Press Release
November 5, 2015

Kapihan sa Senado Transcript with Senator Bong bong Marcos

Cely Bueno: Okay let's start. Good morning. Welcome to our weekly "Kapihan sa Senado" and for today our guest is the chairman of the (Senate) Committee on Local Government. He is sponsoring the controversial Bangsamoro Basic Law. He's also the chairman of Committee on Public Works and at the same time, he is one of the vice presidential candidates for the 2016 elections. Let us all welcome, Senator Bongbong Marcos. Hi Sir, good morning.

Sen. Bongbong Marcos (SBBM): Good morning, good morning everyone. Thank you for inviting me once again to the Kapihan.

Question: Sir, first question. Is Santiago-Marcos tandem official already or you're still looking forward for Duterte-Marcos tandem?

SBBM: No, no, no. it's been official for a quite a long time already since the very start when Senator Miriam declared her candidacy. So, as the campaign period approaches, we are working out all the, I guess, nuts and bolts details na kami ngayon. So, that is where we are at now.

Q : So, when are we going to see the two of you together? And hindi po ninyo ba itataas ang kamay ng isa't-isa?

SBBM: Iyon na nga. Iyon ang mga pinaplano ngayon. Kung ano iyung mga events na pupuntahan namin. Kung ano iyung sabay, ano iyung hiwalay. That's what I'm saying. Iyun ang ibig ko sabihin 'pag sinabi kong "nuts and bolts." Iyung talagang scheduling na, again, all the other details that come with this kind of arrangement that what Senator Miriam has quite accurately described as a "loose coalition."

Q: So, you're still meeting with Mister Jun Santiago to finalize the details?

SBBM: Yes. With him and with some of the other staff members of Senator Miriam. Of course, we are in constant communication about all of this. But again, wala naman problema. It's just a question of ironing out details, as I said.

Q: Pero Sir, initially, ano 'yung arrangement? You will campaign together or separately?

SBBM: Both. We will do both. Because, again, to cover greater ground. Puwede maghiwalay, but there are certain events that we feel it would be best for us to be together, we will do that. So, that's where we are tending to right now. Bandang doon napupunta ang usapan.

Q: Pero may mga initial schedules na po ba na puwede na kayong masabi sa amin? Na dito, magkasama kami?

SBBM: We are doing it now. Iyun ang ginagawa namin ngayon. Meron kaming listahan. Iyung halimbawa natanggap ko na kung ano iyung mga natanggap na niya, tapos tinitingnan namin kung saan iyun tumutugma. That's precisely what we are doing with the members of her staff and with Secretary Jun.

Q: Sir do you have a senatorial line-up?

SBBM: We are getting there. Malapit na. We are trying to decide how to handle it, the usual system is that pinaghahatian. Pero I'm saying, baka siguro mas maganda kung pag-agreehan na lang natin iyung lahat ng ating senatorial line-up. Mukha namang there are very many great differences. It's just I guess the approach on how do we want to run the campaign and what do we want to highlight. Nandoon na tayo ngayon. In terms of platform, which is a little bit more important than the other details that we have to discuss. Which is like basically parang halos logistics na iyon. But again, exactly how to run the campaign is the critical question now.

Q: Sir ano ang target niyo? 12 slots? Pupunuin n'yo iyung 12 senatorial slots?

SBBM: I think so. I think so.

Q: Initially sino iyong nasa listahan Sir?

BBM: Well, so far. Ang na-announced ko na is Congressman Martin Romualdez, Vice-Mayor Isko Moreno. I have proposed that Manny Pacquaio join us. We have proposed many other people, but iyun na nga. Syempre mayroong din gusto si Senator Miriam. Mayroon din akong gusto. That's why we have to discuss it. I think it would be better for us if we agree on the 12. Rather than paghahatiin iyong anim-anim. Para naman lahat ng aming kasama ay pinili naming dalawa.

Q: Good morning Sir. What are the advocacies like you and Senator Miriam will be strongly pushing for? Lalo na it came as a bit of a surprise iyong naging team-up n'yo po?

SBBM: Not to me. It was not a surprise to me. Essentially, we are basing it on our advocacies. Our ideologies. That is why it did not come as a surprise to me because it turns out we believe in many of the same things. Good governance of course is at the top of the list and then we would like to be specific about our view on the present state of the country- what problems we are facing, and how those problems may be solved and what will be the approach, what are the guiding principles that Senator Miriam's administration, her government, would be encouraging. So, those are the kinds of policies that we see are necessary. Dahil nga sa mga problemang hinaharap ng Pilipinas ngayon.

Q: Sir, mayroon na ba kayong slogan? Like iyung iba di'ba, 'tuwid na daan," iyung iba "galing at puso". So, sa inyo ni Senator Miriam, ano po?

SBBM: Wala pa naman. Pero baka mapupunta sa high blood. Dahil pareho kami ni Senator Miriam. Pareho kaming may high blood pagka mayroon kaming nakikitang mga mahina at saka tatanga-tanga sa gobyerno. So, that's one thing we have in common. So, maybe that will be our slogan.

Q: High Blood?

SBBM: "High blood sa mahina"

Q: (?)

SBBM: Well, that's up to her. There is no regulation. There's no rule. There's no law that says that she has to. She has chosen to, I think, follow the procedure for acquiring that kind of information. And again, as far as I'm concerned, basta sinabi ni Senator Miriam ready siya, kaya niya mangampanya, kaya niya tumakbo, then I take her word for it. Siya ang nakakaalam kung ano ba talaga ang kanyang nararamdaman. Kung ano ba talaga ang kanyang kaya. So, I take her word for it and I don't think she would embark upon this knowing what a presidential campaign is like and what the demands are upon her. Hindi naman niya siguro papasukan ito na alam niyang hindi niya kaya. I'm sure it's quite the opposite. Papasukan niya dahil alam niyang kaya niya.

Q: (?)

SBBM: Well, after, no. This was something that we had been talking about casually, informally rather, not casually, informally. Since around that same time, approaching the filing because she had not finalized her own plans until maybe the week before filing. The week before filing, she told me that she's planning to run and she would like for me to run as her Vice-President. So, that's when the decision was actually finally made.

Q: (?)

SBBM: The name of Toots Ople has come up. There are several others, I don't want to speak out dahil hindi pa areglado. Those are the names. The ones that I have mentioned are the names that we have more or less agreed upon already. There are others still. May mga anim pa na hindi ko pa nababanggit. Dahil hindi pa nakakatiyak. Hindi pa natitiyak. We haven't agreed. Not that we are disagreeing, it's just that hindi naming na-finalize pa.

Q: Sir among all the vice presidential candidates, who do you think is your worthy opponent?

SBBM: I think they all are. I know them all. They are all good politicians. They all have records to show for themselves. You know, they are all worthy opponents. We will approach it in that way. I don't think to try and grade one as being more formidable than the other, is a useful exercise.

Q: Sir, once you get elected may plano na ba kayo sa first 100 days ninyo?

SBBM: Nagkakaroon na tayo ng plano dahil nakikita natin kung ano ang mga puwedeng pagandahin pa sa patakbo ng ating pamahalaan, saan iyung mga areas at nakikita natin ang problema na laging inaalala at pinagkakaabalahan ng ating mga kababayan ay iyong presyo ng gamit, ng bilihin, ang droga, nakakalat hindi lamang sa siyudad kung hindi pati na sa rural areas. Ang criminality kasali na rin siguro iyan. Peace and order. All of this. Iyung kakulangan sa trabaho. We just received a statistics na mas dumami, sa survey, mas dumami ang nagsasabing gutom sila- that are still in hunger. So lahat iyan ay kailangan tugunan at bigyan ng solusyon. Ito iyung mga aming magiging solusyon at hindi naman magiging panibago batas o panibagong polisiya, kung hindi pagandahin lang kung ano iyong nandiyan na. For example, job creation ay dapat nating gawin...gawin natin, ang gobyerno ang tumutulong sa private sector na tine-training ang ating manggagawa. Halimbawa, sa labor sector, more protections for our workers na wala na iyong tinatawag na "endo", iyong end of contract o iyong "5-5-5". In terms of the problems that Manila is facing, traffic, MRT, ngayon ito naman sa NAIA. Itong mga problemang ito hindi dapat nangyayari ito sa pangkaraniwang takbo ng pamahalaan. They should not require any special measures to fix. All we have to do is to make the system more efficient. Maybe find better people who have more experience in the jobs that they have been given.

Q: Sir, if you are President, (sisibakin mo ba si Honrado?)

Q: So, we are talking about tanim-bala na?

SBBM: If it was up to me, he would never have gotten that job. Kasi bakit mo nga ilalagay ang isang tao sa trabahong iyan, wala naman siyang karanasan diyan. Hindi naman niya alam ang trabaho. Maliwanag, hindi niya alam ang trabaho dahil nangyayari ito. Pinababayaan niya mangyari ito.

Q: (Hindi accountable si Honrado?)

BBM: How is that possible? Ikaw ang namamahala sa isang lugar, pagka sa isang organisasyon, pagka nagkagulo-gulo iyung isang organisasyon na iyun, pagka may ginagawa ang tao sa organisasyon na iyun na pinamumunuhan mo, papaano mo hindi sasabihin na hindi ka accountable? Ikaw ang may responsibilidad para patakbuhin ng maganda iyon. So, he's not accountable- na binibiktima ang ating mga OFW? He should be fired immediately. He is clearly incompetent. He should never have been put in that job in the first place.

Q: Sir, kinonfirm na ng NBI na may sindikato sa NAIA?

BBM: Hindi daw. Sabi ni Secretary Abaya, wala daw sindikato. Ano ba talaga ang nangyayari? Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ang initial reaction ng pamahalaan ay sabihin na ang problema nasa OFW dahil hindi nila-lock iyung mga bag nila. The problem is not in the OFW. The problem is in the organization that allows the "tanim-bala" to carry on, on and on even when it is reported in the press. Talk about impunity. Hindi sila natatakot na sila'y huhulihin. Oo nga naman. Wala naman. Dahil ang mga statement ng pamahalaan, walang pagkakamali ang mga nasa NAIA. Ang pagkakamali, kung sino-sino. Walang sindikato, wala silang ginagawang mali, walang natatanggal sa trabaho, walang naimbistigahan. So, of course they behave with impunity. What do you expect?

Q: But PNoy is defending Honrado, sir?

SBBM: Precisely. How can you possibly defend somebody who has allowed this kind of victimization of our OFW's to carry on in the face of public scrutiny, in the face of exposure, in scandal, in the face of clear violations of trust and the law, pinagtatanggol pa rin?

Q: Sir, di'ba one of your target is to become DOTC Secretary in case na ma-elect kayo as vice president? So, paano niyo ia-address itong ganitong problema kung kayo ang DOTC sa gobyerno?

SBBM: Kagaya ng sabi ko, mamili tayo ng mga tao na maliwanag na may kaalaman diyan sa kanilang magiging trabaho. You cannot ask somebody. You know, very specialized iyong mga trabaho na iyan. Iyong pagpatakbo ng isang airport, lalo na the main gateway into the Philippines, dapat talagang nakakaintindi sila kung ano iyong mga isyu sa pagpatakbo na iyan. it's just incompetence. Wala na tayong ibang masabi. Hindi nila alam ang kanilang ginagawa, kung bakit sila inilagay diyan. That's why the next administration will have to address these problems. I think iyung puno't-dulo niyan ay kung maglalagay ka ng tao sa isang posisyon, dapat mayroon kang kumpiyansa na kaya niya iyung trabahong iyun. Hindi mo nilagay iyon bilang political favor. Dahil kaibigan mo. Hindi mo ilalagay iyan dahil may utang na loob ka sa kanya. E 'di bayaran mo iyung utang na loob mo sa ibang bagay, huwag mo isakripisyo iyong taong bayan.

Q: Sir, one of the victims is from Laoag. She's an Ilocana.

SBBM: She's actually from Paoay. She's from Paoay. She's back in Ilocos Norte now. Humihingi nga ng tulong. That's why I have already made to contact with the Chinese Ambassador and I will be speaking to him today to ask for his assistance na hindi naman siguro mawalan ng trabaho. Tinitingnan ko kung maaari kong kausapin o matawagan sa telepono iyong kanyang amo sa Hong Kong, pero mukhang hindi yata marunong mag-ingles. So, baka makikipag-usap ako at makikiusap ako baka iyong sa association ni Manang Gloria, her name is Gloria, para makatulong naman. At least magkaroon siya...na maintindihan ng amo niya na hindi niya kasalanan ito. She's the victim in all of this. Sana mapagbigyan naman siya na kahit hindi siya makarating sa schedule niya na oras o na araw, hindi naman mawala iyong trabaho niya. Iyon ang kanyang inaalala sa lahat.

Q:...wala man lang effort na tulungan itong si Nanay Gloria, considering na documented OFW naman ito?

SBBM: Wala tayong naririnig sa OWWA. Wala tayo naririnig sa any of the government agencies. Iyon na nga. Sinasabi, sinisisi nga, ang kanilang dinadahilan ay amulet daw, na anting-anting ito. Palagay ko, ang NBI sinasabi hindi daw ganoon. Sinasabi, basta't ang reaskyon ng gopbyerno, mali. Hindi ko maintindihan. Imbis na gusto nila ayusin iyong problema, gusto nila pagtakpan iyong problema. Iyon ang problema na nakikita ko.

Q: (?)

SBBM: Hindi. Kung sino may kasalanan, iyong talagang naglagay ng bala doon. Kung sino man iyon. Pero, there's such a thing called command responsibility. Bakit mo pinabayaan na nangyari iyan? hindi naman ito bago. Ilang taon na nangyayari ito at marami na tayong report na nakikita. There are so many. Some are just stories. May kuwento na sila, may nangyari na sa kanila. I mean all of us I think can find at least one person na mayroong nagkaroon ng ganyang klaseng experience. How is that allowed to happen? I cannot believe na hindi nila maimbistigahan. Kung isang trabahador sa airport, tanungin ko, kausapin ko ng kalahating oras, malalaman na natin lahat ng detalyeng iyan. Hindi nila kayang gawin iyun? Hindi ko maintindihan iyun. Hindi ako makapaniwala.

Q: Sir, (?)

SBBM: I don't know if there's a conspiracy but there's certainly a cover-up.

Q: (?)

SBBM: And the Palace said the exact opposite. Palace, contradicted him and said that they do not believe. Again, you can see, hindi maayos iyung patakbo. Hindi maayos ang imbestigasyon. Hindi maayos ang pag-ayos ng problema. The problem is his people are covering their behind.

 SBBM: ...they are not trying solve the problem.

Q: Kasi Sir, Secretary Abaya is saying na they are just implementing the law ang gusto ng mga lawmakers i-amend iyung batas. Parang ganoon.

SBBM: The law does not allow his people to plant bullets into OFW's luggage. It has nothing to do with the law. It is to do with the miscreants in their organization who continue to do this, to victimize our OFWs. The law is fine. It is the individuals who are breaking the law- that is the problem. So, again, bakit kung saan-saan tinuturo iyung problema? Maliwanag ang problema. Mayroon kayong mga korap na opisyal na nandiyan sa NAIA na ginagawa ito at naglalagay ng bala sa bagahe ng ating mga OFW para kaltasan sila ng pera. Paano magiging problema iyung batas? Ang mga problema iyung mga taong gumagawa noon at ang problema, iyung management na pumapayag na gawin nila iyun.

Q: Sir, sabi n'yo kanina walang conspiracy pero may cover-up?

SBBM: Hindi. Ang sabi ko, hindi ko alam kung anong conspiracy. Walang nag-iimbistiga. Walang nag-iimbistiga. Hindi natin alam iyung facts- sino ba talaga ang naglagay, bakit nangyayari ito, where is the failure of command. Wala, walang nag-iimbistiga. Ang ginagawa lang, tinuturo at sinisisi kung sino-sino. Iyung bag daw, hindi na-locked. Kasi daw iyan lang ang batas. Hindi naman ang batas ginawa para pabayaan ang mga tao mag-plant ng bala sa bagahe ng isang OFW. Ang batas ay nilagay para hindi tayo nagdadala ng ammunition sa ating bagahe sa eroplano. That is that. Iyung isang bala, anong gagawin ng isang bala? Ibig sabihin, mapapatrouble lang iyung tao. Iyun lang. That's the whole purpose of what they are doing. Isipin ninyo ang isang katulong o kasambahay sa Singapore, sa Dubai, sa Hong Kong. Anong kinalaman niyang mga iyan sa bala? Hindi naman ako makapaniwala. Alam naman nila na napaka-istrikto sa airport. Anything to do with ammunition, with firearms, with explosives. Ang daming nakalagay diyan. Alam nila lahat iyan. Hindi nila gagawin iyun. Ang OFW, ingat na ingat sa kanilang trabaho dahil iyan na nga lang ang kanilang makuhang trabaho. Hindi nila iri-risk lahat iyun para lamang magdala ng anting-anting. Hindi ba?

Q: Sir, may proposal na i-decriminalize ang pagdadala ng 1 to 3 bullets. Do you support that Sir?

SBBM: No. I don't support it at all. Again, I think the law is fine. The problem is not in the law. The problems are in the people who are doing this and their bosses who are allowing them to do it. Para naman tayo naglalaro dito. Maliwanag na maliwanag hindi nila dapat gawin iyan. Bakit ninyo sinisisi iyung batas? Ang sisihin ninyo iyung gumagawa at iyung pumapayag na gawin nila. Iyan ang sisihin natin. Hanapin natin kung sino sila. Parusahan natin sila at sabihin natin, huwag na mauulit ito.

Q: They've blown in out of proportion daw.

SBBM: Kahit isa ang gumawa niyan, kahit isa, kahit minsan lang ginawa, problema na iyan. You cannot blow out of proportion an instance where an airport worker puts bullets in an OFW's luggage. Kahit minsan pa lang ginawa, problema na. You cannot blow that out of proportion. That is an egregious violation of everything- of the trust that is put with them. Huwag nila dinadala iyung problema sa ibang tao. Iyung problema na sa kanila.

Q: Sir, kung may "tanim-bala" sa NAIA, sinasabing may "tanim-baril" naman sa New Bilibid Prison kasi sangkaterbang mga baril. So, indication nanaman ito ng

Q: (?)

SBBM: Tingnan mo, iyung bala na ganiyang kaliliit na bala, nakikita. Pero iyung armory, hindi nakikita nasa loob ng prison. Ano na ba ang nangyayari dito sa atin? These are the problems. That is why Senator Miriam and I are in agreement. This is the problem that the next administration will have to face. The problem is simple- is that we have to be transparent, we have to be accountable, and at the very least, the people that we put in government understand what their job is and are competent to perform that job. That is what I think the problem is now.

Q: So, walang kuwenta iyung "Daang Matuwid"?

SBBM: I don't know what this has to do with "Daang Matuwid". Matuwid ba itong patakbo na ganito? Matuwid ba ang ganitong...? Hindi ko masasabing matuwid iyan. I don't know if that is what they are referring to na "Daang Matuwid", pero wala ng kasing mali at malaking pagkakamali na pinababayaan itong nagyayari.

Q: Panahon po ba ni Apo Lakay, nangyari iyung (?)

SBBM: I think mayroong mga kaso, if I remember correctly, mayroong nangyari noon, pero hindi humihingi ng pera. Binibigyan ng problema iyung tao. I think kaaway niya, one thing or another. At saka iyung pinlant hindi bala, baril. Naaresto iyung tao pero it turned out planted talaga dahil may away sila. I vaguely remember those cases like that.

Q: Sir, iyong sa United Nations, nag-issue po ng statement (?)

SBBM: Baka si Barack Obama mahanapan nila ng bala.

Q: Ano epekto nito Sir, considering na one of the issues to be discussed during the APEC is security issues.

SBBM: This is not a security issue. This is an issue of management, an issue of victimizing, violating the law. It is not a security issue. I think everybody who travels in any way, domestically, alam nila hindi sila magdadala ng baril, hindi sila magdadala ng paputok, hindi sila magdadala ng bala. Alam naman nating lahat iyan- na nagbibiyahe na sumasakay ng eroplano. So, in my view, it is not a security issue. It is an issue of management. It is an issue of command and control or lack of it.

Q: Sir, initial batch ng DNA test ni Senator Poe, nag-negative o hindi nagmatched. Baka gusto niyo daw tumulong sa paghahanap ng relatives ni Senator Poe?

SBBM: Sure. Pa-DNA ako. Walang problema.

Q: Are you serious Sir?

SBBM: I don't see how that will help her but if it will, why not?

Q: So, willing ka Sir magpa-DNA test?

SBBM: Wala naman. Anong makikita sa DNA test? Anak ako ng tatay ko at saka ng nanay ko.

Q: Sir, paano kung lumitaw na half-sister kayo ni Senator Poe? Sasabihin niyo ba sa kanya?

SBBM: Welcome to the family.

Q: Sir, tatanungin niyo ba si Senator Poe, alin ang mas matimbang, half-brother o kaibigan? Kasi pareho kayong Vice-Presidential candidate ni Senator Chiz.

SBBM: Nasa sa kanya na iyun. Hindi ko masasagot iyun para sa kanya. You'll have to ask her about that.

Q: Hindi ninyo sasabihin sa kanya na blood is thicker than water?

SBBM: Baka. Kung nagkataon. We will cross that bridge when we come to it. Q: Magbo-volunteer ka Sir? (?)

SBBM: Kung clone, pareho ang DNA. Edi lusot pa rin.

Q: Anong commitment sa inyo ni JPE Sir?

SBBM: Well, siyempre nagpakita na siya ng suporta at saka nagpakita na siya na siya'y, again, supportive doon sa aking kandidatura. Palagay ko, Ilocano siya na galing Cagayan, so siguro makakatulong siya doon sa probinsiya niya at sa mga iba't-ibang lugar na mayroon siyang mga kaibigan at mayroon siyang mga supporter. Baka iyan ay mailalapit niya doon sa kandidatura ko. So, it is a general, an expression of support. I expect as we go down, as we get closer to the election, at saka habang nasa campaign period na tayo, ang mangyayari ay magiging detalyado kung sinong mga tao na nandoon, kung sino ang puwedeng gamitin, sinong puwedeng tumulong. We will get down to those details. Dahil iyan ay siguro isa sa sanay na sanay sa eleksyon, si JPE at alam na niya ang kailangang gawin. So, we will again have to coordinate and figure out the details especially in his area.

Q: Sir, nag-usap naman kayo ni Senator Miriam regarding that? Magkaaway iyung dalawa di'ba?

SBBM: It never really came up but no. Hindi namin napapag-usapan iyan.

Q: Hindi ka ba diniscourage ni JPE doon sa pagiging running mate?

SBBM: Hindi naman. Pinaalala din niya sa akin that he has experience with Senator Miriam that he did not enjoy, but that is all. That is all. Sinabi lang niya na, alam niyo naman iyung relationship namin has been difficult. Iyun lang.

Q: So, may commitment na Sir? Kasi ang sabi ng iba, baka torn between you and Senator Gringo Honasan si JPE dahil tatay-tatayan ni Senator Honasan si JPE.

SBBM: Well, oo tao niya si Senator Greg for a very long time. So, I'm sure he will know how to treat myself and Sen. Greg fairly. I think whatever formula or solution that he comes up with, sa palagay ko he will be fair. That I am confident of.

Q: (?)

SBBM: Hindi. Parang wala sa radar iyun. Malayo. That's not something that we have discussed. We are focusing very clearly on the upcoming election. Siguro babalik at babalik-balikan namin... positions dahil change but it's not something that we are actively pursuing.

Q: Sir... on the vice presidentiable, mayroon kang "solid North." So, how many votes are we talking about pagka ho sinabing solid North.

SBBM: Well it depends kung papaano ang calculation. If you look at the Ilocano-speaking in the north of Luzon, the Ilocano speaking areas, you could say approaching maybe 4, 3 something.

Q: Million?

SBBM: Pagkapinagsama-sama mo ng lahat ng Ilocano, hindi lamang sa Norte, kung hindi sa buong Pilipinas, almost 6.

Q: 6 million?

SBBM: Ang botante na Ilocano. Ngayon, whether or not iyung sinasabing solid north, it's not something we can assume. So, kailangan pa rin. Although very encouraging naman ang mga nagiging usapan namin sa ating mga kaibigan na maibuo ulit at mapakita ulit na mayroon tayong solid north. I think we will be able to manage that in this election.

Q: Sir, according to COMELEC, approved na iyung principles, iyung mall voting-Iyung voting sa mga mall. Wala ka bang concern doon?

SBBM: I don't know if that is allowed. It's very questionable to whether or not you can set-up precincts in a mall. Anong sasabihin? Isasara mo iyung mall? Kasi hindi naman puwedeng pasok-labas iyung shopper doon sa prisinto. The logistical and practical arrangements to me are a little bit difficult. I don't see why we have to do that. Maliwanag, nakalagay school building. Sa eskwelan lang ginagawa. So, bakit natin kailangan palitan? Hindi naman nagkakaproblema iyung paglalagay ng prisinto sa mga eskwelahan, bakit natin babaguhin? And again, what are you going to do? Kailangan mo isara iyung mall na iyun at walang gagawin iyun kung hindi maging prisinto. I don't know why we have to do that.

Q: Sir, ang concern ng iba, paano daw kung may ine-endorsong kandidato iyung may-ari ng mall?

SBBM: Isa pa iyun. Sasabihin natin, iyung tindahan doon sa mall may poster ng kaniyang kandidato. Sasabihin, hindi, ako may-ari ng tindahan ito. Iyan ang kandidato ko. Ilalagay ko iyan. You can't stop that. It's just too complicated. I don't see why we need to do it. I don't see the point.

Q: Sir, kung maging vice president kayo or president... (?), mayroon po bang mistakes ang tatay niyo... (?) at mayroon bang positive... (?)

SBBM: You know, hindi na ganoon ang takbo ng isip ko na ito ang ginawa ng tatay ko, ganiyan ang hindi at hindi niya ginawa. Tinitingnan ko kung ano iyung problema ngayon. Paano natin aayusin? Kung ginawa man niya o hindi niya ginawa, that really does not come to it dahil iba ang mundo ngayon. The solutions that we find for the problems that we face must be different. The problems that we face may be the same, but the solutions will have to be different because we live in a different world- under a different political system, under a different global system, economic system especially. There's no purpose trying to compare or trying to, of course, we learn whatever lessons we can from the past, but again, you must look at the problems of today in the light of today. Not what happened 40 years ago.

Q: Sir, nothing to learn from the history?

SBBM: My God. There's much to learn in all the history, not only in that history, the history before that, the history since then. Of course, ano iyung kasabihan? Those who do not learn from history are damned to repeat it? We do not want that. The whole point na nga is to move forward and that's why you address the problems that exist today with the available solutions that we have today. Not what happened 2 generations ago.

Q: Okay, about Yolanda Sir kasi November 8, 2 years na simula noong mangyari iyung super typhoon Yolanda. Are you satisfied kung paano inimplement noong government iyung rehabilitation program?

SBBM: Well first of all, hindi ini-implement iyung master plan ni Secretary Ping Lacson dahil nakikita natin, first of all, ang pondo na dumating sa Pilipinas na galing sa ating mga kapwang Pilipino sa abroad, sa mga relief agencies, international relief agencies, ay hanggang ngayon hindi pa natin nakikita kung gaanon kalaki ang dumating sa Pilipinas at saan napunta iyang perang iyan. Pangalawa, we will take it naman from the other side kung ano ang natapos na. Ang estimate pagkatapos noong Yolanda, ay ang pangangailangan ay 150,000 dwellings or houses. 150,000 units. 10,000 pa lang ang naitatayo. So, malayong-malayo pa tayo. Iyung livelihood programs na ipinangako ng gobyerno ay hanggang ngayon wala pa tayong nakikita. Kahit sa pagpatayo ng bahay hindi pa nakukumpleto ang trabaho. Iyung sa private side, mabilis silang gumalaw. Noong nangako sila na magpapatayo sila ng bahay, pinatayo naman nila kaagad. But on the government side, medyo mabagal. Dahil halimbawa, iyung water supply, iyung kuryente, iyung mga kalsada, ay hindi pa nila nilalagay. Iyan ang dapat gawin ng pamahalaan. Q: Sir, according to COA, maraming pondo iyung Office of Civil Defense na hindi nila ginamit for Yolanda victims? Ano ba ng negativity ng ganoong agency na hindi nila ginamit iyung pondo na intended for the victims?

SBBM: Tinatanong nga natin pero hanggang ngayon wala naman tayong naririnig na sagot. Parang okay lang sa kanila na hindi nila kailangan i-explain iyung kanilang kakulangan, iyung kanilang kabagalan. Naaawa lang ako sa mga hanggang ngayon, magdadalawang taon na, nakakaawa makita na wala pa silang natatanggap na tulong. Itong tulong ay hindi nila hiningi. Itong tulong na inaasahan nila ay ipinangako sa kanila ng gobyerno. Bakit pa nila pinangako? Wala namang ginawa.

Q: Sir according to DSWD Secretary Soliman, iyung mga government and foreign donations, direkta daw binigay sa UN agencies such as The World Food Program, UNICEF, and Habitat?

SBBM: No. Maraming-maraming donations ang pinadala at tinanggap halimbawa from foreign, from our OFWs. Tinanggap ng DFA, pinasa sa DSWD. I remember very clearly noong panahon ng Yolanda na sinasabi ng DSWD at DILG, lahat ng relief goods ay dadaan sa kanila. So, sila ang may responsibilidad para i-release. Kaya't nakakalungkot na makita na may nahahanap na mga bulok na relief goods dahil hindi na-irelease. Mayroong nahahanap na expired na mga gamot dahil hindi nare-release. Anong nangyayari? Bakit ayaw nilang tulungan ang mga naghihirap? Ano bang problema? Di'ba may isang warehouse ng gamot? Bakit hindi ninyo isakay sa barko iyan, at dalhin niyo doon sa area? What's stopping them from doing that? Isakay niyo sa trak, dalhin niyo sa Region 8, dalhin niyo sa Region 7. I don't know why DWSD is perfectly content to be silent and they don't feel any responsibility to explain why 2 years after Yolanda, with all the assistance that was provided, hindi lamang locally kung hindi internationally, ay gan'yan pa rin ang sitwasyon. We are talking about billions of pesos. Ano ang nagastos na ngayon? Tapos mayroon pang nahahanap ng COA, na sinasabi nila maraming nawawalang pondo at hindi na makita kung saan napunta. Anong nangyayari dito? Ito naman, siguro naman, mag-aagree naman tayong lahat na Pilipino na isang tabi na lahat na muna ng lahat ng issue at unahin nating tulungan ang ating mga kababayan na alam natin nangangailangan ng tulong.

Q: Sir, is there a need for congressional inquiry?

SBBM: I think there is again a need for congressional inquiry. We have inquired formally, we have inquired informally, we do not receive any answers from the DSWD or from any of the other agencies as to what is going on, what is the schedule, what has happened to the funds, wala silang naisasagot. There's just this general explanation na it's all going well, we are not responsible. We are finding warehouses of goods that are sitting there na hindi naman ginagamit.

Q: Sir, if elected what would be the first thing that you would do in response to the Yolanda rehabilitation?

SBBM: Look and (?) to see where we are. What did we receive? What have we done with it? How far long on the master plan for rehabilitation are we? Saan tayo nagkukulang? What do we need to do para i-accelerate ang proseso? It's as simple as that. It's just making the system better, making the process work faster, better, more efficiently. That's a general thing by the way, in my view. In the immediate aftermath of the election, you do not need to institute anything new. Just make what is

expected by the people of government function better. Provide the services. Provide the relief. Provide the assistance that people are in need of. We are so far... napakahina ng gpobyerno sa ganoon. Kailangan natin tingnan, papaano natin aayusin? Papaano natin pagagandahin?

Q: Sir, sa kaso ng Tacloban, may pulitika ba doon? Di'ba may naalala ako may nagsabi na the problem is you are a Romualdez, and the President is an Aquino.

SBBM: Yes. That was one of the worst moments actually, in the aftermath of the storm. Dahil parang hindi kami makapaniwala na naging isyu iyun. Pagka mayroong mga nasalanta, marami nang namatay, maraming nangangailangan ng tulong, at pag-uusapan pa iyan. Kaya it made us all very worried and certainly very sad. Perhaps, a little angry as well.

Q: So Sir, magpa-file kayo ng resolution to conduct a senate investigation?

SBBM: If we do not receive any further explanation, information, siguro mapipilitan ako at kung sino mang iba na iyan ang gagawin para pilitin sila. Magpaliwanag sila kung nasaan na tayo. Mayroon na ba tayong na

Q: Other issue na Sir. Last issue about the Bangsamoro Basic Law. According to Minorty Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, he studied the proposed bill thoroughly. Marami siyang nakita na questionable, unconstitutional, makapal iyung papel na hawak niya. So, you think makakapasa pa itong BBL dito sa Senate Sir?

SBBM: Well, I don't see why not kasi ang proseso ay ganiyan talaga. kukuwestiyunin niya. Nagsimula iyung kanyang interpellation kahapon ng gabi at mukhang magiging mahaba ang interpellation ni Senator Enrile. Dahil kagaya ng sabi niya, habang siya ay nakadetain, pinag-aaralan niya ng mabuti itong issue ng BBL at marami siyang tanong. Siguro, ang magiging resulta ng mga tanong na iyon ay marami siyang isa-suggest na amendments. Ang usapan naman naming lahat ng senador, huwag na natin ipulitika ito. Basta gawin natin lahat ang maaari nating gawin para mayroon tayong magandang batas na magdadala ng kapayapaan sa Muslim Mindanao, sa wakas. Iyan ang hangarin naming lahat. We go through the process to achieve that. Kaya natin ginagawa iyan.

Q: Sir, di'ba talagang inayos ninyo ng husto iyan kaya ang version ng Senate ay iyung BAR, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. So doon pa rin marami pa rin nakitang questionable si JPE?

SBBM: Marami siyang tanong. Kahapon mayroon na kaming Koranic studies doon sa aming diskusyon. Nagtatanong siya what is the implication of some of the passages in the Koran when it comes to the application of the law? In the future, how will it be interpreted? When we are all dead and gone and the next generations, the next generations, how will they interpret the law that we have written and will it achieve what we had hope? It was a very lawyerly examination of the bill and I look forward to more of the same as this interpellation continues. So, to answer your question. Mapapasa ba? Bakit hindi? Kung maganda ang maging version ng Senado, bakit hindi?

Q: But you have limited time Sir.

SBBM: The time issue is yes, a limiting factor because mayroon tayong 1 week ng APEC. Tapos we are scheduled to receive the budget next week. Pag budget, wala na tayong ginagawang ibang trabaho kung hindi tapusin iyung budget. So, we are coming up to the end of session for this year. There's a very short session in the beginning of next year. So, iyun na lang ang natitirang oras. There's

another session just before the end of the term. So, maybe maihahabol pa. but the implications, as to the re-organization of ARMM and the re-organization of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, that will all have to wait until the process in the Congress is finished. If you note, in the House of Represerntatives, hindi na dinedeliberate iyung BBL.

Q: Sir, I heard that Senator Miriam Santiago is also asking na makapag-interpellate, is that true?

SBBM: She has registered her desire to interpellate. Some point, I think she was asking to be allowed to interpellate next week.

Q: Maggi-give way po ba si JPE?

SBBM: You'll have to ask him.

Q: Sir, are you confident that (?)

SBBM: It's very hard to say. We don't know. For example, the budget usually natatapos iyan in 2 weeks. But this is the election budget so kailangan talagang pag-aralan ng mabuti at saka kailangan tingnan ng mabuti. So, baka tumagal more than 2 weeks. I do not know how long Senator Enrile's interpellation will take. I do not know how long Senator Miriam's will take. I do not know how long the last part of Senator Sotto's interpellation is going to take and if there are any other Senators that would want to interpellate after that. Tapos iyung period of amendments. Again, if there are major amendments being proposed, kailangan pagdebatihan iyan. Again, I do not know how long it will take. I find it very, very difficult to try and anticipate or to try and guess, really it would only be a guess, how long it would take and if it will finish before this administration.

Q: Sir, (?)

SBBM: We'll go back to the old system (ARMM). Which is what we are doing now because makita mo iyung mga assemblyman ng ARMM nagfile na sila bilang assemblyman sa ARMM.

Q: Sir, doon sa interpellation kahapon ni JPE, parang sablay na agad tayo (?) parameters.

SBBM: Oo. Kalahating oras namin pinag-usapan iyung salitang "Bangsa" and the "Moro".

Q: (?) So, you mean isang taon niyo pa iyan pag-uusapan?

SBBM: Hindi naman siguro.

Q: So, kalian niyo aaysuin iyun?

SBBM: Nagtatanong siya. I'm sure magpo-propose siya ng amendment. Marami siyang puntos. Sinasabi, bakit natin ginagamit iyung salitang "Bangsa"? Bakit natin ginagamit iyung salitang "Moro"? Article 1 pa lang iyun. Section 1 pa lang iyun. But you know, iyung mga tinatanong niya valid questions naman iyun. Kailngang sagutin.

Q: Sir, every session daw may proposed amendment daw si JPE?

SBBM: I would not be surprised. He's well recognized to have a very fine legal mind. So, I'm not in the least bit surprise that he has many questions and that he's making certain that there are no gaps, there are no shortcomings, there is no misinterpretation doon sa magiging final version ng batas. So, that is precisely the legislative process. That is what we are undergoing now.

Q: (?) Iyung revival ng hearing about SAF 44, sa plenary na lang ba o balik ito sa committee?

SBBM: Ang status kasi ng Mamasapano report ay hindi pa na-report out. Hindi pa na-file ang committee report sa secretariat, sa plenary. So, hindi pa na-interpellate. So, ang plano yata ni Senator Enrile, is to go back and to open the committee. To ask questions on the testimony, the facts, the narrative of those who came before the committee, when we are trying to find out what happened in Mamasapano.

Q: So, may oras pa ba iyun Sir para doon?

SBBM: We will have to make time. Although we have the Mamasapano investigation in the Senate is essentially over, Senator Enrile was not able to participate and so he is just invoking his right to ask those questions that he wants to ask. So, whether or not we have enough time, it is something that he feels is important and he feels strongly about it. So, again, we will make the time.

Q: Sir, since nag-file kayo as independent candidate, is Nacionalista Party supporting your candidacy?

SBBM: No because that's precisely why. No, in the sense that walang pinipili dahil tatlo nga kami sa Nacionalista. The Nacionalista leadership has decided not to choose an official candidate. Kaya't lahat kami nagfile ng independent. I'm confident naman na iyung miyembro ng Nacionalista Party, kahit na the party has not officially chosen a candidate, I am confident that the members of the party have chosen and will support me.

Q: Sir, safe to say malabo na talagang maipasa iyung BBL under Aquino administration kasi mayroong transition period na 1 year iyun di'ba?

SBBM: Pero ang pinag-uusapan lang natin iyung pagpasa. Ngayon, iyung transition period, iyung pagbuo ng gobyerno, iba na namang usapan iyan.

Q: So, Malabo na talaga?

SBBM: Hindi sa malabo. Iyung pagpasa, baka kaya pang gawin. Pero talagang nadelay ng husto iyung pag-implement ng pagpatayo ng Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

Q: Sir since 50 days na lang. Ano bang priority natin? Budget o DBM?

SBBM: Pagka nandiyan iyung budget, budget. Alam niyo naman pagka nandiyan ang budget, itinatabi muna ang ibang para para matapos iyung budget. Saka iyung budget talagang pinapaspas iyan. Hindi naman pinapaspas, pero lahat ng kailangan na oras, buong araw kayo maghearing. So, morning and afternoon session because of the importance kasi ayaw naman natin na mapunta na naman tayo na matapos ang taon na wala pa tayong budget.

Q: Since 50 days before Christmas, may plano ba kayo Christmas party (?)

SBBM: Akala ko ikaw iyung magboblow out sa amin.

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