Sen. Rodante Marcoleta on Wednesday criticized a video released by the office of Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson, claiming it falsely suggested he supported surrendering the Kalayaan Island Group.
In a privilege speech at the Senate, Marcoleta clarified that he never advocated giving up the territory.
The senator said the video recently circulated by Lacson’s office appeared to be a “cheapfake,” describing it as material manipulated through basic editing techniques.
To support his claim, Marcoleta played the video in question during his speech and also presented a transcript from the Commission on Appointments hearing where his remarks were originally made.
According to Marcoleta, the transcript showed that portions of his statements were taken from different pages. He said the clips were then stitched together, creating the impression that the remarks were delivered in a continuous sequence.
He said the edited version led to a misconception and distorted the meaning of what he actually said during the hearing.
Marcoleta argued that the editing was not an error but a deliberate act.
The senator also warned that video manipulations such as the one he described could potentially violate the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
The dispute centers on remarks attributed to Marcoleta regarding the Kalayaan Island Group, a territory claimed by the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea.
Marcoleta said the edited video misrepresented his position on the issue, prompting him to address the matter formally before the Senate.
