Press Release
May 8, 2019

Transcript of Kapihan sa Manila Bay with Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III and Marichu Villanueva

Q: Sir, we'll start with the burning issue of this self-confessed Bikoy. I understood before coming here that the Philippine National Police has announced that they had in custody a first degree relative of this self-confessed Bikoy and we would like to know a deeper background of this guy which I believe that you're going to present.

SP Sotto: To place everything in its proper context and to give the complete and full background of what I'm about to present...Last Monday, I was on the way to Calamba, Laguna for a Luntian Party-list event where we invited some reelectionist senators and my friends who are running for the Senate in 2019 elections. And on the way, my political assistant, Hutch (Juan Miguel) Altavas from Capiz, who is the grandson of Gov. Altavas from Region VI, he called me and asked if I was listening on the radio or watching TV on a certain person who claims he is Bikoy and his family name is Advincula. Sabi ko sa kanya...hindi eh, I'm driving to Laguna. Ang sabi niya:" eh, sir, yun yung pinapunta mo ako sa Muntinlupa. Sabi ko, ano? Sino? Kailan? Sabi niya:

Some years ago. So, I was trying to refresh my memory and recall, what happened during that time, yung sinasabi niya. Some years ago, Sir, pinapuntahan ninyo ako doon. Sabi niya sa Muntinlupa, pinakausap ninyo sa akin yung a certain Peter Advincula. Sabi ko..Oo, sya ba yan nandyan? Are you sure? 100 percent, sya yun, sabi niya. Sya yun, yung nasa tv ngayon, kaya sya nagulat. Sabi ko, imonitor mo, anong pinagsasasabi. Natatandaan mo ba, yung pinapadala niya sa atin mga sulat, na huminhingi ng tulong, na may revelation, ganun. Yes, sir, I have everything, sabi niya. Buti naitabi niya. As a matter of fact natabi niya pati yung visitor's pass sa Muntinlupa kaya na tandaan namin 'yung date kalian sya pumunta doon.

Q: Bilanggo pa lang sya niyan?

SP Sotto: Bilanggo pa lang sya. Ang original visitor's pass, December 2, 2016, Inmate, Peter Advincula, tapos nakapirma dito ang officer-in-charge, strictly visiting area only. Pati 'yung pag pumasa sa searching area, completo yan. At yung pangalan ng inmate na puntahan. To place everything in its proper context. So, confirmed. 100 percent, sya ang pinuntahan ni Hutch. At syang kausap. Pag-balik sa akin ni Hutch in 2016 and we pieced this together already. Na para ba matandaan namin lahat.

 Q: Ano kayo noon?

SP Sotto: I was the Senate Majority Leader. Mayroon sya affidavit na ginawa, sinumpaan salaysay ni Peter Joemel L. Advincula aka Peter Joemel, December 2016 at the New Bilibid Prisons, Muntinlupa, Metro Manila. Dito sya sumumpa ng salaysay niya. Yung ni-review namin ulit, makikita ninyo ang pagkahawig doon sa Bikoy series at saka doon sa statement niya in the IBP.

Q: You mean similar sya sa 2016 affidavit?

SP Sotto: Oo. Yung sinumpaan salaysay niya ng 2016. That brings me to the PowerPoint presentation that I would like to make so you can see the comparison yung sinasabi niya noon at sinasabi niya ngayon.

It was really a big bomb shell at that time kung pinatulan ko. Doon sa sinumpa niya salaysay sa 2016, yung kanyang employment description ay halos parehas sa kanyang employment description sa kanyang statement sa May 6, 2019.

In 2016, he was technical controller and marketing consultant daw with con-current capacity as Mentor Speaker for First Vita Plus - 9 Cycles Net Corporation and Wellness Philippines, Inc. and the Ka-Asenso Forum ng Bicol Franchise. At sya daw ay team leader noon grupo ng mga Quadrangle Syndicate. During that time, tinatawag na niya Quadrangle Syndicate.

Sa statement niya ng May 6, 2019 sa IBP, sya daw ay marketing executive ng Vita Plus at control man ng radio base and CCTV operations of the Quadrangle Syndicate. You will see later on what he means by Quadrangle Syndicate. Ito daw yung illegal drugs group of the entire country na pinamumunuan ng sinasabi niya mga personalidad. And later, he was also member of the transmitting and facilitating team of the Quadrangle syndicate.

Yung sa Bikoy series niya, sinasabi niya employment description niya member sya ng drug syndicate, ng Quadrangle syndicate. Ngayon, doon sa mga statements niya, doon sa sinumpang salaysay niya ng 2016, mayroon sya tinatawag grupo ng mga patron. Ito yung mga bigshot, ito yung nasaibabaw ng drug syndicate according to his description in his affidavit.

Q: Did he use the word patron because he reminds me of the "El Chapo"

SP Sotto: He did, that's what he calls them. Patron, then mayroon sya tinatawag ng mga Patriarch, I don't know what he means by Patriarch pero siguro yun yung mga ama. Then may others sya. Doon sa mga patron na sinasabi niya, makikita ninyo listahan na may mga code, code pa sya...

Elizalde Co, former President Benigno Aquino, former DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, former DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima, Teresita Raniola, Congressman Fernando Gonzales, Congressman Luis Villafuerte at Thomas Enrile..ito ''yung mga patron ng Quadrangle Syndicate.

Ang Patriarch daw ay sina Gov. Joey Salceda, Congressman L-Ray Villafuerte, Gov. Eggay Tallado, Gov. Joseph Cua, Vice Gov. Kruni Escudero ...lahat 'yan mayroon sya code. May mga (inaudible) at numeric codes siyang ginagamit. And then mayroon siyang mga others. Former DA Secretary Proseso Alcala, former DILG Undersecretary Ricardo Puno, Police Senior Supt. Regondola, Senior Supt. Clik, Senior Supt. Bardin and Ronnie Dayang, na binanggit niya na kasama daw sa grupo.

Q: Yung driver ni Sec. De Lima?

SP Sotto: Oo. I-kumpara ninyo ito ngayon sa statement niya ng May 6, 2019. Mayroon din syang binabanggit ng patron, patriarch and others. Sa patron, nabago na, ang sinasabi n'ya patron or Tausug Davao Group daw, Paolo Duterte, Veronica Salvador, na representing daw Honey Let and her daughter, Christopher Bong Go and Maneses Carpio. At yung mga patriarch mapapansin mo dito na may parehong pangalan sa mga dati niya. Elizalde Co, Teresita Raniola, Victor Lorenzo Rosales, Fernando Rosales, Gov. Egay Callado, Congressman Luis Villafuerte, Gov. Cua, Vice Gov. Escudero, Senior Provincial Board Member Krunimar Escudero and then Thomas Enrile. Ito 'yung named personalities involved in the drug syndicate according to him. In his sinumpang salaysay nung 2016 and his statement in May 6, 2019 at the IBP. The named personalities involved in the drug syndicate na makikita natin na talaga matingkad pagkakalagay niya at pag tiningnan nyo sa sinumpang salaysay niya, 'yung participation kung paano...President Aquino, DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, Secretary De Lima, makikita ninyo diyan sa mga statements niya, pay attention to ....

SP Sotto Reading The Affidavit: "Ang pagpupulong pong ito ng mga malalaking politiko, Chinese businessman (Sotto: ang dinidescribe niya ay 'yun daw pumupuntang drug syndicate group na Quadrangle nila) at police officials ng aming rehiyon ay muling nasundan noong Ika-28 ng Disyembre 2010, sa "underground room" o "central house" ng Quadrangle Syndicate na kung saan sa pagkakataon pong ito'y una ko pong malapitang nakita ang noo'y kalihim ng kagawaran ng Katarungan si Secretary Leila de Lima, kasamang kausap ang mga patriarchal ng sendikato, at ang mga politiko at Chinese businessman na una na pong nasambitan, ang pagpululong pong ito sa "central House" ng Quadrangle Syndicate ay tumagal ng halos tatlong oras magmula ikalawa ng hapon hanggang ika-amin ng gabi, at sa pagpapupulong din pong yuon ay una kung nakita ang driver-bodyguard ni Secretary de Lima na nagtungo sa "central house ng sindikato." pagkatapos ng pagpupulong ay sabay-sabay po silang pumasok sa Door 2 ng underground room na kinalalagyan ng underground laboratory ng sindikato, kasama si Secretary Leila De Lima kanyang driver bodyguard na si Ronnie Dayan, at mga patriarchal ng sindikato.

Q: Why are you taking up this fight? It's not your fight...

SP Sotto: I had nothing to do with it. As a matter of fact ni hindi ko pinapansin yung Bikoy series eh, sa Facebook eh. There was 1 media personality last Monday, when I mentioned this, tinanong ako, bat ngayon mo lang sinasabi yan. Eh ni hindi ko nga napapanood yung Bikoy series eh. Sabi ko hindi ko nga pinapatulan yan eh. Kaya nga I don't know about this eh. It's not that I'm taking up the cudgels for anyone. I'm just stating the facts, I'm saying that in 2016, he did the same thing. He was the same who did that and eto naman ngayon and I can only suspect and I can only surmise na perhaps it has something to do with the 2019 elections. Baka siguro gustong gasgasin yung mga image ng administration katulad ng ginagawa nyang panggagasgas sa administration noon kung sino man ang mga taong nasa likod nya na pumik up sa kanya, na gustong igasgas yugn administration ngayon para pagdating ng 2019 elections eh baka meron silang mga ibang kandidatong kursunada at ayaw nila yung kandidato ng administration. Yun lang pumasok sa isip ko.

Q: If only senators like you will do that kind of practicing due diligence there will be no problem like Ador Mawanay...etc.

SP Sotto: Yun na nga eh. Kaya siguro, that's perhaps the reason also I'm endorsing the senators that I'm endorsing. Yung pagkakakilala ko sa kanila, hindi ganun eh. Hindi sila basta papatol na lang o pag nagkakampanya naninira ng 5 tao para makapagkampanya ng sarili nila imbes na ikampanya lang yung sarili nya. Kaya ko ini endorse din yung mga ibang kandidato sapagkat alam ko na na ganun sila, they practice due diligence especially the women - Grace, Nancy, Cynthia, Pia, even Imee Marcos. I will support the 5 of them. The 5 women.

Q: Being SP, I think you got at least this kind of institutional due diligence...

SP Sotto: Perhaps we can look into that kasi talagang ang rules sa Senate eh kakaiba sa House eh. Wala kaming cloture and then we have parliamentary immunity kaya kung minsan siguro, baka from 1987 to the present, medyo there were 1 or 2 instances na medyo naging reckless ng konti but hopefully in the 18th Congress it will not happen to the Senate. We would like the maintain what the Senate has, independence, transparency and sincerity.

Q: Pano po kayo in approach ni Bikoy nung 2016, may emisaryo po sya...

SP Sotto: Meron. Nov. 2016, I would rather not mention the name but there was a mediaman that he approached who was perhaps covering Muntinlupa or that area. He approached that mediaman. Nov. 16, 2016 nag send sya ng text, tinext nya, sabi nya " Boss, Peter Joel de leon Advincula name ko po nasa NBP medium security compound po ako naka detain at inmate-workforce po ako ng inmate complaints information and assistance center of medium security compound. 7am to 3pm dalaw dito pre from Miyerkoles to Biyernes." He sent this to that person and that person talked to him at sabi that he would want to give information to me in particular because it had something to do with illegal drugs. Dun nag umpisa.

Q: that's when you sent si Hutch

SP Sotto: Yes I sent Hutch.

Q: Nung Monday nabanggit nyo na Jojo, it was VP Binay

SP Sotto: No, no. Jojo Ochoa pala. Dun mo makikita na nung Monday, I was still trying to refresh my myself. I could recall the names na nabanggit nun, sinasabi ni Hutch si Advincula and that he was so sure that it was the same person that he was talking to. So my thoughts during that time, during our presscon about Luntian, hindi pa malinaw sa akin lahat eh until we looked back at the records, we looked back at the papers.

Q: What happens now to the Senate hearing on Friday? Did you talk to Sen. Lacson about this?

SP Sotto: Yes I gave Sen. Lacson all the copies and all the details. He has it. I think he's conducting a Kapihan tomorrow so you probably can ask him on the developments thereafter.

Q: Would you dissuade Sen. Lacson na ipatawag sya sa hearing on Friday?

SP Sotto: I never meddle with the chairmen of the different committees eh. It's up to Sen. Lacson on what he thinks is best to do with this issue.

Q: Sabi nyo nga kung walang kredibilidad hindi dapat pinapatulan ng Senate...

SP Sotto: As I said it's best that you ask Sen. Lacson about that tomorrow. I would rather not comment kung ano dapat. Basta definitely the person is not credible at all. Yung mga nagbibigay ng statements na sabi na credible daw ito or sounds credible, nakakahiya.

Q: Double checked nyo yung bank accounts na binigay sa inyo kung credible

SP Sotto: Pag nakita ninyo huh talagang ano eh shocking! Yung account number ganito ganito, meron syang identity code na nandyan. Ang dami nito eh para baguhin nya ito mahihirapan eh. Palagay ko yung sinasubmit nya ngayon, hawig na hawig, pare-pareho. Binabago lang yung pangalan na involved. Ang mga deposits daw Yuan, 20M, 5M, 30M. Puro rounded figures nga eh.

Q: Ano pa iba dahilan binalewala nyo na pinagsasabi nya

SP Sotto: Unang una incredible yung mga kwento eh. Like for example, I cannot imagine Pres. Noynoy Aquino going to that underground safehouse in Misibis with Sec. Roxas and Sec. De Lima and exchanging money, exchanging shabu. I cannot imagine that happening. So sabi ko, parang napakahirap paniwalaan ang kwento nito. So the first thing I did was check the bank account. Pina check namin sa HSBC eh.

Q: The IBP has turned down Advicula's request for free legal assistance, comment sir?

SP Sotto: That's good news because apparently nung unang araw kasi merong mga miyembro silang pumatol. So it's good that they realized that it's not worth it at all. It might ruin the name of the IBP.

Q: Ano tingin nyo intentions nya when he raised his allegations in v2016, was he acting alone, someone behind him....

SP Sotto: During that time, I don't know about now, ang tingin ko gusto humingi ng tulong para makalabas sya. Gusto nyang maging state witness, WPP or something to that effect. Wala akong ibang naisip kasi during that time katatapos lang ng election. Ang pinag-iinitan nun mga issue na against Sen. De Lima. Di ba yun yung mga issue nun eh. Kung reckless kami o ako, pwede ko ngang pinatulan ito eh at ilang mga points dyan ilabas ko because it's very damaging to Sec. De Lima but I knew this is completely farcical to say the least.

Q: Parang nakiki ride sya dun sa issue

SP Sotto: Palagay ko during that time kasi si Ronnie Dayan pinag-initan nya eh

Q: But he was eventually released for good behaviour

SP Sotto: Also nga pala, based on the text with Hutch which you can have copies later, he wanted to be a witness in the Senate hearing against Sen. De Lima.

Q: Pinabackground check nyo ba sya bakit sya nagke claim ng ganyan

SP Sotto: During that time? Hindi. In order words I brushed it off eh. I wanted to find out muna kung yung mga laman ay may katotohanan. Nung malaman ko na hindi na, hindi ko na pinansin. Madalas tayo nakakarinig ng ganyan eh, nung may mga lumalapit sa atin kung ano anong kwento tunggkol kay ganito, kay ganyan.

Q: Remember sir nasa Munti sya nun, na yung issue kay De Lima sa Munti...

SP Sotto: Baka gustong makasali

Q: Kay Sir Hutch, nung lumabas mga Bikoy video...

Hutch: Nung una ko pa lang nakita, sya yun eh medyo nagkalaman lang. Saka hindi ko pinansin din yung Bikoy series na yun eh kasi alam naman namin walang basis, walang kwenta.

Q: Bakit pa mag police background nakakulong nga eh

Hutch: Yun nga

Q: Earlier interview sabi nyo ka surname lang, ngayon ba can we say he is one and the same person?

SP Sotto: Yes kasi as I said when Hutch called me, I was driving to Calamba, Laguna and Hutch said the family name is the same, Advincula. Sabi nya 'sir check ko yung buong pangalan, yung affidavit nya.' So when I arrived in Laguna during the presscon for Luntian, I did not have a clear picture yet. I was trying to refresh pa lang during that time kaya nga mali pa date ko, sabi ko nga 2015 may lumapit sa akin, 2016 pala yun.

Q: Is there any legislation in mind now to prevent people like these...

SP Sotto: Pwede yun, yung internal lang. Pero laws, perhaps no legislation is necessary to this effect because there are existing laws that can cover all this.

Q: Perjury is one.

SP Sotto: Yes.

Q: Umabot ba radar nyo yung involvement ng (?) sa illegal drugs.

SP Sotto: Hindi eh. I can safely say. I don't know about let's say kung meron mga top officials na perhaps tried it or ika nga eh one time or another gumamit or gumagamit pero involvement in the trade, drug trafficking per se or protection of drug trafficking, I'm not aware of these top officials.

Q: Nung 2016 nagkaroon ba sa part nyo na ipa counter kung talagang may illegal drugs operations sa Misibis Bay?

SP Sotto: Hindi eh. At the outset kasi, hindi kapatol patol yung kwento nya eh kaya after a couple of a number of days or weeks na may mga pina check kami, hindi ko na pinatulan even that. Siguro yung Misibis Bay baka even now papayag yun na imbestigahan yung lugar nya or inspeksyunin yung lugar nya kung may mga underground silang laboratory dun.

Q: Protektahan mo naman si Hutch, si Bikoy may threat daw sa kanya

SP Sotto: Sila dapat mag-ingat kay Hutch eh.

Q: Paki explain yung sinabi nyo na possibly meron lang syang hindi gustong mga kandidato

SP Sotto: Or may mga nasa likod nya. Possibly. That's possible, bat all of a sudden bakit biglang nag Bikoy series sya. It's not easy to come up on FB with such a ika nga eh huge amount of, hindi lang gastos, parang promo, production. Hindi madaling gumawa nun huh. So siguradong may mga nasa likod nya. Yun ang pinakamagandang gawin nitong si Advincula, if he wants to come clean, he can come up and say sino yung mga nasa likod nya at naglabas nito sa FB.

Q: May sinabi kayo kanina na baka di lang nila kursunada bets ng admin

SP Sotto: Siguro yung mga nasa likod nya o baka sya. Katulad rin yung mga panahon na yun, yung panahon na yun walang nasa likod nya, initiative nya eh, na ayaw nya yung administration ng Aquino.

Q: Are you prepared to say na baka opposition or some other groups are behind it?

SP Sotto: No, I'd rather not. You know I will be contradicting myself. If I say something to that effect kasi nga iniiwasan ko. Ayoko nung nagju judge eh. Ayoko nung nagbibintang eh. Ayoko ng naninira ng kapwa. I can only guess na merong mga tao sa likod nya. Pero I'd rather not say kung sino sa tingin ko or sino tingin ng ibang tao.

Q: burden should come from him

SP Sotto: Oo sya na. Pano na upload yun, sino humawak ng camera nya, di ba?

Q: During that time majority leader kayo, today eto nga merong revised allegations, if you were handling the committee, would you or would you not pursue a public hearing on this?

SP Sotto: I do not want to pre-empt Sen. Lacson kasi eh. That's why I'd rather not give my sentiment on the matter. I leave it to Sen. Lacson

Q: Di ba may pronouncement si Sen. Lacson na present evidence first? So ano ba mauuna, yung weighing of the evidence or yung formal hearing?

SP Sotto: As far as the Senate is concerned, the best answer is, abangan ang susunod na kabanata bukas kay Sen. Lacson at the Kapihan sa Senado.

Q: So will you include him in the probe or you will ask Sen. Lacson to expand the probe to include the uploader?

SP Sotto: Perhaps. As a matter of fact baka hindi committee on public order yun pagka tungkol sa FB na. Baka committee on public information and mass media and then baka mas malamang siguro pagka mass media na pinag-uusapan, FB na pinag-uusapan, we can do it after elections na at hindi na ika nga mabahiran yung last few days of the campaign.

Q: Tomorrow weighing of evidence muna to determine if you will proceed or not.

SP Sotto: Yeah I leave it to the discretion of Sen. Lacson.

Q: Nung nabasa nyo yung 2016 affidavit, nag heads up ba kayo kina Sen. De Lima, Roxas or Pres. Aquino?

SP Sotto: Hindi yata. I think I told Jojo Ochoa. I mentioned it to Jojo Ochoa. Kaibigan namin ni Sen. Lacson si Jojo Ochoa so even if they were not in office already we had conversations, we had dinners parang ganun, nabanggit ko. I think kay Jojo Ochoa ko lang nabanggit. I did not mention it to Sen. Roxas or Sen. De Lima.

Q: Ano daw reaction nya?

SP Sotto: Pinagtawanan.

Q: Do you think dapat investigate na lang ng Senate who's behind Bikoy?

SP Sotto: Siguro all these mas maganda yung after elections, saka natin tingnan if meron tayong pakikinabangan o kung ito ba ay uungkatin natin or something like that. Ngayon kasi everything now until Saturday will be suspect.

Q: Do you think ang kailangang imbestigahan ng senado is kung sino yung grupo sa likod ni Bikoy at bakit niya inilabas ito? Do you think there is a need to look into that?

SP Sotto: Siguro all this, mas mabuti after elections saka natin tingnan ano? If mayroon tayong pakikinabangan, kung ito ba ay uungkatin natin or something like that. Ngayon kasi, everything now until Saturday, will be suspect.

Q: Do you see the need to amend the Witness Protection Program?

SP Sotto: Maganda, very good question. I think it needs to be reviewed.

Q: (Unclear)

SP Sotto: Oo nga, sige that is a very good question. Perhaps, the thing is, the best thing to do is look into the Witness Protection Program of government again.

Q: (Unclear) Did you inform the President na mukhang nauncover na ninyo kung sino yung tao na ito?

SP Sotto: No, wala akong nakausap sa kanila. Kelan ba ako nagpunta sa patay, kay Nograles? Nung Sunday? Wala. Nito lang kami nagkita ni ES Medialdea, another Letranite, kwentuhan kami pero wala pa, hindi ko lam yun. Wala akong napagsabihan sa Malacañang. I hope they will be able to hear about this presscon so that they can do an investigation also on their part kung gusto nila.

Q: Ano ang dapat gawin ng mga handler ni Bikoy? Dapat sila na mismo ang magpresent sa government para lang sa ikalilinaw ng lahat?

SP Sotto: Ang tanong diyan, naniniwala ba sila kay Bikoy? Yung mga handler niya, naniniwala ba talaga sila? O talagang gusto lang nilang mambato ng putik? Yun ang tanong doon. With this, kung hindi nila alam ito, kung aniniwala pala sila, ay dapat huwag sila maniwala. Ngayon, kung hindi sila naniniwala at ginamit nila, ay wala tayong magagawa dahil iba na ang intensiyon nun. I would go to the other side, which is the side of Bikoy, Advincula. Come out clean, tell us, tell the people, who told you to do that.

Q: Si uploader, di ba meron din siyang ganun? He is offering to turn state witness.

SP Sotto: Oo. Come out clean, mabuti yun, yun ang pinaka-maganda, gagaan ang loob mo at baka matuwa pa ang gobyerno sa iyo.

Q: Sa isang interview sa Rappler, sabi ni Bikoy, may three who may surface after his speech. Open po ba kayo sa pagbabago ng isip ninyo kung sakaling merong mga ibang taong magcorroborate o magsupport doon sa statement ni Bikoy?

SP Sotto: Ano ang iko-corroborate nila? Na si Noynoy Aquino at saka si Mar Roxas at si Leila De Lima tumatanggap ng pera diretso doon sa Misibis? Sa account nila? Nagdedeposit sila sa HSBC? Sila ang magcocorroborate nun? Na ngayon naman, si Paolo Duterte naman na same script, different name, sabi ng mga Americano, same dog, different collar? I doubt it. Palagay ko may flip yung magcocorroborate na sinasabi niya, may flip.

Q: Do you think we should put to rest all the allegations against all the personalities he mentioned?

SP Sotto: Yes I think so. I think he should do that and as I said earlier it's better if ghe comes clean. He will come out better pagka ganun. Ilabas niya kung ano na lang talaga. Sino yung nasa likod nung pagtutulak sa kanya diyan.

Q: So you think it would belie all, lahat nung allegation niya dahil kitang kita yung discrepancies and inaccuracies doon sa binigay niyang statement then and now?

SP Sotto: Yes, I think so. Kung baga sa tubo, if I may quote Senator Lacson last night nung binabasa niya yung affidavit, kung baga sa tubo, nilalos hanggang dulo. So siguro, tama.

Q: Pero siyempre you have to follow due process. Maraming namalign, hindi lang yung Presidente.

SP Sotto: Magagalit sa kanya yung mga yun. Ang maganda, he comes clean, at siguradong patatawarin siya nitong mga ito, hindi na siya papatulan.

On the 2019 national elections.

Q: You have endorsed the six reelectionists plus several other candidates, ano ang naging basis mo for the other candidates?

SP Sotto: I am familiar with their background. I am familiar with their advocacies and I know them personally. Yun ang mga dahilan. Alam ko na magiging mabuti sila na senador. Ang pagiging senador, you do not necessarily have to be an expert in law or in parliamentary procedures. That is important, but one of the factors that I look at a person in the Senate is his voting record. The way he votes. The way he supports particular issues or controversies, malaking bagay yun, I have learned that from the best and the brightest when I was here in 1992. The likes of Neptali Gonzales, Bert Romulo, Ernie Maceda, Ed Angara, yan ang mga kasabay ko, sila Sonny Alvarez, Orly Mercado, Boy Herrera, Blas Ople, Celing Fernan, I've learned it from them. Most of them, if you will look at the records of the Senate, ilan ang mga batas na pinasa? Ilan ang inauthor nila? Kaunti lang, pero, (unclear) record. Quality. Excellent ang voting record. If it's good for the people, they vote for it. If they think it's not good for the people, they vote against it. Yun ang minana ko, nakikita ko ito sa mga kasama ko dito at dito sa mga ineendorse ko na makarating sa Senado. Malaking bagay yung pananaw niya.

Q: Nabanggit ninyo na you were looking forward to the 18th Congress, and you have endorsed how many senatorial candidates? Twelve ba?

SP Sotto: Kung ako lang ang masusunod, fifteen nga ang gusto kong iendorse kaya lang siyempre, hirap din ako, meron akong mga kaibigan aside from the ten that I have mentioned already, meron akong mga kaibigan na meron namang grupo sa NPC na may bangga, pulitika, ganoon talaga. Kaya nga as I mentioned earlier, sa mga babae, sinasama ko si Imee Marcos, 9unclear) she's a member of the NP, merong Bong Go sa Ilocos, merong ganyan, hindi talaga namin totally mailabas lahat ng gusto namin. Syempre kaibigan naman natin si Bong Revilla, si Jinggoy, si Bato and Tolentino, especially Francis Tolentino. Kung ako nga ang masusunod, labing-lima. Kaya lang as acting chairman of the NPC I am confined to what I can only say that I know that my partymates would support. And headline doon sa NPC, is JV, Lito Lapid and Grace Poe.

Q: To think this is too early to say about the 18th Senate at this early marami ng pumporma na will contest your senate presidency daw.

SP Sotto: Everyone is welcome. You know I only serve at the pleasure of my peers. All you have to do is tell me that you have thirteen votes and you can have my resignation as Senate President. Madali yun, I have been here since 1992, I have witnessed eight or nine coup de etats in the Senate so I am familiar with how it's done, the goings on.

Q: From 1992 to 1998 you really shot up yung popularity mo to the point that you were once considered as a vice presidential running mate of Arroyo and because of the black propaganda... now syempre mataas ang rating mo na naman, how about 2022?

SP Sotto: We will look at the political landscape after 2019 siguro. As far as I am concerned, if I am asked personally, I have no plans whatsoever for 2022, as a matter of fact I am thinking of a childhood dream to be Ambassador to Spain. Nung maliit ako gusto kong maging Ambassador to Spain, I don't know why.

Q: Sino yung strongest possible na nakikita ninyo maging Senate President (unclear)?

SP Sotto: Very tough question to answer. As a matter of fact I do not subscribe to the word rival kaya ang hirap sagutin ang tanong mo. I don't think there should be any rivalry. If my colleagues feel that there should be a new leadership, then I will be very supportive of any new leadership. If they would want to retain the leadership of the Senate then it is a welcome thing. I don't know, I don't think there is any rivalry between any of the members of the Senate.

Q: Who do you think has the potential to lead the Senate as effectively (unclear)?

SP Sotto: Hirap ng tanong mo, pinag-isip mo ako. Senator Lacson. Senator Drilon. They have leadership qualities.

Q: Female, nobody?

SP Sotto: Any of the female senators. Anyone of the members of the Senate in fact, kung tutuusin.

Q: If and when it happens that one of your colleagues will tell you that he or she has the thirteen votes, will you stay with the majority bloc?

SP Sotto: It depends on the leadership. Kung ang leadership ay pareho rin naman ng line of thinking natin, and the same goals as far as the Senate is concerned, independent, transparent, I will be supportive. I will be a member of the majority. Now if I feel that we are in opposing visions then automatically nagkakaroon ng opposition. Pero I am sure there is nothing that they cannot thresh out as far as the Senate is concerned.

Q: There is less than two weeks left, ano pa ba ang kailangan ninyong maipasa?

SP Sotto: Unless some important bill escapes me, what I know is that the important bills that we have to approve are number one the anti-terrorism act. It used to be the Human Security Act, we made amendments to the Human Security Act but the short title would be the Anti-terrorism Act. Yung present security act natin, favors the terrorist. Masyadong maluwag so this time around, it is really anti-terrorism. And then the amendments to the Public Service Act. You have seen the problems that we have encountered not only with the telco, with the airlines, di ba the water, most especially the water, all these fall under the category of the Public Services Act and our Public Service Act is as old as Mahoma. As a matter of fact there is within the code, if you were to scrutinize it, there is within the code a certain provision that we need the permission of the president of the United States, Commonwealth pa, kaya we really need to approve that right away. Second reading na siya.

Q: May House counterpart?

SP Sotto: Meron, and then the Medical Scholarship Act that I am proposing, ako ang principal author nun kaya gusto ko yun but I am sure everybody likes that. Napaka kaunti ang doctor sa Pilipinas na nagpupunta sa barrio. Ang dahilan, mahal. Yan ang isa sa mga dahilan, so if ang pagdudoktor sa Pilipinas ay gagawin nating libre, both private and public medical schools, dadami ang duktor. Ready for committee report. Meron lang kundisyon yun, pag pinag-aral ka ng gobyerno, naging duktor ka, kailangan magsisilbi ka muna dito sa Pilipinas ng five years dito sa Pilipinas. Di pupwedeng nagduktor ka tapos magaabroad ka. Pwede kung gusto mo, pero ibabalik mo ang ginastos ng gobyerno sa iyo. It will be in the bill. And then the Budget Reform Act, the Foreign Investments Act, the emergency powers, kasama yung traffic doon. More or less yun ang wish list ko na hopefully by June 7 ay naipasa namin on third reading at kung pwede pati bicam tapos.

On Speaker Nograles

Q: Pumunta kayo sa wake ni Speaker Nograles?

SP Sotto: Oo. Hindi sa House, sa Heritage.

Q: May mga nakita kayong mga congressmen? Kamusta naman yung pagtanggap sa inyo despite nung nangyari sa budget?

SP Sotto: Walang problema, okay, as a matter of fact, most of them are saying that mabuti na lang napoint-out namin yun, kasi marami ring nasagasaan na mga congressman doon sa mga amendments na nangyari after the ratification.

Q: Confident kayo next year sa budget hearing? Hindi na mangyayari yun?

SP Sotto: Yes, especially if the Speaker of the House would be friendly with the Senate.

Q: Yung sa Budget Reform Act di ba yun yung budgeting system na pinupush ni former DBM Secretary Diokno?

SP Sotto: The Budget Reform Act that we have is more or less in line with the budget reform also of Senator Lacson.

Q: Sabi po ni Senator Lacson wala ng hearing on Friday?

SP Sotto: Well, I would want to be here tomorrow sa Kapihan sa Senado para makinig sa kanya. Para tingnan natin kung ano naman ang meron siya.

Q: Yun lang ang logical decision na wala ng hearing?

SP Sotto: Oo dahil apparently mukhang basura yung binato sa atin.

Q: Pero si uploader, that is a real crime.

SP Sotto: Yes, that is a big issue. That is a big problem. We can take that up sa Committee on Public Information and Mass Media after the elections.

Q: Naniniwala kayo na may nagfinance doon sa video? SP Sotto: Imposibleng wala. Tiyak na meron.

Q: Dapat yun makilala rin ng taongbayan?

SP Sotto: Oo.

Q: Your endorsement of Senator Bam Aquino, who is from the opposition. How do you (unclear) the dynamics of the majority and minority under your leadership? Gaano po kaimportante yung minority bloc?

SP Sotto: Our present relationship with the minority is more than cordial. It's very friendly as a matter of fact. If there are issue that the minority are not supportive of, what we do is we talk to former Senate President Drilon who is the minority leader, and we see eye to eye most of the time. We are good friends. If it's the Drilon group they criticize, they amend, but constructive most of the time. I have not encountered to date a stand na talagang contrasting lang talaga. Well, of course of one or two of the resolutions nila kung minsan, bunggo kami, but that's about it and what is a resolution, to quote Senate President Neptali Gonzales, resolution lang yan, di ipasa ninyo na.

Q: Gaano po kaimportante ang maiba ang boses sa isang legislative body tulad ng Senate?

SP Sotto: Mahalaga din yun. Although sometimes there were times in the past na may members of the majority na kumokontra din. Ganun talaga. Yung faction, ano lang yan, in name lang yan. Kung tutuusin, merong mga kontra sa majority but to answer your question, most of the time, we find a common ground. Usually.

Q: Nandito si Goyo Larrazabal. Ano ang nakikita mo sa May 13 elections?

SP Sotto: The reason Atty. Goyo Larrazabal is here, is aside from the fact that he is one of our technical advisers and member of the Nationalist People's Coalition, he was briefing me on the VRVS. The Voters Registration Verification System. Ang Comelec we believe should disseminate more of this information in the areas that they are going to do it. The briefing that Commissioner Goyo told me was that they are doing parang hindi naman experimental, but they are enforcing it, they are executing it, in Manila, Quezon City, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Cavite, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Davao, and ARMM. Ano yung VRVS? Yun yung thumbprint ang ginagamit para iidentify ka hindi na yung bibigay mo yung pangalan mo, bibigyan ka na agad ng balota. Hindi. Bibigay mo yung pangalan mo, kukunin ang VRVS mo, saka ka babalik doon, ibibigay sa iyo ang balota. The reason that they want Comelec and Atty. Larrazabal was pointing this out to me, was that it should be disseminated well by Comelec sapagkat kapag hindi alam ng iba, especially the areas that were pinpointed, baka madelay. That will be an additional one or two minute delay sa botante per voter. So delikado yun na abutin ng pagsara ng presinto. So if there are any questions about it, later you can ask Commissioner Larrazabal.

Q: Meron bang liability si Bikoy in changing his story?

SP Sotto: To those people maligned, definitely he has a liability. It's up to them now to go after him if they want to, unless he comes clean as I said because if he does, I am sure he will be able to erase the hurt that he has done to these people.

Q: Sa Senate, wala siyang atraso?

SP Sotto: I doubt it. I will look into that but I doubt it kasi, katulad nun, nung dumating sa akin yan, brinush aside ko kasi pagka naman binigyan natin ng credence lahat ng mag-gaganyan, Napakaraming nakakarating sa amin na kung anu-anong kwento dito, pag pinatulan namin lahat yan, eh di para din tayong may flip.

On the status of the Ease of Doing Business bill.

SP Sotto: I can only surmise that, bago yung batas, so the oversight functions have not functioned yet. Bago pa lang yan. It's an amendment to the old law of Senator Lacson, yung Anti-Red Tape. Ito yung Ease of Doing Business. Kauumpisa pa lang so siguro wala pa akong alam na may oversight na ginagawa yung committee.

Q: Some political experts are projecting a 17-18 majority member in the Senate, 4-6 minority members. Ano yung magiging timpla with respect to the relationship and can the public expect a sound legislation without too much reliance on the submitted version of the Executive most of the time?

SP Sotto: If I am still Senate President, the answer is yes. I will insist on our being independent, being transparent, and being sincere in our work. If I am still SP. If not then we will leave it to the new leadership on how they will handle the relationship between the majority and the minority and how the Senate stands within perspective of the Executive department and the other House.

Q: How will you describe Peter Advincula (unclear)?

SP Sotto: I did not meet him personally. It was Hatch who met him. So ang nakita ko lang litrato, I have not even listened to him on television. Your question is how do I describe him after all this? I would want to be kind, I do not want to blurt out what I have in mind but siguro... I am trying to find a kind word...

Q: (Unclear)

SP Sotto: Hindi naman, nung umpisa biglang sulpot lang. Siguro the best word would be farcical. That is in between kind and strong.

Q: Any updates on the 2016 election irregularities? Is there a chance that the election system will be updated or changed in time for 2022, kasi ang daming inputs before.

SP Sotto: The 2016 elections investigation has not been terminated. It's still on-going kasi there are some... Una, yung elections pumasok. Our chairman of the committee on electoral reforms ay may problema sa timing. And then when my source was ready to come out, hindi makatawag ng hearing. He asked me for a relief of two weeks because he had a pending application to a big company na pag lumitaw siya baka hindi siya tanggapin. So pinagbigyan namin and then innabot na so now, right now, I can tell you he is now ready or they are now ready. Siguro sa 18th Congress when we continue with it then I can present this.

Q: Di ninyo talaga pakakawalan yung issue?

SP Sotto: Hindi because we have to straighten it out for the 2022 elections especially presidential and vice presidential ang kasama doon, it's a national election. As far as the reforms are concerned, I have the same thinking of Senator Koko Pimentel, and I hope Koko Pimentel remains in the Senate, he is reelected, and he is chairman of the committee on electoral reforms, we have the same thinking that we should go and try this time the hybrid. Mas safe yun. Manual ang voting tapos automated ang transmissions at bilangan.

Q: May pinakita si Senator Gordon...

SP Sotto: Ano ba yung kay Senator Gordon.

Q: Para siyang maliit na screen and meron siyang (unclear) na when you vote, diretso siya upload agad.

SP Sotto: Pwede ring itake up yun. We can see which one is better and which one has less loophole. I will support a system that will be fool proof.

Q: (Unclear) Rodel Jaime and Coco Dayao were members of the same social media group that managed the same blog sites. Any updates on the cyber-libel case against Dayao?

SP Sotto: Yes, he has a pending case in court, He is already in court, he has been indicted. He has sent feelers to me to explain. As a matter of fact I think he posted bail. I will probably listen to what he has to say but all he has to do easily is to tell me who is behind him. Who made him do it dahil yun ang sinasabi niya, mukhang ginamit lang daw siya.

Q: Sino si Dayao?

SP Sotto: Yung nagpost ng we refuse daw kami nung resolution, which is a blatant lie because they never approached us to sign.

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