Rep. Marcoleta, PCG spox trade barbs over WPS

Rep. Rodante Marcoleta and PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Commodore Jay Tarriela, engaged in a verbal exchange during a House tri-committee hearing on disinformation.

Marcoleta accused Tarriela of failing to refute social media claims that labeled him a "traitor" and pro-China for his statement that the WPS is a "creation by us [Filipinos]".

Tarriela clarified that his earlier statement, which questioned Marcoleta's claim of 'no WPS', was twisted online to imply he had called the congressman a traitor, a term he never used.

Marcoleta insisted that Tarriela should have corrected netizens who called him a traitor, emphasizing his point that the WPS should be officially recognized by the International Hydrographic Organization.

Tarriela countered Marcoleta's assertion by stating, "I will not agree that you are correct. [The] West Philippine Sea is our exclusive economic zone (EEZ)."

Tarriela expressed his frustration on X, saying such a statement is a "disservice and an embarrassment to their entire party, the organization they belong to, and even their own family."