedomland,” na may kabisera sa Flat Island (Patag Island). Pagsapit ng dekada 1970, isinuko ni Cloma ang kanyang claim sa pamahalaan ng Pilipinas kapalit ng halagang P1.
“This paved the way for President Ferdinand Marcos to officially establish the Municipality of Kalayaan under Presidential Decree No. 1596 in 1978,” ani Lacson.
“Geopolitical Impact: 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,” dagdag niya.
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