Finally, Sen. Ping Lacson said what many Filipinos have been quietly thinking about Rodante Marcoleta.
The verbal sparring in the Senate on March 10 was more than just a clash of personalities. It was a rare moment when someone actually called out a troubling pattern: a senator more eager to stir controversy than to clarify where he truly stands on the national interest.
In a privilege speech, Lacson didn’t hold back. He accused Marcoleta of “ego-driven provocations” and described the whole scene as a political circus – a circus that has overshadowed serious discussions the country deserves. This was not an offhand insult, it was a measured but sharp response to months of theatrics.
I’ve watched Marcoleta’s antics for years, but even I was surprised by the extent of his theatrics this time.
According to Lacson, Marcoleta always wants to be the star. Whether it was as former chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, in debates over the West Philippine Sea, in controversies involving China, or even in the obscure restitution case of the Discaya couple, the spotlight seems to follow him wherever he goes.
And yet, the stakes are real. These issues are not stage props. They involve sovereignty, maritime rights, and the dignity of the Philippines – a country that still faces aggressive maneuvers in waters that are indisputably ours.
Instead of fortifying the nation’s position, Marcoleta’s interventions often raise eyebrows. He frames disputes in ways that appear sympathetic to Beijing, leaving many to wonder whose side he’s really on.
Criticizing government policy is one thing. Questioning strategy is healthy. But repeatedly sounding like an apologist for a foreign power, especially one that harasses our fishermen and coast guard, crosses a line.
Lacson called it out. And that’s why his words resonated beyond the Senate floor. Because the question he raised is one that Filipinos have long whispered: Why does Marcoleta seem more energized defending China than defending the Philippines?
The Senate is supposed to be a chamber of statesmen, not a platform for grandstanding. When the discussion is about the West Philippine Sea, the stakes are national, not political.
If this is truly a political circus, as Lacson said, the audience – the Filipino people – are no longer applauding.
