Press Release
March 21, 2019

Transcript of Kapihan sa Senado with Senate Preident Vicente C. Sotto III

On 2019 budget

SP Sotto: Perhaps, what we can say is that the door is now open for a possible cure to the impasse. Siguro bukas na ang pinto kasi baka puwede na masunod ang aming mga suggestions, specifically, originally suggestion ni Sen. Lacson that we go back .. and the entire Senate, I'm sure supports it contrary to what a congressman is saying, the entire Senate supports the fact that we want to approve, for the President to sign something that a bill or a budget that the Senate ratified and that the House also ratified, faithful to what we agreed upon. Puwede na makasundo na ibalik doon sa original state, kung ano ang napagkasunduan sa bicam, kung ano naitemize nila, kung ano 'yung sinubmit ng Senado na in-itimize ng Senado at niratify, 'yun na 'yun dapat.

Q: So, Sir, what's next after the retrieval, will there be a meeting between the Senate and the House contingent?

SP Sotto: Most probably. They were mentioning something to the effect that the a contingent from both Houses should meet by Monday..nadinig ko ang suggestion. We will accept the suggestion. I had talked to Senator Loren yesterday and she would definitely lead the contingent that will talk to the House who will be assigned to talk to us.

Q: Sir, 'yung three-man contingent will be composed of Sen. Loren...

SP Sotto: Sen. Loren, Sen. Ping or who ever wants to join

Q: And according to Sen. Loren, Sen. Grigo Honasan?

SP Sotto: Oh, yes. Malamang. Mas Mabuti.

Q: Do you have any specific instructions to the contingent?

SP Sotto: There is no need. I know the three will stick to what we approved and what we ratified.

Q: So, with this development, before the end of this month ma-transmit to Malacanang the enrolled copy for the President's signature?

SP Sotto:Hopefully, by next week. Madali kasi..may kopya ang LBMRO na dapat na i-submit. May kopya kami, may kopya din ang Committee on Appropriations ng House kung ano ang nakapagsunduan at na ratify namin. In other words, leave the MFO 1 and MF0 2 alone plus the convergence, leave it alone, leave it as it is, for what we ratified and what we agreed upon that it remain in the budget for the Public Works and Highways, which is already itemized originally in that state... pagka-nangyari 'yong, wala ng problema the rest of the budget.

Q: Sir, 'yung ba retrieval nung isinubmit ng House, indication 'yan na bumigay 'yung House or na-realize nila na mali ng 'yun ginawa nila?

SP Sotto:I'd rather not say that. Mas mabuti hindi na kami magsalita basta't I'm glad that they have retrieved it. There is now a possibility that we can bring it back to the original state of the budget when we ratified it.

Q: Can you describe the relationship of the House and the Senate after all these issues?

SP Sotto:Everything was very cordial until this 2019 budget. We didn't have any problems from 2016 up to 2018. The relationship of both Houses was always cordial. We are a bicameral body, it's as elementary as that.

There was a red flag ng LBMRO and therefore the red flag was raised by the LBMRO and informed Sen. Legarda. Kung madumi ang kaisipan ng LBMRO or hindi malinis ang kaisipan, they could have keep quiet na lang. But they didn't, they informed Sen. Legarda. Si Sen. Legarda naman, who is chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, kung hindi malinis din ang kaisipan, she could have quiet and no one else will know, but she informed the Senate President and it also came to the attention of Sen. Lacson. Kaya nakita namin na hindi puwede.

Let me elaborate. Ilan beses na nangyari sa Senado yan? Mula noon 1992 up to the present? Every now and then mayroong magkakamali o may typo error sa isa sa mga batas na ipinasa, lalo na sa local bills... hindi namin puwedeng payagan because it is very specific in the Constitution na Art. 6, Sec. 26, in the last sentence, upon the last reading of a bill, no amendment thereto shall be allowed and the vote thereto shall be taken immediately thereafter and (inaudible) be taken into the journal. Third reading pa lang hindi mo na puwedeng galawin. So, ito, kahit napasa na namin, na ratifiy na namin, pag sinabi sa amin may typo, we manifest it on the floor or we revert back, if the error is substantial, we bring it back to the floor. Ganun lagi ang kilos ng Senado since time immemorial. Ito hindi ito basta substantial, this is a huge amendment to the people's money. That was why we were very firm about it.

Q: Falsification of the documents as alleged by Sen. Lacson.

SP Sotto: If we send something to the President for signature that is not faithful to what we passed, it was amended in some sort or in some way, then it is a falsification of legislative documents. It is a violation of the revised penal code. Art. 170 which carries a penalty of 4 to 6 years in its maximum term (inaudible) correctional.

Q: Who is liable? House leaders?

SP Sotto: Lahat ng pumirma doon at nag-approved doon. Lahat.

Q: So, What happens now? Can they still be held liable for falsifying?

SP Sotto: Binawi. They probably saw the error through..I don't know if there's still someone interested in charging anyone in relation with the violation of the Revised Penal Code. Me, on a personal level, no, I'm not pursuing. Madali 'yung sa akin..I will not sign a document that is not what we ratified. I do not want to be part of a falsification of a legislative document.

Q: What about the error you mentioned?

SP Sotto: Ang sinasabi ko samples. There was once an error in bill, like, "This law will take the effect after circulation and after 15 days. Ang nakalagay doon 5, nawala 'yong 1, sabi nila typo, minanifest pa rin namin sa floor 'yun na may mali at dapat 15 bago i-approve na 15 'yun.

Ngayon, ito sa tinatanong mo dito sa 2019 budget? I'll be very specific para once and for all, matapos na ito para sa mga iba na nagdududa na baka na Stonewall Jackson ako o pinagbibintangan si Sen. Ping, vendetta or something like that... We approved in bicam the entire budget which included, amendments that will be provided by the Senate amounting to about P26 billion and that the House will submit amendments amounting to about P20 billion, kasama sa ratification 'yan na inapproved ng bicam..pag dating sa ratification, inapproved, 'yung yong sinasabi nila na sinubmit ng itemization, kung ano 'yung laman ng P20, P26, sasubmit nila. So, 'yung inapproved. When we ratified it, alam namin na ganoon, 'yun naratify namin. Kasama sa ni-ratify sa kabuuang budget ng Department of Public Works and Highways na mayroon doon Major Final Output 1 at Major Final Output 2 at convergence amounting to about P79 billion or thereabouts. Kasama doon, may specifics na 'yun na nakasubmit doon sa MFO 1 at MFO 2, walang kinalaman doon ang Senado kundi 'yun ang budget na talaga na nakalaan sa DPWH kasama na doon mga roads, kung ano-ano, kasama doon ang Build, Build, Build ng Presidente. Pagdating ng pagsubmit sa amin ng Committee on Appropriations ng House sinubmit sa LBMRO, 'yung yong red flag nakita ng LBMRO na 'yung MFO 1 AT MFO 2, binago. Nilagay sa local infrastructure project at mga ibang distrito na ang pinagdalhan ng mga listahan na 'yun identified by the congressmen. 'Yung MFO 1 at MFO 2 ay identified by DPWH. So, malaking pagkakaiba 'yun. Hindi typo error 'yun at napakahalaga 'yung nagalaw na 'yun. Therefore hindi kasama 'yun sa ni-ratify namin. Ang initemize nila at initemize namin kasama sa naratify namin pero hindi ito. Not the MFO 1, MFO 2 and convergence. Ganun kalinaw kung bakit nagkaroon ng red flag ang LBMRO.

Q: Sir, 'yung sa...

SP Sotto: Mayroon din. I'm not too specific about the amounts there.. I think it was the Office of Sen. Lacson that was saying that there were some congressmen that were given an allotment of P8 million and the others P25 million, 'yun sa FH yata 'yun.

Q: So, 'yun sa kanila sila deliberate talaga?

SP Sotto: 'Yung sa pagbago? Oo. 'Yung mga identified ng DPWH na mga projects doon sa MFO 1, MFO 2 at convergence, may mga districts na nakalagay doon. Alam siyempre ng mga local officials doon at local congressmen na ganoon, na mayroong projects ang DPWH sa kanila. Then ngayon biglang nalipat after ratification..sa tingin mo hindi papalag mga congressman at local officials na 'yun? Siyempre papalag ang mga 'yun kasi nawala eh. Nalipat sa mga ibang districts na hindi identified by DPWH, kundi identified by congressman that are close to the leadership. 'Yung ang problema nila.

Q: So, kung isasubmit sa Malacanang 'yung original version, you expect na...

SP Sotto: Kung sasubmit sa amin 'yun original version na niratify namin, walang problema, pipirmahan ko 'yun at isasubmit sa presidente.

Q: And you expect maiveto si president considering may lump sum doon?

SP Sotto: 'Yung ko na nga mai-clear ulit sa LBMRO. Wala daw lump sum doon eh. At kung mayroon, ive-veto ng presidente 'yun. Dito sa mga na identify, walang lump sum.

Q: And makaroon kayo possible one day session to approve the supplemental budget?

SP Sotto: That is the proposal. Kung mayroon ma-veto, puwedeng tumawag ng special session ang president at siya lang naman puwedeng gumawa 'nun at 'yung vinito niya ay puwedeng ayusin ng Kongreso para maging supplemental budget siya. Pero at the moment, mabuti na rin 'yung alam na natin. Wala tayo kakaba-kaba sa reenacted budget. The President has already issued an Executive Order na nilalabas 'yun mga salaries, sa standardization, sa allowances, pati sa mga PNP, Armed Forces, at sa mga government employees, because there is a budget for 2018 for that. Allowed and reenacted siya. Our country men should not be worried at all because the 2018 budget is bigger than the 2019 budget. Doon lang sa Comelec budget, doble, ang laki ng 2018 budget as compared to the 2019 budget and most of it can be used by the agencies. Hindi sila puwedeng sasabihin na malaki naman pero hindi puwedeng gagamitin. Hindi totoo 'yun, puwedeng gamitin.

Q: Sir, on Congressman Andaya's stand on their position.

SP Sotto: Yeah. Perhaps, they stand by what they said that they itemized, yes, they itemized 'yung pinagusapan na inapproved namin, initemized nila. Tama 'yun. Pero hindi 'yun MFO 1, MFO 2. Hindi kasama sa pinagusapan 'yun na ma-itemized dahil naka-itemized na 'yun at na-identify na ng DPHW, wala kaming karapatan baguhin 'yun after we have already ratified it and agreed in bicam. If they wanted to do that, they had July to February before the bicam to do that. Bakit after ratification saka mo gagalawin? And they were already in power. By the time the budget was submitted to us, it was already a different leadership in the House so they had all the time to do that.

Q: Sinasabi nila, although binawi nila yun books ng budget, they will not withdraw from their position na walang mali sa realignments na ginawa nila?

SP Sotto: That's their opinion and the opinion of the Senate is otherwise. We cannot touch the DPWH identified projects already we did not agree in bicam and we did not agree and ratify. You cannot touch that because that is part of the President's budget.

Q: (Unclear)

SP Sotto: Ito ah sisimplehan ko lang kung ako nasa-side sa kanila doon, sa opening statement pa lang ng Presidente dapat I would already have a cue that the executive department sides with the opinion of the Senate. Doon maliwanag na dapat, naisip agad nila yun para hindi na humabang ganito ang usapan eh. But if you remain to stand path saying that you will stick to what you did in the internal realignment, removing from the DPWH identified projects in the MFO1, MFO2 convergence and put it on other districts, after we already ratified and you did not tell us about that in the bicam, then we have a reenacted budget until August if that is their opinion.

Q: Itemization dun sa P26B okay lang yun?

SP Sotto: Ah walang problema doon.

Q: Kasama ba yun sa binago ng house sa pag itemize dun?

SP Sotto: Hindi, nagsubmit sila ng itemization nun.

Q: I mean when you ratified the 2019 budget yung pag itemize dun sa P26b included nay un?

SP Sotto: Yes included yun in principle. Ang sabi nila mag susubmit, i-itemize, ang sabi ng Senate mag susubmit at I-itemize, agreed in bicam so pagdating sa ratification ni report ni senator Loren yun, ina-prove namin, na ganun ang usapan. They will submit the itemization. Walang problema yun, It has been done since 1987 there is no problem with that.

Q: So yun ang sinsabi nilang inihabol ng Senate na itemization dahil it was agreed and approved in the bicam?

SP Sotto: Oo, iba yun. In principle, we agreed on that na i-itemize yung mga hindi maihabol kaagad by February 8. Pero when we approved it and ratified it kasama sa usapan yun.

Q: Pero yung sa pinaguusapan natin na MFO1 and MFO2 talagang...

SP Sotto: Wala sa usapan yun.

Q: Hindi kayo papayag sir na...?

SP Sotto: Hindi kami papayag dahil wala iyon sa usapan.

Q: So ano na lang pag-uusapan kung firm na pala ang Senate. Why do you have to go back to the negotiating table?

SP Sotto: I don't know with them. The stand of the Senate is that you bring back the original items presented by DPWH on this... Dun na lang ang usapan eh simpleng simple, doon na lang sa MFO1 at MFO2 convergence ng DPWH identified projects. Hwag ninyong galawin yun, ibalik ninyo dun sa ini-ratify natin kung ano ang laman nun, wala na tayong problema. All the rest wala na tayong problema.

Q: On the statement of Andaya pinaninndigan nila yung ginawa nila sa budget. Ini-expect ninyo ba na mag susubmit sila ng original ratified version ng budget?

SP Sotto: I don't know we will cross the bridge when we get there.

Q: On how confident is the Senate President that they will agree to revert to the bicam ratified budget and how can the senate convince the house to do so?

SP Sotto: I don't know. I really don't know. Mahirap isipin kung ano ang gagawin nila na ni-retrieve nila pero hindi rin daw sila or they will stand by their ()... baka naman it means na they will standby what they itemize doon sa mga pinagusapan. Okay yun, as along as hindi nga yung DPWH internal realignment ang gagawin at ibabalik. But if they insist on that and they submit it again in the same light at kapag nagkaroon ng sit-down meeting at ipipilit pa din nila yun, walang mangyayari as I've said then therefore, we will have an August budget for the rest of the year. The executive department can be ready with that. we can sit down with the finance department and they would know what to do, they would know kung magkano pa ang kailangan for the rest of the year from August to December ganun ang mangyayari dun.

Q: On if there is a need for the President to intervene para ma-break ang impasse?

SP Sotto: Ayaw makialam ni Presidente. Pero kung ako tatanungin mo ang opinion ko ay nakialam na siya eh. Nung tinatawag niya kami at sinabi niya na hindi niya pipirmahan ang kahit anong illegal na document... if it's not signed by the Senate President I will not sign it, diba ganun ang sinsabi niya...  doon pa lang nakialam na siya nun eh. Sinsabi na niya yun eh and if I were in the position of the other side, I would have retracted everything. Sabihin ko, ah teka muna ayaw ni Presidente tapos.. why would I insist.

Q: On the statement of DOF that they expect GDF to go down by 5 to 4 percent with the reenacted budget.

SP Sotto: Hindi naman totoong 5 percent sino naman nagsabi nun? Ipinakita sa amin ng department of finance yung possibilities nung ano, nakita naming mga one percent eh. Kung aabutin ng August at yung one percent na iyun ay debatable pa yun dahil pwedeng maraming magawang remedyo ang Executive Department. Kung magaling ang Executive Department kaya nilang ayusin kung ano ang mga pagkukulang ng government.

Q: Baka yung five percent ay kung buong taon ay reenacted budget?

SP Sotto: Hindi rin, buong taon 2 point something lang eh, 2.7 yata o 2.8 percent eh iyun yung computation na ipinakita sa amin eh and it can be ano ah, kayang remedyuhan. Remember there were four instances before that there was reenacted budget and the GDP did not go that low.. hindi ah yung mga nakaraang taon na yun.

Q: On the statement of Sen. Migz Zubiri may mga JO (job orders) not getting their salaries because of the non -signing of the budget?

SP Sotto: Wala akong nabalitaan na ganun as a matter of fact, may executive order pa nga si President na I-release yung mga (funding) sa standardization and all that. Remember mas Malaki ang budget last year kaysa now. Pag ni-reenact mo, ang hindi lang naman pwedeng galawin dun sa re-enacted budget ay yung nagawa nang mga projects. Like kung merong tulay na gagawin sa Bulacan, eh yung tulay nagawa na last year at yung budget dun ay nagamit na, yung budget na nandoon ay hindi mo na pwedeng galawin para sa 2019. Yun lang naman ang hindi mo pwedeng galawin eh, pero yung continuing at saka yung budget na para sa mga ganyang allotments pwedeng gamitin.

Q: Kasama yung Build build build sa continuing budget?

SP Sotto: Oo, merong mga continuing eh may mga continuing and thereafter, siguro naman with the new leadership of the house ay hindi naman magkaka-problema ng ganyan.

Q: Hanggang kalian bibigyan ng Senate yung other party to explain?

SP Sotto: The ball is not in our hands nasa kanila yun. All they have to do is to submit what we agreed upon in bicam and ratified and we will have no problem at all.

Q: Until when will you give them a chance to meet?

SP Sotto: It's not for us to set the date or set the time. It's not for us, we are just waiting.

Q: Paano yun every time they will ask for a meeting you will be ready to meet with them kahit paulit-ulit?

SP Sotto: Ewan ko, I leave it to Senator Legarda kung wala naman nangyayari ay makikipag meeting pa din siya.

Q: On whether he is convinced with the statement of Cong. Suarez claiming that Sen. Loren Legarda told him that the silent majority in the Senate are against his stand on the budget.

SP Sotto: Yes I'm 100 percent sure that she did not say that. Because right after... she even tweeted about it, pangalawa, she called me mismo, kami magkausap mismo sinasabi niya sa akin na wala siyang sinasabing ganun, she said some bad words about him but I rather not say what. Pero sabi niya nag iimbento, she didn't say that and I still cannot find a single senator who will violate the revise penal code 170. I don't think any senator will agree to falsification of legislative documents. That amounts to that, if you are saying that the position of the Senate is wrong?

Q: So nang iintriga lang si Cong Suarez?

SP Sotto: As a matter of fact, baligtad eh, marami sa majority ng House ang naguguluhan na sa kanila. As a matter of fact, yung mga ibang members ng majority at members ng minority, na minority talaga, hindi company union, sila yung umaangal, sila yung tinamaan dun sa pagtanggal sa MFO1 at MFO2 eh.

Q: On whether it is better to have a reenacted budget?

SP Sotto: Remember during the time na bago pa naming maipasa yan? Sinasabi ko na mag re-enact na lang tayo kapag ganyan because, I trust the President. Kapag re-enacted budget ang kamay ng President ang mas, ika nga, mas powerful. Oo kapag ganun sila at ganun din naman ang mangyayari, I rather entrust it to a President who is not corrupt, especially when it comes to people's money.

Q: On the claims of some house members that aside from vendetta, some senator cannot accept the fact that they got smaller allocations? And that itemization of the budget was in accordance with the constitution?

SP Sotto: I hope they did not really say that because it is silly.. It's a very silly allegation, because ang tinanggalan nila kapwa nila eh, kasamahan nila, mga distrito ng mga kasamahan nila na natanggalan. prinoject ng DPWH na doon gagawin dahil doong yung Build Build Build na programa eh. Walang pakialam sa amin walang tatamaan, walang, ika nga makikinabang o hindi makikinabang sa amin doon sa ginawa na yun. Ang punto lang namin, hindi dapat gawin yun. Hindi pwedeng gawin yun, mali yun. Dapat yun, August, September October, November 24 nung i-submit nila sa amin noon pa lang inayos na nila. Gusto pala nilang galawin yun eh, ginalaw dapat nila during the time na nakasubmit sa amin, inabot kami ng January, inabot kami ng February bago kami matapos at mag submit sa bicam dapat ginalaw na nila or pagdating nung bicam dapat ginalaw na nila, para pag ni-ratify na namin, yun na ang pinagusapan. Pagkatapos may allegation na ganyan? The word is silly. I hope they didn't really say that because otherwise itong may mga allegation na ito medyo they do not deserve in congress.

Q: So what is the status now of the budget?

SP Sotto: Its back to the committee on appropriations of the House.

Q: When do you expect to wrap it up and submit it to the President?

SP Sotto: Well if yun na nga, Monday na meeting namin, hindi na kailangan yung meeting na yun kung gagawin lang nila yung pinagusapan at suggestion nung gabi na kaharap si Presidente. Ibalik lang dun sa original state na napag-usapan at na-ratify, yun na, kapag yun wala nang problema padala rito sa amin, kami naman walang problema rin, kitang kita ng LBRMO yan eh. Isa sa mga pinaka opsina at institution sa Pilipinas yung LBRMO natin, meron silang listahan nung P95 million na ginalaw at yung total meron silang listahan kaya hindi pwedeng hindi makita.

Q: The budget is still in the house?

SP Sotto: Yeah.

Q: Edi nireretoke pa rin yun?

SP Sotto: Hindi naman, wala naman nang pwedeng baguhin dun eh kaya nga ayaw namin pumayag dahil may binago, hindi pwedeng baguhin yun. Wala sa usapan yun.

Q: Pero may commitment ba sa House leaders na ibabalik nila sa orig version?

SP Sotto: Wala kaming naririnig to that effect basta ang alam lang naming it was retrieved yesterday afternoon and that's it and they are supposed to set a meeting on Monday. We will send Senator Legarda, Senator Lacson, Senator Honasan to attend.

Q: Walang deadline yugn reenacted?

SP Sotto: Wala pero if you are looking for a deadline, June 7 would be the last day that they can do anything about it. After June 7, it's the new congress already by June 30.

Q: As far as the Senate is concerned its done yung house na lang ang problema?

SP Sotto: Yes.

Q: On the statement of Cong. Andaya na may five days sila to resolve the problem at yung three-man committee nila ang sabi nila kapag hindi pa naayos within that time frame ay siya na daw ang mag rerecomend for reenactment of the budget for the whole year dapat magpaka totoo na daw.

SP Sotto: Okay. Pero mali siya dun sa reenacted na the whole year. Re-reenact namin hanggang wala na sila. Pagdating ng August ibang usapan na yun 18th Congress na yun eh, hindi na sila congressman nun.

Q: Ang sinasabi natin the House cannot hold hostage the senate kugn ayaw nila ipas yugn ratified okay lang sa inyo?

SP Sotto: Okay lang walang problem sa amin yun kase alam naming na okay ang reenacted hanggang August okay yun. Pag dating ng June 30 wala na sila nun, July malalaman na natin kung sino yung bagong Speaker kausap na namin, kung sino yung bagong committee chairmen kakausapin naming and then we will be able to discuss it with the executive department kung kakailanganin nila yung budget for the rest of the year, magagawan na namin ng paraan yun mareremdyuhan na namin yun maayos na lahat yun. The 18th congress will be able to address this impasse if they insist on what they want to do which we feel is a violation of revise penal code 170...

Q: Aside from vendetta, some House members are saying na kaya umaalma ibang senators kasi naunguhan sa allocation. Mas malaki sa House members kesa sa mga senators... and that itemized budget was in consonance with the Constitution...

SP Sotto: I hope they didn't really say that because it's silly. It's a very silly allegation because ang tinanggalan nila kapwa nila eh, kasamahan nila, mga distrito ng mga kasamahan nila na talagang prinoject ng DPWH na doon gagawan sapagkat doon yung build, build, build eh na programa eh. Walang pakialam sa amin. Walang tatamaan. Walang ika nga'y makikinabang sa amin o hindi makikinabang sa amin sa kilos na 'yun. Ang punto lang namin, hindi dapat gawin yun. Hindi pwedeng gawin yun. Mali yun. Dapat yun, paulit ulit ako - August, Sept. Oct. Nov. 24 - nung isubmit sa amin noon pa lang inayos na nila hindi ba? Gusto pala nilang galawin yun eh di ginalaw dapat nila. During the time na nakasubmit na sa amin, inabot kami ng Jan-Feb. bago kami matapos at magsasubmit dun sa bicam, dapat ginalaw na nila. Pagdating nung bicam, dapat ginalaw na nila. Para pag niratify na naming, yun na pinag-usapan eh. Pagkatapos may allegasyon na ganyan? The word is silly. I hope they didn't really say that because otherwise itong mga may alegasyon na ito medyo they do not deserve to be in Congress.

Q: what's the status now? Where is the budget?

SP Sotto: It's back to the committee of appropriations of the House.

Q: when do you expect to wrap it up and submit to the Office of the President?

SP Sotto: Well yung ngang Monday na meeting namin hindi na kailangan yung meeting nay un kung talagang gagawin lang nila yung pinag-usapan at suggestion noong gabi na nakaharap ang Presidente. Ibalik lang dun sa original state na napag-usapan at naratify. Yun na. pagka yun wala ng problema. Padala rito sa amin. Kami naman walang problema rin kitang kita ng LBRMO yan eh. Isa sa pinakamagaling na opisina at institution sa buong Pilipinas yung LBRMO natin eh. Meron silang listahan nung P95M na ginalaw at yung total. Meron silang listahan kaya hindi pwdeng hindi makita.

Q: budget is still in the House?

SP Sotto: Yeah. Q: marami ng binago run?

SP Sotto: Hindi naman. Wala ng pwedeng baguhin dun. Kaya ayaw naming pumayag dahil may binago eh. Hindi pwedeng baguhin yun. Wala sa usapan yun.

Q: May commitment ba sinoman sa House leader na ibabalik nila sa orig version?

SP Sotto: Wala. Wala kaming naririnig to that effect. Basta's ang alam lang namin, it was retrieved yesterday afternoon. That's it. They are supposed to set a meeting by Monday. I will send Sen. Legarda, Sen. Lacson and Sen. Honasan to attend.

Q: wala bang deadline yung re-enacted?

SP Sotto: Wala pero if you're looking for a deadline, June 7 would be the last day that they can do anything about it. After June 7, it's the new Congress already, by June 30.

Q: As far as the Senate is concerned, it's done. Yung House na lang talaga yung problema.

SP Sotto: Oo.

Q: Andaya's latest statement, may 5 days sila to resolve the problem... kapag hindi pa rin naayos, sya na mismo magre recommend na re-enacted for the whole year. Dapat magpakatotoo na

SP Sotto: Okay. Pero mali sya doon sa re-enacted na the whole year. Ire-reenact namin hanggang wala na sila. Pagdating ng August, ibang usapan na yun, 18th Congress na yun eh hindi na sila congressman nun.

Q: House cannot hold hostage the Senate if they keep on holding the copy and kung hindi nila ibibigay, pabayaan ng mag re-enact

SP Sotto: Okay lang, walang problema sa amin yun kasi alam namin na okay yung re-enacted hanggang Aug. okay yun. Pagdating ng June 30, wala na sila dun, July malalaman natin kung sino yung bagong Speaker, kausap na namin, kung sino yung mga bagong chairmen kakausapin namin and then we will be able to discuss it with the Executive Department kung kakailanganin pa nila yung budget for the rest of the year, magagawan na namin ng paraan yun. Mareremedyuhan. Maayos na lahat yun.

Q: meaning the 18th Congress probably will...

SP Sotto: The 18th Congress can address. The 18th Congress will be able to address this impasse if they insist on what they want to do, which we feel, as I said is a violation of RPC 170.

Q: sa tingin nyo yung adamant stance ng House is primarily because may basbas talaga ni GMA?

SP Sotto: I don't know. I can't say. I don't know. She didn't say anything when we were in the meeting. Wala syang sinabi.

Q: ang nagsasalita lang si Andaya?

SP Sotto: Yeah. Cong. Andaya.

Q: pero dun sa mga nagsusumbong sa inyo, walang nagsabi na si GMA yung nasa likod nung mga pagbabago na yun

SP Sotto: Hindi eh. Ang sinasabi nila yung committee on appropriations eh. Yun ang sinasabi nila eh. Wala eh. Ganun eh. 'ginalaw nila eh' yan yung mga sumbong eh, yung mga nagsusumbong sa amin.

Q: cordial relationship

SP Sotto: It has always been cordial. As a matter of fact, very, very few instances in the past na hindi nagkakatugma or hindi nagkikita eye to eye ang Senate at House. Bihirang bihira. ito yung very rare na ito na pangyayari na ito.

Q: alin ang mas cordial, during the time of Speaker Alvarez na sinasabi na mabagal ang Senate

SP Sotto: No it was beyond cordial. Mas okay kami nun. Wala kaming problema nun. Biro lang nya yun. Dahil binibiro ko rin naman yun eh. Sinusupalpal ko naman sya hindi ba? At kami nagkakabiruan kami at hindi namin minamasama ang biro namin sa isat isa. I answered Speaker Alvarez by saying 'slow kami but sure.' Pag nagkita kami, nagkatawanan kami, sinasabi ko nga sa kanya eh 'o kuyang, ang bilis nyo nga eh mali mali naman yung pinapadala nyo.' Tatawa naman sya. Ganun lang.

Q: pero yung kay GMA, not even cordial?

SP Sotto: Hindi. Cordial lang.

Q: not friendly?

SP Sotto: Medyo friendly. Okay lang. you know, the Speaker herself alone, palagay ko wala kaming problema. Maraming iba, maraming nakapaligid eh. Eh yun yung maraming sinasabi eh yung nakapaligid eh hindi naman sya eh.

Q: pati yung minority leader...

SP Sotto: May minority leader ba? Akala ko wala.

Q: As House Speaker dapat sya yung magmando hindi yung sya yung namamanduhan

SP Sotto: Yung words, not mine.

Q: since GMA has given word that she stands by the decision by the appropriations committee, do you see yung galaw nila going vs the President through GMA leadership?

SP Sotto: Hindi naman. Talagang ini-insist lang nila yan talaga. I'd rather you ask that question to Sen. Lacson. He would be in a better position to say the real reason. Alam nyo na naman kung ano yung tunay na dahilan, gusto nyo pa ako magsabi, huwag.

Q: Misuari threatens to go to war if govt fails to pursue federalism

SP Sotto: There are two perspectives to that particular statement. One, I wonder if there is a law against threatening the government. Research natin. You're threatening the govt with rebellion or something like that. Pangalawa, does he even know what kind of federalism he wants? Why are we going to jump into something because a citizen of a country says he wants this or that. Hindi ganun kadali yun eh. Pinag aaralan yun eh. Madaling sabihin na yung federalism, napakalalim ng ibig sabihin nito, napakalalim ng mga laman nito. Para ito ay ipilit mo, when we're already seeing the product of the President and Congress' approval of the Bangsamoro Organic Law in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, eh yun pa lang nakita mo na. magandang experiment yan. Makikita natin kung mabuti ito. It is some type of a federal situation. Parang federalism in some aspect yan eh. So makikita natin yan kung maganda o hindi. Ako naman madali rin yung solution ko dyan, kung hindi maganda yung effect, repeal. Pero once Constitution ang ginalaw mo, hindi madaling i-repeal yan. Ang batas madaling irepeal. Pero yung Constitution ililipat mo bigla, just because one man says so? I don't think we should put a lot of weight to it.

Q: Such kind of threat will not pressure Congress to immediately approve the proposed federalism

SP Sotto: No. Definitely not.

Q: Gov't should not allow yung ganung klaseng pananakot

SP Sotto: Kaya nga ang sabi ko we should research if there is some kind of a violation. That is close to inciting to rebellion. Or inciting to sedition.

Q: coming from a man with several charges.

SP Sotto: Oo. Siguro ang maganda, makipag usap na lang muna sya imbes na mananakot sya. Makipag usap sya sa Presidente o sa kongreso. Pwede kami magpadala ng representative, pakakausap ko muna sya kay Sen. Honasan. Mag-usap silang dalawa. Padadala ko sa kanya si Sen. Honasan pakakausap ko sa kanya. Mag usap sila at the chairman of the committee on peace, di ba? Tingnan natin. Tingnan natin sinong mas matibay.

Q: hindi ba way to consider din yung force nya kasi meron pa rin syang loyalists, followers from MNLF

SP Sotto: Pero the MNLF are with us. The MI are with us. Ayos na eh kay Presidente eh. Saka gusto nating makita kung ano magiging effect itong BAL na ginawa. So why the sudden passion for federalism for the entire country? Bakit biglang idadamay mo yung Luzon at Visayas at the entire Mindanao when there is already something going on for the ARMM.

Q: Should the govt take him seriously because he has this record of rebelling vs the govt

SP Sotto: I leave everything to the President when it comes to that. He would know what to do. Basta kami I'm limited to our opinion only. The Executive Department would know what to do with him in that case.

Q: Misuari wants to reclaim the lands that were taken away from the Moros by Spanish and American colonizers...

SP Sotto: Does federalism guarantee that those lands that they claim will be given back to them?

Q: Baka kasi yung federal state, sila na yung...

SP Sotto: Hindi. Wag ganun. Wag yung 'kami yung may ari nung...' Filipino people ang may ari ng Pilipinas at ng lupa ng Pilipinas, hindi yung grupo nila.

Q: do you see a turnaround in the stand (on federalism) of the Senate in the coming Congress considering na mas maraming allies ni President ang makakapasok

SP Sotto: Saan naman nanggaling yung sinabi na ang Senate is against federalism? Just because walang nangyayari ay against na. hindi ah. hindi napapag usapan. ang problema namin, majority of the members of the Senate ang problema, yung Charter change ang tinutulak basta basta eh saka kung papanong mode. Andun pa lang kami eh. Con-con ba or Con-ass?

Q: do you a bigger chance on federalism

SP Sotto: Wala pa kami dun. Wala pa sa usapan na yun

Q: in case ma settle na yung issue sa mode

SP Sotto: Mahirap. We will cross the bridge when we get there. Mag agree muna kami. Ano ba tayo, Con-Ass or Con-con? Ano pine present nyo? Ang ipe present nyo extension of terms? No term limits? Yan ang mga ano eh hindi naman federalism ang itinutulak pagkaganun eh. So how can you make majority of the members of the Senate agree? Now your question is pag papasok dito yung bagong 12 is karamihan kakampi ni Pres. Duterte, kahit na. The senators I have seen by experience, parang mga Supreme Court justices. Pag nahalal na sa Senado, iba na, sariling republiko na. Talagang ganun, I don't know why but there is this mentality in the Senate na pagka naging senador na, kahit sa Supreme Court, kahit sino ang nag-appoint sa kanya, nag-iiba. Nagiging accountable to more people. It's like, for example, bakit kami nangigigil dito sa mga ginagawa na hindi tama, or whatever, the mentality of senators kasi, is that we are accountable to more people. We are accountable to the whole nation, we are not accountable to one district. Hindi parochial ang thinking. So pagka nahalal na yan, tingnan mo yung mga nahahalal, majority sa mga bagong mahahalal pagdating dito, magkikilos senador yan. Parang sa Supreme Court, kahit sino ang nag-appoint sa kanila, pagdating doon, iba na. Supreme Court justice siya, hindi siya tuta ng kahit sino. Ganun yun sigurado, kaya we cannot say na dahil kakampi ng Presidente yung mga mananalo, biglang federalism ang itutulak, hindi ganun kadali yun.

Q: Kay Misuari pa rin, di ba nagthe-threaten siya ng war kung walang federalism, ano yung dapat gawin na lang niya?

SP Sotto: Leave him to his opinion and I hope he does not violate any laws by inciting to sedition, inciting to rebellion or what have you. Q: Hindi pa siya spent force?

SP Sotto: How old is he? Did the President give any weight to what Misuari said? What was the comment of the President?

Q: Siya yung nagkwento kagabi.

SP Sotto: And what did he say? Ano ang sabi niya na sagot niya?

Q: (Unclear) transparent siya dahil may ganung threat si Misuari kaya nagkikipag-usap siya kay Misuari.

SP Sotto: If I were the President I will send Senator Honasan to talk to Misuari. He is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Peace and also Defense.

Q: You will instruct Senator Honasan to reach out?

SP Sotto: Hindi, kung gusto lang ng Presidente. Sinusuggest ko lang, padala niya si Greg. On the water crisis.

Q: The President scolded the MWSS officials and told them to shape up or ship out. Is he giving them a chance to fix the problem? Matindi yung threat na yun ng Presidente.

SP Sotto: Oo, mabigat. Pag Presidente ang nag-threat, makinig ka dapat. Merong kasabihan ang mga Amerikano nung araw pa, hanggang ngayon, do not fight city hall. So kung ano ang sinabi ng Presidente, nasa lugar naman, hindi naman illegal yung sinasabi, gawin ninyo, ayusin ninyo kaagad. And then again, Ulitin ko yung suggestion ko. I don't know why hindi nila pinagaralan mabuti yung desalination. Kahit sabihin mo pang mahal, because lately, ang research namin, bumababa na ang presyo, mas mura na eh. Baka naman hindi makikinabang ang kung sino-sino, kaya pag nag-desalination ay tatamaan itong mga concessionaire? Baka ganun, pero dapat yan matagal na. As a matter of fact, there is a yearly meeting daw according to a friend of mine, Oscar Franklin Tan, he told me that there is a yearly meeting about water and conservation of water that is done in Singapore. This time it is on June 6 and 7, I am planning to send one of my legislative officers to attend sa Singapore. Pinaguusapan daw ang desalination doon. And its bakit sobra-sobra ang tubig sa Singapore? Bakit sa mga Middle East countries? Bakit sa Indonesia, nung araw, nung nagbo-bowling ako, seventies, ang dumi ng tubig sa Indonesia. Kahit galing sa gripo, hindi mo maiinom. Kitang-kita mo may kulay kalawang. Bakit ang ganda-ganda ngayon at walang problema sa water resources nila? Napag-aaralan lahat yan, palagay ko it's about time that we upgrade, update these agencies that are handling this, kaya maganda na yung threat ng Presidente.

Q: Tama lang yung parang nag-seek ng help si Presidente sa expertise ng Singapore pagdating doon sa desalination?

SP Sotto: Oo. Correct, napapaligiran tayo ng bodies of water, nagkalat ang tubig sa atin diyan, idedesalinate lang, di ba? So walang problema yang mga dam na yan kung nagkataon. Q: Meron ding threat si Presidente na pwede niyang iterminate yung concessionaire agreement with the Maynilad ang Manila Water? Sa tingin ninyo possible?

SP Sotto: I think that is possible. Remember, in this part of the world, baka the entire world, the President of the Philippines is the most empowered president. Tingnan ninyo yung mga pwedeng gawin ng ibang presidente sa ibang bansa. Yung presidente ng Pilipinas ang pinaka-powerful. Yes, he is the most empowered in the entire world, not only in Asia, (unclear) yung mga powers available to him, kaya baka pwede yun. On politics.

Q: You told us that before the local campaign starts, iaaannounce na yung NPC's senatorial bets. Ngayon po ilan ba talaga yung magiging official candidates ng NPC?

SP Sotto: As of the moment, maliwanag naman yung NPC, syempre ang sinusuportahan namin kaagad, yung tatlo naming member: Grace Poe, JV Ejercito and Lito Lapid. Now, aside from them, there are members of NPC in the local level, that have suggested senatorial candidates who have helped them one time or another, or they are supportive, or they would want to see in the Senate, so nag-usap-usap na kami. Ang mangyayari then, after my consultation with our chairman emeritus and leadership of the party, as the acting chairman, we will call for a general meeting very very soon, before March 29, definitely. In that general meeting, we will be inviting some senatorial candidates. You can be sure that those that we invite will be supported by the members of the NPC, that's why we were inviting them. We want to hear from them, we want to find out from our colleagues, bakit nila gustong imbitahan si ganun, si ganyan. It will be short of an announcement siguro.

Q: Sino yung mga senatorial candidates na iinvite sa general meeting?

SP Sotto: I do not want to preempt the party, let's wait for the general meeting.

Q: Marami po doon mga reelectionist?

SP Sotto: Yes. As a matter of fact, ako on a personal level, I am definite about my support for the reelectionist senators. This is one of the most, if not the most trusted and high-approval Senate ever and they are part of it. And you can see the job and the work that they have done, all seven of them. Kaya I, on a personal level, am supporting all seven and helping in their campaign.

Q: Lahat ng reelectionist?

SP Sotto: Yes, lahat.

Q: Resolved na ba yung Imee and Bam issue?

SP sotto: Hindi namin napapagusapan lately.

Q: So doon sa general meeting?

SP Sotto: Sa general meeting malalaman natin.

Q: Yung NPC ninyo tatlo, si Poe, si Lito, and si JV. Yung dalawa okay naman sa ratings, si JV medyo naiwan. Ano ang ginagawang move ng NPC para matulungan si JV?

SP Sotto: Pagdating ng local campaign at kumakampanya yung mga local officials, siguradong malaki ang maitutulong nung mga NPC governors, mayors, vice-governors, vice-mayors, board members, councilors, and candidates namin sa kandidatura ni JV. Iba pag yung local gumagapang na kaya makikita mo ang survey magbabago pag ang local kumakampanya na. I always rely on the survey on the third week of April. Pagka may survey ng third week of April, yung tinatawag na mga mahuhusay talaga na survey groups, particularly in my case, I strongly believe in the surveys conducted by Pulse Asia, yun, makikita mo. Makikita mo kung alin doon ang medyo may danger, may pag-asa or may habol, and then makikita rin doon ang local level kung nakapagtrabaho na. Kung nadala yung aming kandidato. Ako, I am confident that by the third week of April, pag kumampanya na ang mga local NPC candidates namin, Senator Ejercito would have a better percentage. I don't really rely on ranking. I look at the percentages of a candidate and not just the ranking. Madali yung ranking.

Q: Confident kayo na yung tatlo ninyong official senatorial candidates, winnable yun? Makakapasok, including JV Ejercito?

SP Sotto: Oo. Yes.

Q: Yun bang stable, yung pagpipilian, free-for-all ba ito? May HNP, may PDP, may Otso-Diretso?

SP Sotto: Yes, oo. Wala kaming yung mga names na pinasok sa mga leadership namin, at saka sa mga member namin, hindi nakalagay doon kung ano yung affiliation. Hindi parang yung balota na nandoon kung independent o hindi.

Q: Ilan yung invited soon sa general meeting ninyo na senatorial candidates?

SP Sotto: At the moment tingin ko eleven yung imbitado. Yung sinasabi kong seven reelectionists, ako yun, personal. I am not speaking as member of NPC. The NPC general meeting would be a different story.

Q: Doon sa eleven, kasama yung tatlong NPC members?

SP Sotto: Oo. Obviously.

Q: (Unclear)

SP Sotto: Kasi meron kaming gustong isama na ayaw naman nung iba so ang gagawin namin, ang plano, plano pa lang, is bigyan mo ng open na isa o dalawang slot para kung sino ang gusto niyang dalhin, dalhin niya na hindi kasama doon sa gusto ng liderato. Parang ganun.

Q: Yung seven po, lahat nandoon sa eleven?

SP Sotto: Most probably. I cannot say yes. Most probably. I'd rather not speak for the party at this point when it comes to that.

Q: (Unclear)

SP Sotto: Sa akin, pito? Yes. Hihintayin ko na yung general membership. Anything is possible.

Q: Winnable naman daw halos lahat ng reelectionist, ang nagtatagilid lang ay si Senator Koko, si Senator Bam, at saka si Senator JV. What is your take on that?

SP sotto: Then we will campaign more for them and again, pag dating ng local, magbabago pa yan.

Q: Naalala ko yung sinabi ninyo, yung Macho Bloc, ikaw, si Senator Ping, and Senator Honasan, will actively campaign for the reelectionist senators. Ngayon, parang wala pa?

SP Sotto: Hindi physical yung hinahanap mo. We have been working underground. And by the way we have two honorary members in the Macho Bloc, si Loren, at saka si Grace. Si Loren is a member of the Macho Bloc. Tsaka si many Pacquiao, kasunod na yan, magmemember na rin yan and then may mga hinihintay kami na baka magmember, pagkananalo.

Q: Pero yung sinasabi ninyo na yung physical na campaigning for the reelectionists, mangyayari pa ba yun?

SP Sotto: Depende. Pwede. Pero at the moment we have been helping under the radar, but there will definitely come a point wherein we will be openly together campaigning with them. Kasi yung regional sana naming iniisip, wla kaming makuhang schedule, hindi pa kami nakakapagplano na yung pito kasama namin. Hiwahiwalay yung lakad nung pito. Wala pa kaming maiset-up na magkakasama sila para maging physical, pero under the radar we are working.

Q: Can you expound on under the radar?

SP Sotto: We have many friends when it comes to local officials. We have many friends in local organizations, in NGOs and we have been telling them, I am sure Senator Honasan and Senator Lacson are doing the same thing, we have been telling them who we want to help elected back into the Senate. Specially the reelectionists. On the narco-list.

Q: Have you gone over the narco-list? May mga umappear ba doon na members ng NPC? Will you endorse them and allow them to campaign on stage?

SP Sotto: Hindi ko masagot yan because yung narco-list na nasa amin, was submitted to us during the time of Senator Pimentel when he was Senate President, so nandoon yun. Inabot ko yun, nasa akin pa yun, but it is not this, it is a full list. Ang sinasabi ninyong narco-list I know you are pertaining to the political narco-list. Yung involved in politics, politicians, I do not have a copy. I have not gone through it. Ang nasa amin yung makapal, yung kasama lahat, kung sino-sino.

Q: Wala ba kayong balak na i-go over yung list since it was already made public?

SP Sotto: Siguro I will. Now that you have suggested it, I might look into it. Kung merong NPC members doon, siguradong kakausapin namin at tatanungin namin bakit siya nandoon.

Q: iendorse pa rin ninyo?

SP Sotto: Parang ang hirap namang sagutin yang tinatanong mo, we don't even know kung meron, at saka kung validated yun, kung sinubmit lang ng kaaway yun, we will have to talk to them pagka ganun.

Q: Pero ano ang policy ng NPC pagdating doon?

SP Sotto: Hindi pa namin napapagusapan yun.

Q: Saan po yung meeting?

SP Sotto: General meeting ng NPC? Imbitahin namin kayo.

Q: Kelan po yun? Within Metro Manila?

SP Sotto: Oo. Sa clubhouse namin for sure, sa Balete Drive.

Q: Right after the meeting (unclear) ninyo na yung formal announcement?

SP Sotto: Hindi na siguro, basta general meeting yun and then lunch. Ganun ang plano ngayon.

Q: Yung sa eleven, sure na yun?

SP Sotto: Iimbitahin namin yun, kung gusto nila. Oo.

Q: After the general meeting, may formal announcement?

SP Sotto: Hindi na siguro kakailanganin. If ever we need to, we decide to, because that's a general meeting, thereafter, yes we will, we will have our secretary general, our spokesperson, Congressman Dong Mendoza of Batangas and Congressman Mark Enverga, they will make the announcement.

Q: And then after that actively magkacampaign na yung NPC sa mga candidate?

SP Sotto: Oo.

Q: Hindi kayo sir?

SP Sotto: Meron kaming spokesman. Kasi meron akong problema sa isa, dalawa doon, gusto ko isama, baka hindi makasama, ganun, kaya mabuti na yung official na lang para hindi ako directly affected.

Q: Si Senator JV, talagang nagpapatulong na?

SP Sotto: Oo.

Q: When you resume regular session in May, how many session days would you have before adjournment?

SP Sotto: Nine. Nine session days unless we extend.

Q: What are the major bills that you intend to pass within that period?

SP Sotto: Anti-terrorism Act, is number one. Yung medical scholarship Act, ang tagal ko ng pinupush yan, dapat pagka Pilipino, gusto mag-aral ng medicine, libre. Dapat ganun. Amendments to the public service Act. The Mindanao Railways Authority. Yan yung mga hinahabol natin. Budget reform Act, yung emergency powers ng Presidente, national transport Act. Yung reformation of children in conflict with the law. Age of criminal responsibility, yung mga yun. Kayang ihabol yun in those nine days.

Q: Up to third reading?

SP Sotto: Oo, up to passage, kung pwede nga up to bicam.

Q: What's the word from the House?

SP Sotto: Some of these are already passed by the House. Palagay ko baka madebate pa, baka mapagusapan pa yung reimposition of the death penalty, baka mahabol. Medyo mahaba lang yan, but we can give it a try.

Q: Yung lower of minimum age?

SP Sotto: Oo, yun nga. Kasama yun.

Q: Lahat yan for second reading?

SP Sotto: Yes, oo. Lahat yan nasa floor na so ang laki ng pag-asa nito na mapasa ito, second and third reading, may mga isa, dalawa diyan na baka nasa committee report pa lang pero if really it's not important, pwedeng ipasa yan by first week of June.

Q: May kasamang funding provision yung (unclear).

SP Sotto: Meron. I'm not sure of the amount.

Q: Comment lang po sa sinabi ni Presidente na may mga senador na hindi dapat nasa Senado?

SP Sotto: That's his opinion. I don't know who he is pertaining to, so I'd rather not comment.

Q: Pinayagan ng Sanduiganbayan si Senator Jinggoy and Janet Lim Napoles na magfile ng demurrer?

SP Sotto: Pwede naman talaga yun. Senator JV filed a demurrer nung siya ay chinacharge dati doon sa San Juan and he was successful.

Q: Pero one step away na lang sila to a possible dismissal ng kanilang kaso?

SP Sotto: I am not familiar with the case.

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