MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday called partylist Representative Rodante Marcoleta’s controversial statement on the West Philippine Sea as part of the lawmaker’s efforts to get attention ahead of the midterm elections.

Marcoleta on Tuesday’s House Tri Comm hearing on misinformation and disinformation claimed that the West Philippine Sea — which refers to the country's western maritime territory —  does not officially exist. 

The lawmaker’s remarks did not sit well with the Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela. 

He called Marcoleta “a disservice and an embarrassment to their entire party, the organization they belong to, and even their own family.”

Tarriela slams Marcoleta over West Philippine Sea remarks

 Marcos Jr. however deems this as a strategy to get headlines, noting the Marcoleta is running for the Senate in the upcoming midterm polls.

 “Okay. All I can say, he’s expressing his opinion. When I see him, lolokohin ko siya – he is a candidate eh, so he has to grab headlines ‘di ba? So, tama ‘yung ginawa niya for a candidate,” Marcos Jr. said. 

“Ngayon, we’re talking about him na. Magaling talaga siya sa ganyan.”

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