Press Release
May 19, 2015

Transcript of interview with Sen. Cynthia Villar
(Hearing on bill declaring smuggling of agricultural products as economic sabotage)

Q: Having heard the position of resource persons, ipapasa nyo na po yung bill classifying smuggling of agricultural products as economic sabotage?

Villar: Yes, I think even the government sector and the private sector are very supportive of the bill. We just have to iron out iyong mga details kasi magde-define kami kung ano ba yung gingawa nilang bad practices that will qualify as economic sabotage.

Q: Anong klaseng agricultural products po kaya ito?

Villar: Lahat.

Q: Magse-set lang po kayo ng amount?

Villar: Hindi nga sila naga-agree sa amount. I guess we have to do a technical working group sa threshold na amount. And then yung form ng agricultural products. We have to be specific para walang confusion.

Q: Why is it important to have this passed?

Villar: Kasi nakikita namin na walang nangyayari sa cases filed against smugglers. They always say na hindi namin sila kaya so we thought if we declare it as economic sabotage, that would be non-bailable. At least, habang hindi sila napo-prosecute nang tama, nakakulong sila.

Q: Ano po ang threshold so far?

Villar: Merong may mga opinion na it should be P5 million, may opinion naman na it depends on the product. Kasi may mga high-priced products, may low-priced products. We will see the threshold kasi medyo may controversy doon.

Q: Pwedeng mag-vary ang threshold depending on the product?

Villar: We will see. We have to find a common ground. Kasi ako, mas gusto ko sana mas simple, isa na lang ang threshold. But they are complaining so we have to see.

Q: Kumusta po ang smuggling ngayon?

Villar: Sabi nila itong 2014, time ni Commissioner Sevilla, nag-improve, nabawasan for the first time in many years. But now we have a new Customs Commissioner so we have to see what will happen. I think this is a continuing struggle. Sometimes, makikita mo yung isang practice tapos may maiisip na naman silang ibang practice. Malaki sila ngayon sa Mindanao, sa Zamboanga. Iyong huling nahuli, nakafloat sa Sulu Sea, tapos ipinapasok nang dahan-dahan dito sa mga ports ng Zamboanga. There are 90 ports in Zamboanga. So you can just imagine na hindi natin mabantayan iyon and they come in by motor boats na maliliit. It's very difficult.

Q: Sa tingin ninyo kayang ipass ang bill before the adjournment?

Villar: No. We will bring it to plenary upon the resumption of Congress. I believe also that if ever we make a bill, we make a good bill. Hindi iyong minamadali na mali-mali.

Q: This is the last committee hearing?

Villar: Yes, we will go to the technical working group kasi nadinig naman lahat ng opinion ng government at mga private. I think we have to discuss the details in a technical working group. Maybe we will bring it to plenary upon the resumption of session sa July.

Q: May listahan daw po ba ng smugglers?

Villar: Alam naman natin iyon. Lumabas na iyon sa investigation. Ang problema if they are able to prosecute.

Q: Kayo po ang may pinakamalaking net worth sa SALN ng 2014...

Villar: Ginagawa iyon ng accountant namin. Sa business naman nanggaling ang aming income hindi naman sa akin so sila ang may alam noon, hindi ako ganun kadetalye doon kasi hindi naman ako ang kumita nun, yung kumpanya ang kumita nun.

Q: But in a nut shell business po iyon?

Villar: Business earnings, dividends, I think.

Q: May update po ba tungkol sa paghahanap ng Nacionalista candidates?

Villar: Medyo magulo eh, diba. May mga Nacionalista na gustong kumandidato pero hindi pa rin sila sure. So I guess we have to wait. Anyway, sa October pa naman ang filing so we are giving them time to analyze their chances and then we'll decide.

Q: Sabi ni Sen. Trillanes, ipu-push daw po si Sen. Manny na tumakbo...

Villar: Siya ang may gusto nun, hindi si Sen. Villar.

Q: Ano po ba ang plano ni Sen. Manny Villar?

Villar: No, he is in business.

Q: Hindi na siya papasok sa pulitika?

Villar: Parang iyon na iyon. Of course, he is entitled to change his mind but for me, ang tingin ko iyon na iyon.

Q: Sino po ang nakikita ninyong magiging standard bearer?

Villar: Sa amin po ang interested to run would be Sen. Bongbong, Sen. Trillanes, and Sen. Cayetano. It's for them to finally decide what they want to do. Kami naman waiting lang kami.

Q: Kung hindi sila mag-improve sa surveys, possible ba na makipag-alyansa sa Liberal Party?

Villar: Hindi naman necessarily Liberal. We can ally ourselves to a candidate.

Q: Pwede ding Binay?

Villar: Ewan ko kung papayag si Sen. Cayetano saka si Sen. Trillanes.

Q: Pwede din po sa isang independent candidate na mataas sa survey pero walang partido, for example si Sen. Grace Poe?

Villar: Kung gusto niyang magpa-adopt. I think parang ang latest, she will run as an independent if ever.

Q: Sila Sen. Marcos po hindi malinaw ngayon kung tatakbo...

Villar: Hindi naman namin pinepressure, we give them time. It's a big decision to make. Ako, I believe they should be given time to think about it. Kasi maski ako, if I am going to do it, I will really think about it very hard. I understand that, we are not in a hurry. Anyway, we have time.

Q: Iyong kay Sen. Marcos, ano po iyon, pinresent niya ang sarili niya?

Villar: He can run. The problem is if he would want to run because he is running for reelection anyway as senator. He can go as senator, he can go on a higher position. It's his decision, I am not deciding for him.

Q: Si Sen. Alan at Sen. Trillanes hindi pa sila sigurado? Kasi ang impression sa tao, sigurado na sila...

Villar: They are sure about what they want to do. Hindi lang nila sinasabi pa kung tuloy na tuloy na iyon. They want to, but they are not saying if at all cost they will run.

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