Press Release
May 29, 2017

Transcript of interview with Sen. Cynthia Villar (Martial Law)

Q: On martial law in Mindanao

Villar: The President is from Mindanao. He is more familiar with what's happening in Mindanao, being a mayor of Davao for so long. I believe we should let the Mindanaoans decide for themselves because they are the ones having a hard time because of this problem. Tayo naman dito sa Luzon at Visayas wala naman tayong nararanasan na ganyan. Kawawa naman sila. Dapat kung ano ang desisyon nila, iyon ang desisyon ng lahat.

Q: Tingin ninyo, dapat mag-joint session?

Villar: Ang intindi ko doon sa rule sa declaration of Martial Law, kapag hindi ire-revoke there's no need for a joint session.

Q: Pero if there's one person who wants to revoke it, for example si Sen. Trillanes?

Villar: Dito sa Senate kapag nag-botohan kami at hindi nanalo ang pagrevoke, walang joint session.

Q: Dapat po majority ang gustong magrevoke?

Villar: Kung majority wants to revoke.

Q: Sabi ni Presidente he will defy Congress, the Supreme Court...

Villar: Congress will come only if they want to revoke. Then kung may mga questions of law sa Congress, then the SC will interfere. But otherwise, if there's no move to revoke sa Senate at sa House, then there's no joint session, there's no problem. I believe wala namang ganoong move.

Q: The president said he will ingnore Congress...

Villar: I think if there's a move sa joint session to revoke, i think he has to listen kaso wala namang move na ganoon, hypothetical kasi iyan... kasi parang wala namang move na magre-revoke ang Congress. Hypothetical lahat ng question na iyan kasi wala namang move sa Senate at sa House of Representatives to revoke. Wala namang problemang ganoon.

Q: Kumusta iyong naging caucus ninyo?

Villar: Okay naman. Majority wants to support the declaration of martial law. Wala akong nakikita na otherwise.

Q: Prior to the briefing ng AFP?

Villar: More or less. Pero we will listen to the briefing, they don't want to make a decision before that pero from the talks, parang majority naman is supporting martial law.

Q: May gusto ng joint session from the majority?

Villar: Parang kasi according to the rule, kapag walang enough votes to revoke, there's no joint session.

Q: Pero walang nagsalita?

Villar: Wala, hindi ko nadinig.

News Latest News Feed