Palace does not see Marcoleta's statements on West PH Sea as treason

Sen. Rodante Marcoleta leads the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged anomalous flood control projects in the country on September 8, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA -- Senator Rodante Marcoleta's statements seemingly supporting China's claim in the West Philippine Sea is not considered treason, Malacañang said on Monday.

Marcoleta earlier clashed with other senators after the opposition lawmaker questioned the legality of an international arbitral ruling that invalidates China's sweeping claim in areas impinging on the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. 

READ: AFP reiterates won't cede 'one square inch' of territory after Marcoleta's 'give up' remark

"Alam naman po natin, ang isa sa elemento po ng treason ay dapat po na mayroong actual state of war so wala naman po tayo sa ngayon na—wala po tayo sa estado ng actual state of war," Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told Palace reporters.

"Unang-una, kung anuman po ang napagdedebatihan sa Senado, ginagampanan lang nila ang kanilang tungkulin at mayroon po tayong sinasabi na freedom of expression," she said.

Despite this statement, Castro clarified that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remains firm on his commitment that the Philippines will not surrender even a square inch of its territory and interests in the West Philippine Sea.

"Ang nais din po ng Pangulo, maipahatid ninuman, ng bawat Pilipino kung ano ba ang ating karapatan sa ating teritoryo, kung ano ba ang interes natin sa West Philippine Sea," she said. 

"Wala pong anumang bahagi ng teritoryo natin o anumang interes ang isu-surrender sa anumang foreign power pero dapat din po tayong maging tugma sa ating ipinapahayag," she said.

"May kasabihan nga tayo, 'Ang magtanim ng hangin, bagyo ang aanihin,'" she added.

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Marcoleta and several other members of the Senate opposition bloc were criticized last week over their alleged support for China's propaganda in the West Philippine Sea.

In 2016, an international arbitration court ruled that Beijing's 9-dash line map — claiming most parts of the South China Sea — had no legal basis.

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