PRIB: Transcript of Kapihan with Sen. Grace Poe

On her first three days of attending Senate session

Ok naman. Masaya naman kasi umpisa pa lang naman. We are trying to be with one another. Seems it's very cordial and very friendly.

On the period of adjustment as a senator

Ok lang po. Sabi ko nga, alam niyo ba 'yung pelikulang Mangarap ka at Magising. I am not a stranger on having board meetings and caucuses. In the MTRCB before we have about 29 members. So para bang the last board meeting I had with the MTRCB with characters there... tapos biglang pagdilat ko nandyan na si Senator Jinggoy at Senator Frank. Para bang ibang level at ibang atmosphere. So, ok lang talaga.

On being elected as chairman of Senate committee public order and illegal drugs

I made it clear that a committee could make my work in the Senate meaningful. You don't necessary get the committee that you would like. Initially, I wanted the Committee on Agriculture, but Ma'am Cynthia has that already. I wanted other committees, but Public Order is also a very timely and significant committee at this point because you are dealing with the welfare of our countrymen when it comes to peace and order and the welfare of our police officers. Sabi nga nila, bakit babae? But, this is also the statement that we are moving forward from stereotypes. In fact, a lot of agencies in the government now have a lot of women, the DOJ and the BIR headed by women.

Public Order, sabi ko siguro naman pwede ko makita sa ibang anggulo ang sitwasyon ng peace and order kasi palaging lalake. Kahit ang mga tatay kapag nag-disiplina sa mga anak ay iba. Safety looks at the different point of view of the father and from the different point of view of the mother. Like a mom naman would be more like on ano ba talaga ang nangyayari sa iyo o ano ba talaga ang kailangang gagawin. Pero tough kung kinakailangan.

On handling the Senate committee on public order and illegal drugs easily

Alam ko hindi madali. That is why I requested Sen. Gringo Honasan to be my Vice Chairman. I think in principle he already accepted it but he has to discuss it with the minority. But, he seem very interested and very happy about it. Let us wait for his announcement.

In my case, any committee that you join can make it an important committee. And, any committee will always have important and difficult moments. Especially now, in public order all of this things that are happening in our country, we know that everything stems on having food security having peace and order. I will try to do my best and to make sure to hear all the sides so that we can make meaningful laws that will really guide them in the future. On plans on public order

Iyong mga naiisip nating plano dito sa Public Order, unang-una, i-assess rin ang sitwasyon ng mga pulis. Sinabi rin kasi ng ating Pangulo na nadagdagan na ang ating housing. Totoo naman lahat iyon at patuloyo pa rin. Ang gusto ko ngang makita, magpapa-briefing tayo sa mga sabihin na nating hindi lamang matataas na pwesto sa ating pulisya kundi within their peers dahil sila iyong medyo may influence din para malaman kung saan ba tayo nagkakaroon ng lapses in their opinion. Hindi ko intention na palaging magkakaroon ng hearing dahil nagkaroon ng rub out dito at nagkaroon ng gulo dyan. As long as the agencies that are supposed to do the investigating is doing their job, I do not think the Senate should overstep its mandate.

However, I think we need to do separate briefing from the heads of the PNP and those that have influence among their peers to see the lapses.

On why she wanted the Senate committee on agriculture

Kasi food security ako. Naniniwala kasi ako na isa sa ugat ng ating problema ay kagutuman. Tapos, hindi naman tayo uusad economically kung iyong pinakamahirap nating kababayan ay hindi makakain. Plus, ang pinakamahirap na sector sa ating lipunan ay agrikultura rin. Napapag-iwanan. Pero, ngayon ay nagkaroon na ng interest dahil sa pagkakaroon agri-industrial framework and mechanization. Naniniwala ako na susi talaga ito sa ating pag-angat.

Ang tatay ko kasi, kapag nag-shoshooting marami syang nakakadaumpalad na mga magsasaka, kaya nga ang lakas-lakas nya sa mga Nueva Ecija at sa mga malalayong lugar na mga ganoon. Magpapatubig sya. Iyong irrigation talaga. Hindi ko naman sinasabi na libre ang mga patubig. Pero, by this time, ilang milyong hectares na dapat ang ating irrigation availability sa ating mga magsasaka.

Ang isa ko pang programa ko ay free lunch program sa K to 12. Magkakaroon ng pagkain. Sinabi ko nga kay Ma'am Cynthia isama na niya ako sa Committee on Agriculture, ok naman sa kanya. Ewan ko kung Vice Chairman or member. Sa commercial ko, sabi ko gusto ko magkaroon ng sapat na pagkain ang mga bata at sapat na kita ang mga manggagawa at magsasaka. Gusto ko din namang matugunan at mapatunayan na gagawin ko iyon. On the chairmanship on public order committee

Walang no choice sa pagpili ng pangungunahan mong committee. Kapag binigyan ka ng pagkakataon, mamimili ka ng mga committee na kung saan marami kang magagawa. Aaminin ko lahat ng gusto ko at meron na akong interest, may mga nakakuha na. So, sabi ko, saan pa ba ako pwedeng committee na marami din akong magagawa pang maganda. Tapos, sabi ng mga kasama ko na si FPJ na lagi niyang ipinagmamalaki ang mga pulis at pulis pa sya palagi sa kanyang mga pelikula at marami din tayong problema sa peace and order. Makakatulong din tayo na alisin nating ang stereotype na dapat talaga military at lalake ang mamumuno sa public order. Magagaling sila. Di ba kunyari ang expertise ay structural and interior na kung ipagsama mo iyon ay magkakaroon ng addressing of issues that weren't the focus before. I'm not an expert but I think I have the discipline to really study and make sure I'm doing the right thing in any particular assignment I'm given. I'm hardworking. The plight of our policemen is close to our hearts because my father portrayed a lot of police characters, and has lot of friends at the PNP and had seen the situation first hand because he shot in many locations all over the country. He said that the police should always be given the proper compensation and the proper social protection so that they can do their job properly.

On conducting an investigation about the latest PNP rubout controversy

Titingnan natin. Andyan ang DOJ para imbistigahan "yun. Kumpyansa naman ako kay DOJ Secretary De Lima na kaya niya 'yun. Kung sa tingin natin ay magkaroon ng kakulangan, talaga namang kailangang magkaroon ng Senate inquiry tungkol dyan.

On being a female head of a committee that is dominated by men

Sa tingin ko I willI have to be able to prove myself na kaya ng isang babae to head the Committee on Public Order and Illegal Drugs .I don't want to become a reference later that a woman cannot do a man's job.

On the need of the PNP to have a continuing education

I'd like to have an inquiry on how the police actually gather their evidence. This is something we need to refresh just like as the lawyers have continuing education to make themselves familiar kung may mga amendments sa batas. Our police also needs a continuing education and a reminder on how to do things. Maraming kaso ang nasasalaula at nawawalan ng merito dahil illegal nga ang pagkakuha ng mgaebidensya.

I want to review the hiring and application process. Nakakalungkot na sa entrance examination pa lamang ay merong ilang daang applicants ang nahuling nangdaya. Application pa lang 'yan. Ibig sabihin angproblema ay hindi lang sa mga police force kung hindi sa kultura din. Bago pa lang sila mag-apply ang kanilang perception ay hindi serbisyoo responibildad para sa bayan. Doon pa lang ay may problema na sa conception, at kultura at sistema ng atingmga police. There's no need for official public hearing . But I want to ask them anong continuing education sa mga police natin, evidence gathering, papaano ginawa ang mga exams. Nag K to 12 program na tayo, may mother tongue na tayo. Nagbibigay ka ng exams sa Mindanao in English na hindi naman nila dialect. Some of these are practical knowledge We also need to see what language they are familiar with. We need the exams to be standardized but we have to consider also the language. My son had a hard time getting in U.P. because the exams are in Filipino. Sometimes, it also the language.

On passing the FOI Bill

Inihainko 'yung nakalagay sa ating Constitution na the right of our countrymen to information is recognized. Hindi kasi clear. Sinaad ko lahat ang importansya ng pagkakaroon ng information sa isang demokrasya.

Marami namang ibang nag-file tungkol sa batas na ito. Gusto ko talagang dingin ito. Ito 'yung backbone ng public information. Dalawang bagay lang, basta 'yung national security ay hindi dapat i-compromise, basta wag lang gawing excuse. Basta ang national security ay hindi gawing excuse. Kahit naman sa US 'yung Homeland Security nila meron silang Patriot Act. Pero hindi naman pwedeng puro Patriot Act na lang ang dahilan na mag-eavesdrop ka o gagawa ka nga ng ano na lang bagay. 'Yung Right of Reply hindi ako sang-ayon. Para din itong kapamilya ng censorship na didiktahan ka kung papaano mo iuulat o sasaliksikin ang isang istorya. I requested for immediate deliberation on this bill because I feel strongly about their advocacy. I feel that this is one way we can prove that we are serious about issues that concern our countrymen that have always been talked about by the media. At least at this level we can start it na.

On convincing the counterpart at the House for the passage of FOI

Yes, but more effectively than myself and the other senators is you doing the lobby. It's not called a lobby for nothing. Make sure your presence is felt. Make sure you tell them. Make them accountable. You cover the proceedings. If we pass it here in the Senate, of course, it's their responsibility to pass it also.

I talked to someone in the House na parang kwentuhan lang. Tapos tinatanong nila ako. Palagi ko sinasabi na i-priority ko 'yan sa hearing. Wala namang kumukontra. Kayo, tinatanong nyo ako kung papaano 'yan, hindi naman 'yan ang priority ng Malacañang. Ako, okey lang 'yan. Alam naman ng President na that has been my position ever since. Hindi naman nya sinasabing huwag nyong dingin 'yan.

On recommending that FOI be included in the LEDAC list of priority bills

Yes. Why not.This something that we can request. But it's up to them to see if this is really something that they need to prioritize. What I think is that it is a safety for us especially that in 2016 we will have a new administration. It's better that we are able to have a guarantee that we have access to information. Another thing is that our archiving system in the country is really bad. If we have a bill like that, it should include provisions on funding for archiving for every gov't institution or how they are able to discard certain documents. The U.S. is really good at archiving but in the Philippines unfortunately, even the birth certificate of my dad, we had to find it in an American institution here in the Philippines because the local gov't didn't have a copy.

On whether the FOI bill can be approved in the Senate by end of year

Hindi ko naman pwedeng ipapangako yan kasi...ah, dito sa Senate? Sana naman kasi kung 'yun ang uunahin kong deliberation sa Public Information Committee pero marami din kasing puedeng i-discuss doon sa public information committee na katulad doon sa film tourism na makikisama tayo doon sa Department of Tourism, 'yung tourism committee o ano man 'yon.

On FOI bill

Depende kasi kung anong kalalabasan doon sa mga provision na iaappruba dito sa Senado. Tapos siyempre hindi naman natin ipaghahaila na kung hindi naman priority measure hindi ganoon kadali. Pero wala naman nag kokontrabida, hindi ko naman sinasabi na ayaw nila. Kaya lang siyempre, lahat tayo may concern. Kunwari, ikaw may bahay, lahat naman kayo welcome dito, pwede naman ninyo makita kung ano nandyan, kaya lang wary din sila kung hanggang saan. I think we have to be able to assure them of certain provisions that will guarantee national security, that will also protect certain concerns of the government that will be of national interest.

On whether the passage of FOI will make the pork barrel funds more transparent

Opo nga po isa din yan pero kung hindi man sa ngayon, hopefully ginagawa na ng NBI 'yong patuloy na imbestigasyon.

On her allocation of pork barrel

Si Sen. Chiz Escudero palagi niya sinasabi 'yung PDAF diretso sa mga kunwari public markets o mga hospitals sa probinsya para wala kang problema kasi siya walang problema sa mga disbursements ng PDAF niya. Kahit saan kami pumupunta sa boong Pilipinas, maliliit lang nga, P500,000 each, at least nabigay niya equally. Maganda ang ginawa niya pero iba kas ang style ko, kasi 'yung campaign promise ko very specific, Pagkain Para sa mga Bata At Kita Para sa mga Magagawa at Magsasaka, kaya sabi ko habang hindi pa pinapasa 'yung free lunch program, tutukuyin naman 'yung mga public schools na pwedeng kaming makatulong. Anim na taon ako dito sa Senado at anim pa na taon pa hindi matatangal yan PDAF na yan, at least may six years na free lunch program sa mga public schools. Tapos interest free sa mga magsasaka. Mayroon na akong mga partylista naka-usap na pwede tayong magpautang na walang interest. Very interesting fact kasi 'yung sinasabi, kunwari six years old nagaaral, 12 years old na 'yun pag natapos ang term ko sa Senate. May impact na 'yun in terms of the physical makeup of the child and intellectual maturity. Sabi ng Goldman Saks, in 2050, the Philippines will be the 13th largest economy. A six-year old child now will be my age by 2050, so if we start a lunch program now, it will help hopefully by that time and if you don't start the program now, it will take away from that time when hopefully our country will be more progressive. That's why other Asian countries like Thailand for example, ever since they started this program, the citizens are much taller, 'yung mga ganoon lang, measurable results.

Senator Drilon had a feeding program supposedly but then we really need to start this. Ang mga anak natin hindi na sanay sa gatas. Kasi sabi nila bigayan ng gatas pero 'nung nagkaroon ng feeding program si Drilon, may mga ilang estudyante nagkasakit kasi lactose intolerant. Therefore, there has to be a cooperation among the Department of Health, the Department of Education, DSWD, and even the Department of Agriculture to find kung ano ba talaga, naging mas hypo-allergenic para sa mga anak natin at 'yung mga nakasanayang mga pagkain. Halimbawa, bigyan ka ng mga carrots at celery, peanut butter and jelly, so nakakabusog na 'yun, may protein, may gulay. Ang gulay kasi ang pinaka hindi ka magka-allergic effect. So ano ba talaga nakasanay mga tiyan ng Pilipino. 'Yun nutri-bun, sa mga public schools, palagi ko sinasabi kina Ted Failon, kina Ian, sina Ceasar Chavez ng DZRH, alam nila lahat 'yun. Naalala nila. So, sinabi ko na kung lumaki kayo matalino dahil kumakain kayo ng nutri-bun...how come we don't have those anymore? And now, in some places where we give free meals, you can see kids wrapping it para iuuwi sa mga kapatid nila. Ang computation namin parang P11 to 12 billion a year, ang feeding program . Wow, napaka ambitious. Sa ginagasta natin sa Conditional Cash Transfer, which I think is good, it gives them a push, the poorest of the poor is 43 billion and next year it will be around P43 billion. So, it's just a matter of, again, political will, where to source out our funding for the feeding program.

In Basilan, I think an elementary school only have 200 students, that is even less than a pre-school in Commonwealth. So, let's say you sponsor a school in Basilan, you sponsor one in Commonwealth, then you sponsor one in several areas, kung pipili ka schools, isang schools na. Gusto ko sa Pangasinan kasi taga dyan tatay ko. 'Yun mga schools na mahihirap. What if hindi na type nung President mag fefeeding program? Like 'yung nutri-bun was not institutionalized. Yung association ng mga panadero gustong makatulong kasi pwede ang mga RDA infused tinapay na gagamitin natin.

On whether Senator Poe is in favor to retain the pork barrel 'Yung discretion part ng pork barrel, which is ironic kasi kaya nga pork barrel may discretion, 'yun nga ang nagiging problema. 'Yung transparency ng mga NGOs na naa-accredit. Hindi naman ako magpapaka-plastic na sasabihin ko sa inyo, siyempre ikaw ay isang mambabatas, ang una mong trabaho ay magbalangkas ng batas. Ikaw ay nilagay diyan ng mga kababayan mo, kahit paano lalapit yan sa iyo. Wala ba kaagad kaming mararamdaman? 'Yun nga sana. Katulad ni Senator Chiz, pag umiikot kami, "Uy Senator, salamat doon sa funding ng ospital ha?" Kasi talaga namang nailalagay doon. So, siguro gumawa na lang tayo ng isang sistema para naman hindi nila maibulsa para sa pang-sarili nila 'yung pork barrel nila. Kasi hindi ko naman naramdaman na magkaroon ng pork barrel, so parang maganda nga kung iisipin mo. Hindi naman ako magwawala na tanggalin 'yan, okay lang din sa akin kasi nasanay naman din ako sa ganito kaliit na budget for P42 million sa MTRCB, wala namang mga discretionary funds, so okay lang din. But in principle kasi, when you know what it is really supposed to be used for, it seems like a good thing to have, but if it has really gotten such a bad stigma then we really need reforms in instituting it.

Actually ngayon, sabi ko nga sa legislative staff ko, ibigay mo nga sa akin 'yung guidelines sa PDAF. Wala kasing nakalagay doon na through several departments, tapos basta accredited ng department na 'yun 'yung NGO, mailalagay mo na doon. Siguro dapat nga magkaroon ng isang mas stringent na screening ng mga NGO na ito, tapos magkaroon lang ng halaga na 50% for livelihood. Hindi ko sinasabing ganoon, pero ganito lang for health. Hindi pwede na for other things, and let's say, Class A NGOs only, kasi magkakaroon ng level 'yan. First tier, second tier, third tier. Ibig sabihin, FDCP, halimbawa yung Film Development Council, rated A, rated C 'yung pelikula. Meron ng mga reputasyon kung baga 'yung mga NGO na ito, rated A na ito, ito 'yung talagang walang ano pero meron din namang mga bagong NGO na ang gaganda din naman nung mga panukala kaya lang, hindi pa rin masyadong subok. Kailangan magkaroon ng classification na ganyan, pero lahat accountable. Tinanong din ako ni Ka Tonying, "Sa tingin mo, hanggang saan ba accountable ang isang mambabatas sa road project?" Sabi ko aba, kung may warranty 'yung semento hanggang oras na, kasi di ba kung magbi-bidding ka, kailangan 'yung quality ng gravel, 'yung quality ng semento, hindi mo pagtitipiran 'yun.

'Yung sistema ng accountability, hanggang saan ang Senador? Dapat ilagay talaga 'yun, pero para sa akin, may pera ka, sabi nga, hindi mo dapat suriin kung saan ginagastos ng Senador yung PDAF kasi parang baon na iyon na binibigay sa kanya, hindi. Parang kung may anak ka, "Anak, heto para sa pagkain mo ha?" Hindi mo naman titingnan, "Akin na lahat ng resibo." Pero kung nakikita mo na high na 'yung anak mo, doon na yata ginagastos 'yung pera. Di ba ganoon din? Magkaroon din tayo ng accountability naman sa ating mga mambabatas na binigay mo 'yung pera na 'yun, kahit na isang daang libo, di ba gusto mo din malaman ano ang naging bunga nun? Konswelo naman 'yan sa iyo. Pupunta ka sa isang lugar na 'yung mga bata, biglang naging malusog, gumanda 'yung kalsada. Parang napakalayo sa human nature not to be curious about something you invested in, but maybe we should put it very clearly that you need to have reporting and measurable results. Yun lang naman.

On how strict the Senators will be on the use of PDAF

'Yun nga ang sabi ni Senate President, na magkakaroon nga ng mga reforms tungkol d'yan. Hindi kasi sa akin problema yun. Nung nasa MTRCB kami, pati 'yung mga Jollibee na binibigay namin, may resibo talaga 'yun. Kung meron kang ka-meeting, nagbayad ka ng pagkain para doon sa meeting mo, dapat naka-lista kung sino 'yung ka-meeting mo. Sabi magkakaroon daw ng reforms. Kung ano man 'yun, tanungin ninyo na lang 'yung Senate President kung ano 'yung napagkasunduan na.

May mga legitimate concern. Ako, may iba na pumapasok dito na siyempre, hindi ka naman kukuha ng pera pero minsan, meron ka talagang meeting na hindi mo mailalagay lahat ng kasama mo. Kunyari nagkaroon ng meeting na diplomacy with another country, hindi mo ilalagay kung sino yung ka-meeting mo. Curious lang ako how they will be able to resolve that.

On the Freedom of Information

Syempre, kakausapin ko din naman sila at kahit naman in the process, may consultation. I plan to have somebody from Malacañang represent their side also. We really have to sit and they have to voice out on record the concern of Malacañang and I will respect them, but then again it will ultimately depend on the majority of the House and the Senate kung ano ang ivo-vote nila. Sa tingin ko wala namang personal 'yan, alam naman ng Presidente ayoko doon sa MTRCB. 'Yung freedom of expression, 'yung mga creative freedom, 'yan 'yung anggulo ko. Hindi naman sinasabi na dapat homogenous lahat ng opinions natin, kaya lang nag wag naman mambastos na parang "Hindi, kailangang priority ito," hindi naman ako mag-gaganoon. Pakikinggan ko din naman 'yung side ng Malacañang.

Because it is a new Congress, obviously there will be discussions on the matter. I think naman in the Senate, I don't think naman much discussion but the cause that I would like to give attention to obviously is the side of Malacañang because there is no denying that it is not their priority measure and they have some reservations, and they filed their own version. I would like to see where the concern is coming from because the executive is a significant part of this whole process and the people had given President PNoy an overwhelming mandate. We really also have to take into consideration what the President thinks about it. There are other points to ponder here.

Q: Do you get the sense that the administration is not interested in passing the FOI?

Hindi ko naman kailangan bigyan ng confirmation ito. Obviously, it's not their passion but wala din naman silang ginagawa para patayin ito. I mean hindi naman nila sinabi sa committee na 'Hoy, kung sino ang ilalagay niyo sa committee ng Public Information, siguraduhin niyo hindi papasa ang FOI ha?' Wala naman akong narinig na ganon. Wala namang nagsasabing kailangan pag ikaw ay nasa committee na 'yan ay kontra ka sa FOI. Hindi nanggigipit ang Malacañang. They're not passionate about it. That's their prerogative. Of course, the media I can understand. As a former private citizen, I would like to know what's happening in the government kaya I'm pushing for it.

Q: Malacañang says that they already do the provisions in the FOI, how do you think they could see the point that you mentioned?

I wish I could tell you more but a lot of these things kasi is having a heart to heart talk to the people concerned. I've not done that yet but I'd like to know what the reservations are because baka dyahe lang sila sabihin sa inyo. Baka I can say it in a more diplomatic way why they're not very passionate about it. I'm curious to know. I think this particular administration may be pushing for it considering 2016 is around the corner and they would like to preserve that legacy. I would like to. That's why I feel strongly for the FOI.

Pwede mag-umpisa kausapin ang PCOO ano 'yung opinion nila not even asking 'Bakit ayaw niyo ng FOI?' For all we know, gusto nila. Ano ba ang concern natin sa FOI na pwede maging successful bill on all sides? I'll do the chain of command. Ayoko naman 'yung basta diretso.

On the urgency of the approval of the FOI

I could eventually do that but I will admit to you now that I will not do that until I actually heard all sides. That includes the side of the President. For me, to be able to justify an urgent bill, I would have to say don't worry about A,B,C. Here is what we think about it. Pero totoo kung hindi ito i-certify na urgent, ilang taon na naman 'yan? 'Yung Kasambahay Bill gaano katagal 'yun? Nine years? Tapos 'yung RH bill. Pwede naman natin sabihin na hindi ito RH pero delikado ito kasi pag-alis ng PNoy admin in 2016. 'Yun din 'yung maiiwan sakin. If ever this will not affect them so much. I don't think this reasoning is for self-interest. There has to be something and I will tell you now, I don't know. I'd like to find out more what their concerns are.

On the law governing MTRCB

Definitely, we need to amend the MTRCB mandate. First of all, yung PB 1986, 1985 pa kasi 'yun. Nakalagay dun is to help the movie and TV industry become a viable part of the economy. It's not censorship, its classification. It's an interim body that's supposed to pave the way towards self-regulation. Kaya nga po pag-upo ko dun sa MTRCB, unang-una hindi ito censorship, classification ito. Wag na tayo maghanap ng self-regulation na papayagan tayo ng Congress na gagawing self-regulated ang MTRCB kung 'yung manonood ay hindi pa alam ang ibig sabihin ng classification. Siyempre if you're a film maker, you're accountable to the people. But if the people are not familiar with the parameters of your age classification, paano na 'yon? That's why we were able to convince them that at the beginning of every show, meron nang G, PG, SGP. May warning na sa parents. Kasi alam mo ang hirap balansehin ng freedom of expression, creative freedom and responsibility ng parents. At least ito, parents are forewarned. Nahirapan ako kasi, magkano sa GMA at ABS ang 30 second ad? P350,000. Kada-MTRCB advisory 12 seconds 'yon, so parang nakakabawas sa oras nila 'yon. In the end, parang nahihirapan sila. Sabi ko, this is your investment for the future. Tingnan mo ngayon, because of that maraming nagsusulat sa mga website ng MTRCB na mali 'yung classification ninyo dapat SPG 'yung show na 'yan.

Ang ginagawa kasi nila ngayon ay nag-seseminar sila sa gender sensitivity. Magkakaroon nga ng second child summit, na sinimulan ko noon, ang MTRCB to invite stakeholders, DSWD, DOLE, lahat ng networks kung 'yung mga child actors ninyo merong trust fund. 'Yun pang palabas niyo sa TV, ilang porsyento ba ang SPG? It's more of an advocacy. We cannot impose it. We don't want to have censorship nga. Anong ibig sabihin nito pag may nagreklamo? Hindi naman ibig sabihin nito na hindi na natin ito pwede ilabas. Nirerespeto ko naman yung pananaw ng simbahan. Lahat din naman may pananaw na binabalanse.

Q: Meron ba kayong i-pupush na legislation concerning MTRCB as chairman of the Committee on Public Information and Mass Media?

Pwede rin magkaroon ng amendments kasi nakalagay doon na 30 members, 15 may come from the TV and movie industries. Dapat "must" come from kasi di ba imagine mo, MTRCB Board, noong dating administrasyon, kaibigan ko ito, ilalagay ko dyan. Kay PNoy, may mga kakilala siya pero tingnan mo ang qualifications, either child advocate o kaya indie film director. Importante kasi na kung sino ang ilalagay mo sa Board, nakakaintindi kasi kung ang ilalagay mo sa Board walang koneksyon, although binabalanse 'yan kaya 15 from the movie industry and 15 ordinary citizens like housewives because they're also part of it. Alam mo 'yung MPAA, Motion Pictures Association of America, dahil wala ngang budget ang MTRCB di ba, gusto kong makausap ang MPAA paano nila ginagawa 'yung self-regulation. On my own, when I went to the States, I was still with the MTRCB, I met with Joan Graves, 'yung head ng MPAA. I said, "Ma'am, how were you able to support a self-regulated classification body?" Though we have fees kapag nagpapa-review for example ang Warner Bros., how much do you charge? Sa MTRCB, ang reviewing, P8,000 pero noong naupo ako, kapag indie film director ka, less than P2,000 ang babayaran mo. Binigyan ko ng 70% discount. Tinanong ko ang MPAA how much do you charge, "Oh, for a full length movie, $25,000. For a 5-minute short film, $700." They maintain a lobby in Congress so the laws are protecting their freedom of expression. Naiintindihan natin na iba naman ang ekonomiya ng Amerika. Siyempre, iba naman din dito.

On the number one senator in the elections getting a pick of committees

Ayokong isipin na ganoon na nga. Siyempre top notcher, feeling mo may mga ganoon. Wala na 'yon. The minute you walked in the door, para sa akin, iba na ang playing field dito. Wala akong partido although Team PNoy ako so Majority pa rin. Kahit papaano that accounts for something. Pero the strongest bloc in the Senate now is alam niyo sino.

Noong ako nilagay sa MTRCB, hindi ko naman hinanap 'yan. In fact, being the daughter of someone in showbiz ayaw namin diyan kasi feeling namin, iyan ang nag-iimpede ng freedom. Pero sabi nga, that's your chance to make a difference if you don't agree with it. I would like to have that particular focus and mindset, you don't necessarily get your first choice but you can make the most out of the situation as long as you work hard.

On plans for 2016

Para ambisyonin ko 'yung 2016, I guess normal lang 'yun when your within the top 5, you're considered as a possible. I won't have naman false humilities. What my concern is right now is also my fear. Number one, people try to scrutinize what I'm doing. I'm doing this, as I said naman, to give honor to my dad. I feel that I can do that even in the Senate. How much does it cost to run in a national position? Napakahirap naman niyan. Sa ngayon, ayokong mapasubo sila pero may mga kaibigan ako na alam kong magiging magaling naman sa 2016.

Sa ngayon, ang tinitingnan ko talaga anim na taon sa Senado. Walang lumalapit sa akin para tumakbo ng 2016. Wala akong nilalapitan. Pero sabihin na ina-ambisyon ko 'yan. Di ko ina-ambisyon 'yan. Pangalawa, iniisip ko kung kakayanin ko 'yan. In the future I may have a different mindset but for now, I am telling you that I don't feel that I'm qualified until I prove myself in the Senate.

On the abolishment of the cedula

Sana na lang ang ID system, hindi pipilitin pero kung gusto mo meron ka. Hindi lang SSS but an ID you can get from the government. Ang hirap din kasi ng walang identification. Noong nasa MTRCB nga ako nagkaroon kami ng project with the Department of Education, 'yung papasok sa K to 12, sana merong date of birth para kapag nanood ng sine. Pwede 'yung tingnan as your legal document. Sana ganoon na lang.