Tag: Palawan

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Lacson Debunks Marcoleta’s Claims on Tomas Cloma with Facts

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

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‘Kalayaan Is Ours’: Lacson Grounds Philippine Claim in Legal Principle

A long-standing legal principle supports the Philippines’ ownership of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) in Palawan without having to argue about the nuances of international law, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson said the Philippines became the owner of the KIG through a mode of acquiring territory known as discovery and effective occupation.

“Yung Spratly Islands, hindi ba si Tomas Cloma ang naka-discover nito kasi in-occupy niya? And this was formalized by the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. by way of Presidential Decree 1596 in 1978 (In the case of the Spratly Islands, wasn’t Tomas Cloma the one who discovered and occupied it? This was formalized by the late President Ferdinand Marcos by way of Presidential Decree 1596 in 1978),” Lacson said at the hearing of the CA’s Committee on National Defense.

In Filipino: Atin Ito! Ipinundar ni Lacson sa Prinsipyong Legal ang Pag-Aangkin ng Pilipinas sa Kalayaan Islands

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On the Newly-Signed Bangsamoro Organic Law

The Bangsamoro Organic Law is not perfect, but is a big leap towards peace in Mindanao. Or so we hope. Much credit goes to President Duterte and his strong political will in this regard.

I would have wanted the creation of two sub-regions under one Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. I have in fact suggested that to the President in one of our small group meetings in Malacanang. It is my view that we could do away with the possible breakaway factions from the Tausog and other ethnic groups from the Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Palawan group of islands.

We should learn from history when the Maguindanaoans and Maranaws and others from Central Mindanao broke away and formed the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) when the central government talked peace with Misuari’s Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

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