The Commission on Appointments (CA) could possibly be held liable for violating the law if it amends the minutes of its Feb. 4 hearing that included Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s “give up the Kalayaan Island Group” remarks, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.
Lacson said Article 170 of the Revised Penal Code provides penalties for the falsification of legislative documents, adding this was why he cautioned against this during his privilege speech in the Senate last March 10.
“Falsification of legislative records is punishable under Art. 170 of the Revised Penal Code. That is why we must carefully study the legal implications. As of now, Marcoleta’s motion to amend his remarks is still pending,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.
“I have relayed this concern to Senate President Vicente Sotto III because he is also the CA chairman. We must be careful lest we be charged with falsification of legislative records and be implicated as co-conspirators because we approved the amendment,” he added.
In Filipino: Lacson: CA Posibleng Panagutin sa Falsification of Records sa ‘Pag-amyenda’ sa ‘Give Up KIG’ Remarks ni Marcoleta
For now, Lacson said the motion of Marcoleta to amend a portion of the records has been referred to the CA’s Committee on Rules to be analyzed.
Article 170 of the Revised Penal Code covers the falsification of legislative documents. Under it, prision correccional in its maximum period and a fine of P1.2 million “shall be imposed upon any person who, without proper authority therefor alters any bill, resolution or ordinance enacted or approved or pending approval by either House of Congress or any provincial board or municipal council.”
Lacson also noted the situation is compounded by a resolution from the Kalayaan municipal council, seeking to expunge Marcoleta’s remarks from congressional records.
“No less than the people of Kalayaan municipality have aired their sentiments to remove his remarks from records. That is in page 22 of the journal, which I bookmarked. We must consider the resolution of the Sangguniang Bayan of Kalayaan,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lacson reiterated his call to Filipinos to love their country above all else, regardless of their appearance or second citizenship.
On Friday, Lacson tweeted that all Filipinos, regardless of appearance, must remember that the Philippines is their only country and that they should love and defend it.
“Pilipino tayo. Mag-iba man ang ating anyo – kumulubot ang balat, mabawasan ng ngipin at malagas ng buhok – kahit tayo ay magpa-botox, magpustiso at magpeluka – Pilipinas pa rin ang ating bansa na dapat nating mahalin, itaguyod at ipangtanggol,” he said on X.
Pilipino tayo. Mag-iba man ang ating anyo – kumulubot ang balat, mabawasan ng ngipin at malagas ng buhok – kahit tayo ay magpa-botox, magpustiso at magpeluka – Pilipinas pa rin ang ating bansa na dapat nating mahalin, itaguyod at ipangtanggol.
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) March 12, 2026
“We must love our country even if we have gained a second citizenship or have friends abroad. We must always remember that our country comes first because we were born as Filipinos and we will die as Filipinos. The Philippines’ interests must come first for us, not those of other countries,” he said in the DZMM interview.
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Lacson: CA Posibleng Panagutin sa Falsification of Records sa ‘Pag-amyenda’ sa ‘Give Up KIG’ Remarks ni Marcoleta
Posibleng panagutin ang Commission on Appointments (CA) sa paglabag sa batas kung aamyendahan nito ang minutes ng pagdinig noong Pebrero 4 na naglalaman ng pahayag ni Sen. Rodante Marcoleta na i-“give up” ang Kalayaan Island Group, ayon kay Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Sabado.
Sinabi ni Lacson na may probisyon sa Article 170 ng Revised Penal Code na nagpapataw ng parusa para sa falsification of legislative documents. Aniya, ito ang dahilan kung bakit nagbabala siya hinggil dito sa kanyang privilege speech sa Senado noong Marso 10.
“Meron sa Revised Penal Code, Article 170, ang falsification of legislative records. Kaya dapat pagaralang mabuti kung yan ba ay bahagi na ng legislative records ang naka-pending. Hindi pa yan naka-approve. Naka-defer ang approval ng minutes ng pagdinig na yan,” aniya sa panayam sa DZMM radio.
“Naisabi ko na ito kay Senate President Sotto kasi siya din ang chair ng CA. Mag-ingat tayo dito. Kasi baka mamaya kung makasuhan ng falsification of legislative records pati tayo madamay pa as co-conspirators kasi tayo nag-approve,” dagdag niya.
Sa ngayon, sinabi ni Lacson na ang mosyon ni Marcoleta na palitan ang bahagi ng record ng naturang pagdinig ay ini-refer na sa Committee on Rules ng CA upang suriin.
Saklaw ng Article 170 ng Revised Penal Code ang falsification of legislative documents. Nakasaad dito na ang sinumang walang sapat na awtoridad na magbabago ng anumang panukalang batas, resolusyon o ordinansang pinagtibay, inaprubahan o nakabinbin sa alinmang kapulungan ng lehislatura o sa alinmang provincial board o municipal council ay maaaring patawan ng parusang prision correccional sa pinakamataas na antas at multang P1.2 milyon.
Binanggit din ni Lacson na naging kumplikado ang sitwasyon dahil sa isang resolusyon mula sa Sangguniang Bayan ng Kalayaan, Palawan na humihiling na alisin sa opisyal na rekord ng Kongreso ang pahayag ni Marcoleta.
“Ang mga kababayan natin sa Kalayaan municipality ang nagparating ng hinaing at pinapatanggal sa record. Nasa page 22 ng journal kasi minarkahan ko yan. Alam kong meron siyang motion, kailangan consider din namin ang sulat ng Sangguniang Bayan ng Kalayaan municipality,” aniya.
Samantala, muling nanawagan si Lacson sa mga Pilipino na mahalin ang bansa higit sa lahat, anuman ang kanilang anyo o kahit pa mayroon silang pangalawang pagkamamamayan.
Noong Biyernes, nag-post si Lacson sa X na dapat tandaan ng lahat ng Pilipino na iisa lamang ang kanilang bansa—ang Pilipinas—at dapat nila itong mahalin at ipagtanggol.
“Pilipino tayo. Mag-iba man ang ating anyo – kumulubot ang balat, mabawasan ng ngipin at malagas ng buhok – kahit tayo ay magpa-botox, magpustiso at magpeluka – Pilipinas pa rin ang ating bansa na dapat nating mahalin, itaguyod at ipangtanggol,” aniya sa X.
“Dapat mahalin natin ang ating bansa kung nagkaroon man tayo ng second citizenship tulad ng kababayan natin o meron kang interest o pakipagkaibigan sa ibang bansa at nagkaroon ng sigalot sa ating bansa dapat unahin natin alalahanin natin palagi, pinanganak tayong Pilipino at mamamatay tayong Pilipino. Dapat interest ng ating bansa ng Pilipinas ang ating pinaglalaban at tinataguyod. Hindi pwedeng mas mahal natin ang ibang bansa kesa sa ating sariling bayan,” aniya sa panayam sa DZMM.
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