Transcript of Interview of Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III at Talakayan sa Manila Hotel with former Senators Heherson Alvarez and Joey Lina

Host Joey Lina: Our guest today needs no further introduction. Magkakasama po kami ni Sen. Sonny Alvarez at saka ng ating Senate President Tito Sotto noong ika-9 na Kongreso, 9th and 10th Congress. Para itong déjà vu Sen. Tito, pakibati mo muna yung mga kaibigan natin sa media at ibang mga bisita.

SP Sotto: Salamat. Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat. Una sa lahat maraming salamat sa aking matalik na kaibigan, Sen. Joey Lina and Sen. Sonny Alvarez. Hindi lang déjà vu, it brings back fond memories as far as I'm concerned and I hope the two of you also. We were even, before the 9th and 10th Congress, kasi in the team that ran for elections in the 1992 senatorial elections or presidential elections, we were in the team. Hinati po kami into 4, 24 candidates ang LDP, we were divided into 4 groups and I was fortunate to be in the group of Sen. Joey Lina and Sen. Sonny Alvarez na marami akong natutunan. Panahon pa lang ng kampanya ay marami na akong, ika'y napupulot sa kanila. Without their realizing it, they were already mentoring me as early as that time. Sen. Joey Lina was the youngest then but I was the most fledgling of all. I was the greenhorn of the team and the greenhorn of the entire Senate in the 9th Congress. So I am very happy to be here. I thank you for this opportunity to be with my mentors and my colleagues and sa inyong lahat. Marami akong nakikitang familiar faces eh kaya maraming salamat dito sa pagkakataong ito. Thank you sir.

Sen. Alvarez: Well senator it's an honor to have you here and it's an honor to see you leading policies that will change the direction of the nation. Kasi yung Senado talagang binuo yan to look at national problems on a grand scale.

Sen. Lina: Most definitely Sen. Tito Sotto has come a long way. I still remember the time when I as a senator I proclaimed him to be the official candidate of PDP-Laban party as vice mayor together with Mayor Jun Simon at the Araneta Center because we could not get a place immediately so we decided to hold it at the Araneta Center, if you will still remember.

SP Sotto: Yes may I add something to that. In the 1988 local elections, I was really being convinced by everyone to run as councilor of the 3rd District of QC and I almost agreed. But then something came about and Mayor Jun Simon needed a running mate. So it was Sen. Joey Lina, who I distinctly remember calling me, I was in the foyer in my house and I will never forget that scene because it was Joey Lina and Tony Aquino who convinced me as vice mayor of Quezon City. And the rest is history.

Lina: And the rest is history. You have come a long way and we congratulate you Sen. Tito for doing a goob job. Now we have a very serious topic this morning. Amidst these ninja cops story, the GCTA for sale and the smuggling of drugs and twice there was, there were two huge quantities of illegal drugs smuggled through Customs under the very noses of our Customs officials. Despite the administration's very strong campaign vs illegal drugs, we still have these problems in our midst and even the President has already re-scheduled the deadline. First 3 months, then 6 months now I think it is up to the end of his term that he is aiming to really put a stop to this problem of illegal drugs which had claimed many lives whether young or by those who are behind the proliferation of illegal drugs in our country. Can we ever, ever stop and can we ever, ever win this war on drugs?

SP Sotto: In 1989 when I was chairman of the Quezon City Anti-Drug Abuse Council, I wrote a book entitled "The Vision for a Drug-Free Philippines" and I incorporated there many research materials and information that I have gathered worldwide studying the problem. Now, to answer your question, I would like to revise my book and entitle it "Vision for a Drug Resistant Philippines." We have to look into the possibility of a drug-resistant country instead of a drug-free. The drug-free at this point is almost impossible because we have not been successful in the other half of the fight which is the demand reduction strategy. We must have an entire demand strategy to be able to stop the problem because even if we destroy all the illegal drugs in the country - cocaine, shabu, designer drugs, heroin, marijuana - put them in one island, burn it down, if you have a drug-dependent, they will look for something to abuse. They will try cough syrup...etc., the professor sometime ago, who was killed, the UP professor Tupaz who was killed, stabbed 17 times. When we caught the assailant or the suspect, he admitted into just using two bottles of cough syrup and he was high. He didn't know what he was doing. So if there is a drug dependent, they will find a substance to abuse. Therefore, if we are hell bent with a full-blown enforcement program, we must couple it with a demand-reduction strategy program of prevention and rehabilitation. Prevention for those who are turning 13, like for example Grade 5, Grade 6 drug abuse resistance education program in the entire country and then for those who are already into it, there must be a full-blown rehabilitation program for the entire country also. And I think if we do that then we will be able to say and declare that we have a drug-resistant Philippines.

Lina: I was not able to mention that SP Tito was also the principal author of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and also he served as chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board and therefore he is, well since a QC official he was already in this war. You're thinking that to really win this war vs drugs, the demand reduction is critical and very important strategy. Of course there is the supply side.

SP Sotto: They're doing it now. The supply reduction program is being enforced by government, alright? But then as I've said, if there is a demand, even if you kill all the pushers in the country today or put them in jail if you want it that way, there will be a new pusher tomorrow. They will be replaced by another pusher because there is a demand. So it must be a holistic approach and it's not all enforcement. There must be a very good prosecution program. Hindi tayo pwedeng huli lang ng huli sapagkat ang nangyayari, like for example in the last so many years, lately I have not had the figures but in the last so many years, 80 to 85% of drug cases are dismissed. Therefore we are not successful prosecution wise. We might be gaining ground as far as enforcement is concerned but look at what's happening? There are still importations, there are still smuggling, there is recycling. Why? Because somebody will buy. The bottom line is the day we stopped buying is the day they stop selling.

Alvarez: I observed that this is a highly commendable policy approach. It's a total approach. It's modernizing the whole of society. We're not just going to eliminate drugs but we're going to improve the value system, the capacity of our police institutions, perhaps the judiciary and it's a total program for modernization and development. I think when you come up with a legislation, because you intend to rehash or work over the institutional changes necessary, you will come up with a development plan of the country.

Lina: Bago natin puntahan yung tungkol sa teachers...itong kampanya laban sa illegal drugs, meron ba talagang katapusan ito? Meron ba talagang pag-asa na mananalo tayo dito? At ano gagawin natin sa mga guro...ikaw naman naging chairman ng DDB after me. I was the first to hold that position after that bill was enacted into law. Ngayon nag-iisip ka ng another bill na meron kang panukala na magbabago nitong Dangerous Drugs Act.

SP Sotto: Nagpapasalamat ako yun ang tanong mo kasi akala ko ang itatanong mo eh kulang pa ba yung batas, yung implementation tama ka eh. Yun ang sagot eh. Hindi kulang yung batas eh. Kumpleto yun eh. Andun lahat eh. Yung implementation ang mukhang misinterpreted nung nag iimplement. Kung natatanddan mo nung ikaw ay naging DDB chairman, marahil dail ikaw ay naging dating concurrent secretary of DILG, tapos dati kang senador at naging governor ka pa, ang dating siguro kasi nun hindi na siguro masyado nagkaroon ng problema sa PDEA. Talagang ang acting nila enforcement arm sila. Pagkatapos nun, nung napalitan ka na at tumakbo kang governor, naging gov ka ng Laguna, ang mga pumalit sa yo, ang tingin nung PDEA ay hindi sila utusan ng DDB. Even up to now, ganun ang nararamdaman ko kasi may mga nakakausap akong member ng DDB, ang tingin nila ay talagang separate na army sila. Na separate na enforcement arm sila. Hindi. Ang PDEA ay enforcement arm ng DDB. Yun ang key. Ngayon ang isang problema lang na nakikita ko dyan, nakapaloob din dun na dapat ang prevention program katulong ang DepEd. Dapat ang rehabilitation program katulong ang DOH. Di po ba? Andun lahat sa batas yan eh. Kaya ko sinasabi na pag-aralan natin na magkaroon na ito ng mas elaborate pa dahil mukhang hindi nila nakukuha eh yung gustong gawin nung RA 9165 as far as the holistic approach is concerned. Ang nagagamitan lang nung husto yung mga hulihan, Section 21, Sec. 27 pero hindi nila nakukuha yung talagang intention nung gawin natin yun. Yun ika nga eh andudun yung prevention, rehabilitation, enforcement, prosecution. Sa ngayon parang ang feeling ng enforcement ay wala silang kinalaman sa prosecution. At yung prosecution naman na dapat coordinated sa DOJ, ang DOJ in many instances, sa dami ng drug cases na dismissed, pag tinanong mo mga prosecutors ano problema ang sasabihin hindi raw marunong mag file ng kaso yung PDEA agents and PNP. Pag tinanong mo naman yung PDEA and PNP ang sasabihin ay hindi sir. Ang mga PDEA mo nasusuhulan. Therefore kung hindi rin lang naman, kumpleto nga hindi naman nag co coordinate, pagsamahin natin, lagyan natin ng prosecution bureau under the presidential drug enforcement authority.

JL: So, dito sa Presidential Drug Enforcement Authority hindi nangangahulugan na ang presidente mismo ang uupo na pinuno nito, kase ang dating pagka hindi binasa yung batas ang dating eh mukhang si presidente mismo ang magiging head nitong Presidential Drug Enforcement Agency. Paki paliwanag mo nga yung structure na sabihin mong mag-a-upgrade ng present organizational setup ng Dangerous Drugs Board at ng PDEA. Ano ang mabubuo ba ahensiya ngayon at sino talaga ang mamumuno nito?

SP Sotto: Dito sa ahensiyang ito, it will be directly under the Office of the President. But the President appoints a Secretary, a cabinet rank personality who will be on top of the Presidential Drug Enforcement Authority with the rank of Secretary and then an enforcement bureau and a prosecution bureau, a prevention bureau, a rehabilitation bureau and an alternative development bureau and perhaps an international cooperation bureau na para sa mga international linkages and they will form the board. Pito sila. Because presently what's happening with the 17 members that we place in the law, your time and my time kitang kita natin na madalas walang forum. In the last year I asked the Dangerous Drugs Board how many times did you meet. Sabi six daw. Tingin ko hindi eh. Ni hindi naka six but in the law it says once a week the board meets. They do not meet or once a week. When I was Dangerous Drugs Board chairman I make it a point to make it atleast once a month at nandudun halos lahat pero still hirap na hirap sa quorum. So, with these setup you upgrade the board into that, kumpleto, nanduduon na lahat ng kelangan pero sigurong may quorum ka all the time.

JL: So, yung mga bureau head talagang directly under the control of the Secretary and under the control and supervision of the Secretary.........

SP Sotto: Yes

JL: Who's the head of the PDEA.

SP Sotto: Correct.

JL: So hindi pwedeng sabihin nung bureau on enforcement for example ay hindi, separate kami,, diskarte namin ito kami ang gagawa nito. Hindi, yung Secretary pwedeng i-counterman kung ano yung gagawin ng mga bureaus.....

SP Sotto: .....which should be happening now but they're not doing because I think it is not spelled well in the law.

JL: So yun ang isang malaking clarification pero yung prosecution sa enforcement nabasa ko dun sa iyong bill senator and the reason why we have to ask this is all of these questions so that in the end we can answer the question for the topic 'can we win the war on drugs'. How will this new setup - updated or upgraded setup - can really help in the war on drugs? Halimbawa, prosecution. When I was the Chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board...lahat ng kaso minomonitor namin pati ang pulis because the police were under me too. Meron kaming matrix and we were able to track down the cases especially the big ones pero after that nung nadismiss yung mga kaso. Ngayon yung prosecution arm of this PDEA the new PDEA or PREDEA, ito ba hindi independent of the DOJ. DOJ ang main or frontliner tapos yung narcotics unit Bureau of Customs ay under the Bureau of Customs din sila. Yung DepEd, hindi ko alam kung sino sa DepEd pero DepEd pa rin. How do you reconcile all of these? Baka 2 hepe, DOJ, prosecution pero merong bureau under the PREDEA. Pano natin matitiyak na walang confusion na mangyayari in terms of line of authority. Papano po natin maiiwasan na ganun na yung objective natin na one central body ang magco-coordinate lahat. Papano kung yung piskal eh medyo finifix yung kaso? Yung judge medyo niluluto yung kaso. Papano po maisusulong ang giyerang ito dun sa inyong proposed PREDEA.

SP Sotto: Yun pong sinasabi natin dito na bureau na prosecution hindi po ibig sabihin ikaw lang ag magpoprosecute sa buong bansa. Hindi po pwedeng gawin yun. Ang proposal ko po ay supervisory monitoring ang mga prosecution arm nuong bureau. In other words DOJ pa rin yan pero meron talagang body under the Presidential Authority na nakamonitor sa mga kaso. Pati pagfafile itong mga ito ang nagsasabi mismo sa PDEA at sa PNP kase pag yung PNP coordinated dun sa bureau ng enforcement eh di ba. Sila mismo minomonitor nila yan, sila yung magus-supervise kahit papano at magmo-monitor ng mga kasong ifa-file. Hindi sila mismo. In other words what the DOJ can do is to assign a number of top prosecutors to be in the bureau and then an Undersecretary na naka assign dun sa bureau ng prosecution.

JL: So, checking and monitoring.

SP Sotto: Yes

JL: Pag in terms of disciplining, if the fiscal goes astray. If the judge goes astray walang authority itong PREDEA over the fiscal. It is the DOJ. So, ano pong...

SP Sotto: That's the reason that we want it to be a Presidential Authority. It's under the Office of the President. The Office of the President throws its weight, ay hindi pupwede yun, yung mga sinasabi nating problema sa judges, sa mga prosecutor, iba pag ka ang upisina ng Presidente ang nagdiin and that's the reason na gusto natin duon yun sapagkat hindi kayang lakarin ng mayor, congressman, senator, iba pagka upisina ng president ang nakadikit dun sa asunto at pag nagkaka problema makakarating at makakarating sa presidente or perhaps the Executive Secretary, kayang diinan. That's the reason we want it under that authority.

JL: Kung may problema sa Customs, nakalusot yung ilang containers, may ilang anti narcotics....meron sa inyong proposal anti narcotics unit. Ire-remind yun sa Bureau of Customs.

SP Sotto: Dapat konektado sa enforcement yan, bureau ng PREDEA yun.

JL: Yung Commissioner ng Customs eh hidi niya pwedeng niyang sabihin - hindi iba ang resulta ng imbestigasyon ko.

SP Sotto: Sasabit siya tulad nung nangyari nung nakaraan ng mga dalawang beses. Kung meron tayong Presidential Drug Enforcement Authority hindi sila kumilos ng hindi nila kinoo-ordinate kaagad sa PDEA sabit agad. May sagutin na sila.

Question: Maaari ba nating tignan ang problema ng drugs na - kasi itong drugs is a widespread social problem. Kailangan yung buong lipunan - merong nagda-drugs dahil sa kahirapan, merong nagda-drugs dahil napaka mura ng drugs ngayon. Lahat ng sangay ng lipunan ay kinakapitan dahil merong ecstacy, merong cocaine na mahal at merong itong shabu kaya't halos lahat ng lipunan ay nanganganib. Senador, malawak talaga yung batas na gagawin niyo. Siguro values formation. Yung batas po babaguhin natin ngunit palalawakan natin, gagawan natin ng solusyon yung mga ugat ng problemang ito. Ang isa nga po dito'y kahirapan. May mga dragon economies they were able to modernize their society and production capacity so that this modern citizens were in a superior position to handle these kinds of poverty, unemployment, etc. baka itong mga basic fundamentals eh you're triggering the solution by hitting the (?) when as a matter of fact it's a social problem. We have to have a social solution which will have a multiple approach in handling this. Kaya kailangan siguro sa senado, you're the Senate President, bubuksan niyo yung pandora's box. Kakaharapin natin yung problem of under development. We are a soft estate. Nagko-corrupt ang mga pulis, yung mga huwes minsan baluktot ang mga desisyon. Yung institutional capacity natin to really create a modern state, create a strong economy. Its not yet there. Siguro the leadership, it's the leadership that is needed now to open up through drugs kase drugs is only one of the symptoms. To create a modern economy, to industrialize the economy, to strengthen our educational system, ilan ba ang budget sa education, itong mga dragon state ay malaki ang budget nilang nilagay sa education, hindi lang itinaas ang salary ng teachers kundi talagang yung buong educational process pinalakas nila, nagkaroon ng values formation pagkatapos tinignan nila yung export capacity eh di yumaman sila nakapag export sila, nagtitinda pa sila ng makina tulad ng ginawa nitong People's Republic of China nagging super state. It was sick man of Asia nuong araw. Alam ba niyo kaya nawala ang Hong Kong sa China dahil gusto ng mga British na magtinda ng opium dyan eh, it's a drugs problem din eh.

JL: Duon sa demand reduction maybe we can ask SP on the demand reduction, may he can elaborate on that. Yun ang kanyang pinupunto. DSWD kasama po ba sa demand reduction side. Sa Dangerous Drugs Board kasama rin sila.

SP Sotto: Bago ko sagutin yung mga punto lalo na sa values formation na pinaka mahalaga. Nagpahid ako ng pawis kase naalala ko nung 1992 yung unang privilege speech ko silang 2 rin ang nag interpellate sakin, hindi ko makakalimutan yun eh tapos sinundan ni Neptali, ininterpellate ako ni Maceda, ni Turing Tolentino, pinahirapan ako nitong mga ito pero magaganda ang mga punto nila, nalabas tuloy yung mga gusto nating ieksplika na hindi naiiksplika pala eh magandang masabi dito. Una sa lahat yung RA 9165 Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 hindi po natin papalitan, hindi po natin babaguhin yun. Meron lang isang probisyon lang dun na gagalawin natin which is the creation of the PDEA which was the intention of my first privilege nuon. Yung lang po ang gagalawin ditto sa prino-propose kong Presidential Drug Enforcement Authority, yun lang ang mababago, ia-upgrade. There won't be any change in RA 9165. Duon naman po sa sinasabi ninyo - talaga namang napaka lawak ng problemang ito because this is the most, this is the only crime na pwede nating tawaging complex crime. The crime of illegal drugs is the only crime where the victim is a criminal and the criminal is a victim. Kaya nga sabi nga ninyo pati mahirap may problema dito, hindi ba? Complex ito eh hindi katulad ng murder - murderer and victim. Rapist and na-rape, thief and nanakawan. Pero yung droga gumagamit ka you are committing a crime but you are a victim kaya napaka complex nito kaya complex din po yung approach. We have to know the enemy. We have to know the enemy para masagot natin lahat yan. Ano bang simula talaga nito? Karamihan sa tinatanong sa akin ng mga magulang, ano bang problema, pinalaki naman ng mabuti yung anak ko bakit ba nandiyan yung droga, yan ang tanong nila. Ang sagot ko can be contained in an acronym of peace. Peace stands for peer pressure yun ang isa sa pinaka mabigat na dahilan eh kaya yung bagong 13 years old sinasabi ko nga eh wag nating hayaan, kailangan alam na niyang masama yan. Kailangan alam na niya kung ano-ano yang mga droga na yan, masama yan, meron yung drug certification program in grade 5 and grade 6, pagtuntong niya ng Grade 7, high school, alam na niya yan, hindi na niya hihipuin yun. You will be able to save many lives. And the futures of many young boys and girls because alam natin na peer pressure ang isa sa mga dahilan. Pangalawa yung E, yung E stands for escape. Akala nung karamihan, pagka nagdroga ka, parang uminom ng alak, makakalimutan mo yung mga problema mo. Makakalimutan, you try to escape from society, yun yung nangyayari. Kasama na diyan yung kahirapan, kung ano pang problema sa buhay, that's the other problem. That's the other letter, yung A stands for availability because it is such a huge market at saka pera, because of the huge amount of money involved. It runs in the trillions now. It's a trillion dollar industry kaya they will make it available. Because there is a demand, they will make it available in your streets, in your homes, in your workplace, everywhere. They will make sure it's available. And then C stands for curiosity. Marami diyan, kahit may edad na, curious pa. Kaya yung mga designer drugs lumilitaw, kung anu-ano. That's because of curiosity, because they don't know what it is, they are curious, ano ba yan, nakakahigh ba talaga yan? Ano ba ang mangyayari diyan? Yun ang isa sa mga dahilan. (Unclear), and then the last E stands for emptiness and that is where it comes in. Emptiness, you do not have love in your heart, you do not have Jesus Christ, you do not have religion in your heart, madali kang pasukan ng demonyo. Kaya lahat ng yan, yan ang talagang dahilan kung bakit merong problema na droga. Why is it such a complex crime? Because of that, PEACE, P-E-A-C-E, yun po ang nakikita ko and that to find a solution to this, we have to find a solution to all, the way to attack the problem.

JL: Para ma-connect natin itong usapan, values formation, for example, nabanggit. Sa panukalang batas, pag-upgrade ng PDEA, saan po papasok yung aspeto ng values formation? Will the PRDEA and the DepEd, paano po yun? Sapagkat ang mga kabataan, kung wala sa tahanan, malaking oras nasa loob ng eskuwelahan. Nakalagay po ba sa panukala ninyo na talagang (unclear) the evils of drugs?

SP Sotto: Tama po, doon sa sinasabi nating prevention bureau, doon po dapat merong kumpleto ang mga conferences, mga seminars, workshops, nationwide. Hindi lang sa mga estudyante, hindi lang sa grade 5, grade 6, grade 7, kungdi para din sa mga magulang. We must have a some kind of parents power versus drug abuse program because the problem of illegal drugs which is more on enforcement and prosecution, is different from the problem of drug abuse. Magka-iba ang drug abuse sa illegal drugs na napapagsama nating karamihan. Pero yun nga, to address that, a full prevention program, kasama na doon ang values formation. Napakahalaga na nakapaloob yun. At yun, meron ding connection doon sa rehabilitation. Because sa rehabilitation, values formation is very very vital. And then, because of the bureau that will be created in that authority, it will not just be that DOH lang na pagka tinanong mo ngayon ang in charge sa kanila, sa DOH, I don't know if the leadership of the DOH can answer me, with the new rehabilitation centers that they put up, the recent one in Las Piñas, what kind of formula do they use? Tinanong ko noon yung sa Bicutan, which is the most effective rehabilitation center na alam ko, ang sagot sa akin, therapeutic community. What if it does not work? What do I mean? Hindi lahat ng tao, parepareho ng rehab na pwedeng tumalab. Kaya ngayon merong makikita na merong nirehab na tao, pinasok sa rehabilitation center six months to one year, pag labas, okay na okay, after three or four months, eto na naman. After one year, eto na naman, babalik dahil nagiging recidivist. Bakit? Because the rehabilitation program used on him or her does not fit his profile. Iba-iba po yung rehabilitation program. Mali yung intending ibang namumuno sa atin diyan sa programang yan. Kaya nga ang gusto natin sa bureau, kumpleto. There must be a therapeutic community program, there must be a faith based program, there must be a multi-disciplinary program, there must be the 12-steps Minnesota model, or even the eclectic model. Para po talagang kung alin ang mga bagay, dapat pinoprofile muna ang mga rehabilitation patients, hindi basta pasok ng pasok lang ng rehab. Pag pasok mo nagkakaroon nga doon ng, nagkakabentahan pa nga ng dumi. Kaya as I said, the rehabilitation bureau, under the proposal will be encompassing and will be ready with all these programs in the different rehabilitation centers nationwide.

JL: Kung ang dahilan ng pusher is walang-wala talaga kami, meron bang mga kongkretong programa na maisasama dito sa inyong proposal na pwedeng asikasuhin ng isang bureau, kung hindi man yung bureau mismo ang gagawa nito, ay makikipag-ugnayan sa ibang ahensiya ng pamahalaang para nga holistic itong approach? I think we all agree here that this is a complex problem. How can the poverty of the pushers be addressed?

SP Sotto: Meron sana tayong mga programa sa gobyerno sa kasalukuyan na nakakatulong, like the 4Ps program, nakakatulong doon sa mga mahihirap yan, and then also TESDA, hindi ka makakaafford ng trabaho, dito mabibigyan ka dito kung saan skills ka pwede, but then again it goes back to values formation. Kahit anong hirap mo, naghahanap ka ng pagkikitaan, pero alam mong masama yan, alam mong makukulong ka diyan, hindi mo gagawin. Hindi mo papasukin ang droga. Magiisip ka ng ibang paraan. Magiisip ka ng ibang papasukin na trabaho or pagkakakitaan. Hindi katulad noon na nangyayari nga, sinasabi nga ng iba bakit yung mahihirap lang ang natatarget. Pati yung tungkol sa EJK noon, (unclear) tuloy, hindi naman mahirap yung target. Ang target, yung drug dealer. Whether mahirap o mayaman ka, drug dealer ka, you are violating the law. That's the problem, kaya lang nahihighlight kapag mahirap, pero katulad noon, nung merong nahuli sa Pasay, ang sabi, kasi daw wala daw siyang kinikita, hirap na hirap daw siya, pero nung sinita yung mga pulis na nagpakawala sa kanya, sumabit, tinanong, bakit nyo pinakawalan? Kasi nagbayad ng P20,000. Akala ko mahirap ka, saan mo nakuha yung P20,000 mo? Minsan palusot. Palusot yung kahirapan, pero paano magiging mahirap, ang isang gramo ng shabu, figures before ito, I am not sure about now, isang gramo ng shabu nasa P2,000. Malamang diluted version yun pero mga P2,000 per gram. If doon sa supplier, or sa pagkukunan ng pusher, ang bigay sa kanya doon, P300-P400 per gram siya, siya ang nagbebenta. Tapos kung P2,000 o P1,800 na binebenta niya, bigay niya sa kung street level siya, (unclear), yung mga (unclear) kaya distributor. Pati na kung involved yung enforcer or whatever, ganoon ang kita nuon. So merong mga P300-P400 na kita si loko, bawat gramo. Pag tiningnan mong mabuti, again it boils down to the kalooban ng tao, hindi yung values na porke ba masama, hindi ko na dapat gawin? Oo, hindi mo dapat gawin.

Q: Gagamitin ba ng PDEA itong PRDEA? Ang media din, makikipagugnyan sa media, social media, at saka traditional media para sa ganoon ay maisulong talaga itong values formation at ito ay maging part of the culture of the Filipino na talagang wag kang gagamit ng anumang bagay na makakasakit ng iyong katawan? We will pull all the stops?

SP Sotto: Kailangan kasama lahat. We need to get the media involved, the church, the community, sports, kailangan po kasama silang lahat. They are all part of the demand reduction strategy program which will be incorporated in the prevention and rehabilitation alternative development program. Kasama po sila lahat, pati sa alternative development program po, mabigyan ko ng kaunting ano. Hindi ko alam kung naumpisahan na nung kayo ang chairman ng DDB, pero nung chairman ako ng DDB, pinalakas namin yung alternative development program, lahat ng mga nahuhuling mga plantation, marijuana plantations na sinusunog, pinapalitan, tinuturuan yung farmers at saka yung pamilya niya ng sericulture. Ginawa namin yan sa Bakun at saka sa Kibungan sa Mountain Province, Benguet, Yung magtatanim sila ng mulberry trees, mulberry trees ang kinakain ng silk worm, at yung silk worm, tinuturuan naman ang mga asawa, anak nila, ng pagculture naman ng silk worms. Kaya ngayon makikita ninyo po sa Bakun at saka sa Kibungan na meron ng sericulture. So yung marijuana plantation nya, parang mas malakas ang kikitain niya sa paggawa ng silk. So hindi na siya natatakot sa gabi na tuluyang baka maraid yan. Wala na yung marijuana plantation, napalitan. Ganun din yung ginawa namin noon sa Balamban. Sa Balamban, abaca production ang kapalit ng marijuana plantation doon, so another bureau yun. Alternative development program, pasok doon yung issue ng mga mahihirap kasi matutulungan natin sila. Pati yung mga walang trabaho, nagpapasok sa droga, may alternative program tayo dapat. (Unclear) alternative development which can be part of the demand reduction strategy program.

JL: With all this ideas incorporated in your bill, Matitigil na ba yang drug distribution sa BuCor? Matitigil na ba yung smuggling sa Customs? We are in a war. The expectation of people is that if we leave no stone unturned, and pull all the stops, under this PRDEA, is there light at the end of the tunnel? That the Philippines will be a drug resistant country? How long will this dream be realized?

SP Sotto: I will have to be very candid in my answer, perhaps not in its entire thing but to a large extent. If we do this to a large extent we will be able to be successful. We may be able to make the country drug resistant, addressing all these problems. The recycling, yung nangyayari sa NBP, we have solutions for that already. Remove them there. Gawing regional, mamaya mabigyan natin ng pagkakataon bakit gusto kong maging regional, and then the participation of everyone. Sa amin kasi it boils down to the war on drugs boils down to battles and the best fighting unit against illegal drugs is the family. Kung ang pamilya mo ay drug resistant, nakatulong ka na. Nakatulong ka na sa gobyerno because hindi pwedeng gobyerno lang ito alone. As I said earlier, we must involve everyone in this was. There is a misnomer when I say war on drugs. Ang akala nila puro patayan. Puro EJK ang napapagbintangan ng international community sa atin. Hindi, the war is the entire complex problem. It's a war on that, kaya ako again, bottom line, a drug resistant family means a drug resistant Philippines.

On exempting the teachers from income tax.

HA: I think it is a good idea that you treat the teachers with some kind of special consideration. Perhaps exempting them from certain taxes would be good. Over and above that, (unclear) improvement of their salaries, so that they can continue to improve themselves...

SP Sotto: Which definitely involves the teachers. May I give the information already as far as the Senate is concerned, we have a bill already increasing the salary of teachers para institutionalized.

Q: How much?

SP Sotto: Ang target is P30,000 to P35,000 a month from Teacher 1 and 2. Yung Teacher 3 kasi mas mataas pa. It's already in the committee, there is a technical working group working on it already, it's in the Committee on Civil Service but aside from that, I also filed a bill, that bill kasi increasing the salary of the teachers, it's either Ralph or Sherwin, I am not too sure, hindi ko matandaan kung sino ang principal author noon, I am pushing for it also. The one that I principally authored now, is exempting the public school teachers from income tax. I cannot speak for the private school teachers now, perhaps in the future, but right now we are concerned about the public school teachers, and the salary grades range from salary grade 11 ang Teacher 1 and 2. Tapos yung Teacher 3 makikinabang doon sa exemption from income tax kasi yung salary grade nung Teacher 1 and 2, pasok pa sila sa nakapaloob sa TRAIN 1, which exempts individuals from paying income taxes if your income is P250,000 and below a year. You are exempted from paying income tax. Pero we know that Teacher 1 and 2 including Teacher 3 will be upgraded. So tataas nga. Kung tataas yung sweldo pagkatapos magpbabayad sila ng income tax, hindi rin matatanggap ng kabuuan yung tinaas sa kanila. Kaya that is where my bill comes in. Exempt na natin. Kung baga sa mga kotse kasi, ang tao pag kinumpara mo sa isang sasakyan, doon sa manufacturing, habang minamanufacture yung kotse, pag labas noon malalaman mo kung matino yung sasakyan na nagawa o lemon yung nagawa. Kaya ganun din yung mga bata. Kung walang kwenta ang pinagdaaanan at ang mga teacher ay ika nga ay hindi namold ng mabuti ang mga kabataang ito, paglabas nito sa society, wala rin. Kaya mahalagang mahalaga ang role ng mga teacher sa atin kaya po very much concerned tayo sa kalagayan nila. Pag sinabi naman nila ng mga private schools na bakit naman yung private school teachers, hindi natin isasama, we are not too sure kung ano ang mga level ng sweldo nila.

Q: Mas mababa ang sweldo ng private school teachers ngayon dahil naglilpatan sila sa mga public schools.

SP Sotto: Pero yung sa private schools kasi, kumpleto dapat ng equipment, kumpleto sila ng pangangailangan, yung mga public school teachers, sila pa mismo ang, abunado pa. Abunado yung mga public school teachers.

Q: Matutuwa sa Senate President ang mga private school teachers, siguro pag-aralang mabuti.

SP Sotto: While it is in the technical working group, my legislative staff are here, perhaps they can make a study already if we include the public school teachers. Ano ang effect sa gobyerno? Pinagaralan na namin yung effect sa public school teachers, ang mawawala lang sa gobyerno, mga P2 million (?) pagka inexempt mo sa income tax. Pang pork barrel lang ng iba yun. Okay na yun, alisin na lang namin yung pork barrel ng iba.

Q: Pinangangatawan ninyo ba itong P30,000 to P35,000 salary increase ng teachers?

SP Sotto: Actually yung rate, hindi increase.

Q: Additional P10,000?

SP Sotto: Na sana walang income tax.

Q: Yung proposal mo, anong status na noon?

SP Sotto: Ganun din, nasa second reading din. Nasa committee level din pero we will try our best na magawa sana kaagad before December para yung 2020 GAA kasama na siya.

Q: Malaki ang posibilidad na maisasama ito sa GAA?

SP Sotto: Oo. Malaki ang posibilidad.

On the ninja cops controversy and the war on drugs of President Duterte.

SP Sotto: The ninja cop controversy emanated from events in the past administration, not the administration of President Duterte. That was an issue in 2013. It just came about because we were investigating the recycling issue involving the national Bilibid Prison. If you are pertaining to the PNP Chief, from the time that he was appointed PNP Chief to the present, there has never been any controversy involving him. Itong problemang ito is when he was a provincial director of the PNP in Pampanga. Madaling iconnect, pwedeng sabihin na hindi, konektado yan, pero hindi konektado yan doon sa war on drugs ni President Duterte. Ibang panahon nung mangyari ang recycling na yan. At saka yung event na yan, so mabuti na rin na under investigation yan, sapagkat mas magiging maingat pa tayo at mas magiging maingat din yung mga PNP personnel or PDEA agents na naiinvolve sa apprehension ng illegal drugs na mag ingat sila pagdating sa recycling, hindi rin pala makakalusot. The truth will always come out. Katulad noon, napakatagal ng panahon, hindi akalain na lilitaw pa yan, lumitaw. Hindi pa nga sinasadya. Talagang marunong ang Diyos sa lahat. Hindi sinasadya yan, hindi naman nagprisinta si Benjie Magalong na magpunta sa akin para sabihin yan, hindi eh. Ayaw nga sabihin ni Mayor Magalong ito. Ang nangyari po dito, ang nangyari diyan, nagiimbistiga kami ng GCTA, pagkatapos, lumitaw na aside from the GCTA controversy na merong lagayan, laganap pa rin yung droga sa loob, at kinukwento rin naman nung mga gwardiya, laganap din hanggang doon sa hospital kaya nainvolve yung mga hospital. Pagkatapos noon ay nabanggit na pati recycling yung mga lokong mga drug lord na nasa loob, nakikialam pa sa recycling. Sila pa yung ika nga ay ditawag at sinasabi nila sa distributor. Iba yung nagtatransact, hindi dinadala sa kanila pero nanggagagaling sa kanila yung information. So nung nangyari yun, naalala namin na there was a time that the CIDG was going to raid the NBP. Na naunsyami sapagkat gumawa ng separate lakad yung dating Secretary De Lima noon, gumawa ng ibang raid. Sinasabi ni Mayor Magalong na meron siyang mga imbestigasyon na ginawa. Kaya siya pinatawag. Ang nangyayari noon, nung araw sa NBP, kwento, kwento, kwento, sabi nga niya na yung recycling nga, (unclear) pa sila. There was an incident before that I investigated that it involved a huge amount of recycling. Tinanong namin ngayon, ano yun, saan yun? Sinabi niya na nung araw po, involved nga yung mga PNP officers noon. Sino yun? Ayaw niyang sabihin, humingi siya ng executive session, para sabihin sa amin kasi daw meron pang mga incumbent. Ganun yun. Hindi naman, akala ng iba, kasi biglang lumitaw ito, target si General Albayalde, di ba? Hindi ganun yun. It can be related because it is a war on drugs, but that incident happened not in the administration of President Duterte.

Q: But at some point, hindi ba natarnish yung war on drugs ng administration especially when you talk about the controversial call PNP Chief Albayalde made with then Regional Director Aaron Aquino...?

SP Sotto: I don't know if he was PNP Chief already when he called Aaron Aquino. He was not yet, as a matter of fact, he was underclass, but then again, that was an administrative issue. It is not an illegal drugs issue. It was an administrative issue, it was an issue on suspension na pinakikiusap na wag munang iimplement. So again, it is not related to the issue on drugs kung tutuusin.

Q: Since wrapping up na yung investigation ng Senado, Sen. Gordon said that the liability of Albayalde the least would be negligence and the most would be conspiracy. What do you say about that?

SP Sotto: I'd rather wait for the entire committee report before I make any judgement. I'd rather not rush into judgement when it comes to the reputation of people unless I am absolutely sure then I will tell you as it is.

Q: Kung macreate na yung PRDEA, ano ang magiging relasyon nito sa BuCor?

SP Sotto: If it involves illegal drugs, they will. Not in the way it will be run but if there are issues of illegal drugs in the area.

Q: Pwedeng iraid?

SP Sotto: Pwede. Pwedeng pwede. Intelligence gathering, pwede rin. There is a suggestion that I would want to study, na in the case of wire-tapping, meron tayong anti wire-tapping law, pwede nating pag-aralan daw kung pwedeng exempted sa anti wire-tapping yung National Bilibid Prison. Pretty much like meron din naman tayong exempted na mga krimen.

Q: (Unclear) Pwedeng doon sa ang punishment is deprived of personal liberty, pwedeng imonitor?

SP Sotto: Sabi ng batas kasi hindi sila pwede, pero napapagusapan na rin lang, (unclear). But then that bring s me to the proposal that, we have (unclear) it out already, there is already a committee report, it's on the floor, I hope it's going to be passed on second reading, creating or establishing three regional penitentiaries and a super max. A National Bilibid Prison in Luzon, in Visayas, in Mindanao. The reason for this is based on the research, sa pag-aaral po natin at ako naman ang nagfile at I read the results, kapag ang isang PDL ay nakulong at hindi na binibisita ng pamilya niya, doon naguumpisang magloko. Doon naguumpisang sumali sa mga gang, mag kung anu-anong naisipan. Nasisira na ang bait kung tutuusin. Papano kung yung pamilya ay taga Sultan Kudarat? O taga Negros Oriental, o taga Tawi-Tawi, paano dadalawin yun, even taga Ilocos, tapos nakakulong sa Muntinlupa? Kung walang pamasahe, paano siya pupunta? Swerte nang makabisita ng once a year yun. Oras na ang PDL hindi na binibisita, guaranteed, magloloko na. It is already approved on the committee level, we are already in the period of interpellations, so Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, one each. Alisin na yung Muntinlupa, tapos magkakaroon ng super max. Pinag-aaraalan na kung saang island. Yung super max, lahat lang ng high level drug trafficker ang nandoon at ang proposal ni Senator Zubiri, isama daw yung mga heinous criminals. Baka raw dumami masyado. At this point I will insist muna on high level drug traffickers. That will probably be a good solution on the issue of the death penalty because in the issue of the death penalty, which in the 9th Congress you interpellated me to kingdom come, because Senator Lina is against the death penalty and I am proposing the reimposition of the death penalty for high level drug trafficking, nung panahon na yun pati si Sen. Alvarez ay katakot-takot na interpellation ang Inabot namin ni Boy Herrera, later on, I realized na sabi ko, marami akong natutunan sa inyo. I realized na marami kayong tama na sinasabi so I confined myself to high level drug trafficking lang if ever we are going to re-impose the death penalty. And why is that? Because lahat ng krimen, ang lahat ng criminal, pag nakakulong na, nainhibit mo na siya from committing the same crime again, pero yung drug lord, nandoon na, nagooperate pa. Kaya sabi ko yan ang isa sa mga solution. I we will not be able to push for that, this proposal of mine, which is to create a super max, a separate penitentiary for them, okay na yun. Kahit hindi na mapasa yung death penalty, nakahiwalay na sila, hindi naman incommunicado kungdi no communication, iba ang treatment sa kanila, iba ang confinement, mahihirapan na sila. They will not be able to operate.

Q: Some of the ninja cops are still in service, how will them being in service affect the war on drugs?

SP Sotto: What I can say is definitely, they will not be in service for long. They are already suspended right now and the best way for the chief PNP to show that he does not have anything to do with them is to complete the proposal of dismissal at saka ifile yung necessary cases, kasi administrative lang yun pero buhay pa yung criminal case niya because the original administrative case that were filed against them was Section 21 which is mishandling of evidence but they should be charged with Section 27 of RA 9165 which is yung pagbebenta. It's a criminal offense, nirecylce nila yun. So it's a good sign that we will see later on if indeed they are removed and they are charged in court.

Q: What if he does not act on it? Kasi mag move on na daw tayo sa issue?

SP Sotto: I want to know what move on means. Move on to file a case or move on na kalimutan na? Kung kalimutan na, masama pa rin sa kanya yun. That will not be a good issue.

Q: What do we expect to hear in tomorrow's hearing?

SP Sotto: I don't know if I am at liberty to tell you if there is really something explosive again tomorrow.

Q: Do we have new witnesses or evidence?

SP Sotto: Palagay ko new evidence. Baka one or two new witnesses, pero new evidence for sure because I signed nine subpoenas last night.

Q: Anong topic po?

SP Sotto: The entire hullaballoo, from the GCTA to the recycling. Konektado na yun. At saka para doon sa ano, pinakikiusap ko na lang din, para doon sa mga namimintas, at yung isa, high-official pa ng gobyerno ang namimintas na bakit daw ang Senado bakit daw napunta na sa recycling yung issue. The Blue Ribbon committee is the only committee in the Senate that is given moto propio powers to investigate anything under the sun. So kahit sabihin mo na hindi naman konektado sa GCTA yun, ay hindi, kahit hindi ito konektado sa ballpen mo, pwede yun imbestigahin ng Blue Ribbon. Ganun yun. Kaya wag nilang pintasan na sasabihin daw kung saan saan napupunta. Hindi ganun, although as far as I am concerned, it is really connected. On whether SP Sotto is planning to (unclear) a law on those propagating violent extremist ideas online?

SP Sotto: That is supposed to be included already. If necessary then we will elaborate on the proposed bills or in the present anti-cybercrime law. We can elaborate if it is not that clear but that should be covered. Not only (anti-fake news), also anti-cybercrime.

Q: What step should the government acquire to address terrorism or violent extremism online? Will there be additional budget for this?

SP Sotto: Right now we are on the verge of passing the anti-terrorism act. That is included. Hopefully baka isa na lang ang natitirang interpellator, we might be able to pass it on the first week of November. Or at the very latest, the second week of November just before we start deliberations on the budget.

Q: Ano po yung classification ng crimes under violent terrorists?

SP Sotto: I don't have the details now but anything related to terrorism I think is included.

Q: (Unclear)

SP Sotto: I agree one hundred percent. As a matter of fact, this would all be incorporated in the prevention program na sinasabi namin. Kasama po yan, pati yung lahat ng eskuwelahan magkakaroon ng mga poem writing, o kaya slogan writing contest against illegal drugs, mga paintings against illegal drugs, kasama po yun. Diyan po talagang I would have to admit na yung (unclear) ng gobyerno natin ay kulang na kulang diyan. It should be the Dangerous Drugs Board, it should be the PDEA, DepEd, yun na nga po. Kaya tamang-tama po, gusto nating palakasin itong prevention program, magkaroon ng separate bureau under the Office of the President para lahat yan, totoo yan, one hundred percent, I agree.

Q: Mababago rin po ba yung mga regional director ng PDEA?

SP Sotto: Hindi, we will upgrade, and then they will really make use of the graduates of the PDEA academy. There is a PDEA academy, Nagtataka nga ako kung bakit minsan yung mga heads ng mga regions nanggagaling sa PNP, nanggagaling sa Armed Forces, sapat doon sa academy manggaling. Bihasang bihasa sila doon, alam nila yung problema. Alam nila kung paano aatakihin yung problema. So I expect that all the regional heads that when it comes to the new authority, that they will be (unclear), they will be upgraded, mas magiging powerful sila.

On Section 21.

SP Sotto: Sa sinabi mo na may diperensiya yung batas doon, I disagree. Maaaring merong hindi tamang interpretasyon nung araw yung Section 21, and that is the reason why we already passed a law amending Section 21, wala na yung tatlo, dalawa na lang. Inalis na namin yung... any two combination na lang yun (unclear). Kaya nga isa sa mga violation, huling-huli, (unclear) sa mga violation nung grupo sa Region 3, sabit na sabit sila doon, pero they did it before we passed the law. Pero ngayon, sa batas ngayon, naamend na yung Section 21. Mas madali na ngayon. Sumobra lang talaga yung safeguards nung araw but hindi naman natin pwedeng sabihin na mali yung maraming safeguards, kasi natatakot kami nung araw sa planting of evidence. Noon pa lang pinagaawayan na namin sa debate yun, nakakatakot yung planting of evidence. Kaya nilagyan natin nung mga ganung safeguards. Pero meron nang pagbabago yan, yung Section 21 nung RA 9165. Pasok na naman yung sinabi ni Cecille, sapagkat ultimo mga prosecutors at saka mga judges, kailangan kumpletuhin natin nationwide, there must be workshops, there must be seminars, kung minsan mali ang interpretasyon nung batas.

Q: Yung nga po ang problema, nakakawawa yung mga kapartido natin kapag nadidismiss yung kaso...

SP Sotto: Perhaps. Kita mo, you are practically fortifying my point na ang prosecution ay kailangan magkaroon ng complete coordination with the PRDEA. Mawawala yung turuan kasi nagmomonitor at nagsusupervise na ang PRDEA doon sa mga prosecutors. At ang mga prosecutor ng DOJ mismo kasama nila hand in hand, katulong nila. Mawawala yan.

Q: (Unclear)

SP Sotto: Oo, syempre naman.

Q: Should Albayalde completely cut his ties kina Baloyo?

SP Sotto: Yes, and the best sign would be if he completes the investigation or the cases or the charges that will be filed against them. Kasi, sa atin kasi, kahit paano dalawang taon ako sa executive department, at saka nag vice mayor ako four years, iba yung pag sinabi mong tao ko yan, at saka yung bata ko yan. Magkaiba yun. So ano ba yun, mga bata ba niya yun o mga tao niya yun? Iba yun, di ba?

Q: Pag sinabi na bata ko yun...

SP Sotto: Aba ano yun, malalim yun pag sinabing bata ko yun. Pag tao ko yan, mga empleyado ko yan.

Q: Do you share the proposal of Sen. Drilon for the PNP Chief to retire early? Not to resign or admit what he has done, but to retire early.

SP Sotto: As I said earlier, I'd rather not rush into judgement. Siguro that is the opinion of Senator Drilon, I will respect him. I would rather not engage myself in concurring or disagreeing. Medyo mas magandang as the leader of the Senate, dapat medyo mag neutral muna ako. Unless, absolutely maliwanag. Kung maliwanag, sasama ako sa magdidiin. Pero kung may tinatawag na benefit of the doubt, hintayin na muna natin bago ako magsalita.

Q: You mentioned a while ago na through the years nagbago na rin ang views ninyo to approach the drug problem...President Dutertes' promise of three months...

SP Sotto: I knew it was not possible. I even said it in the campaign sorties. Nung nagrarally kami, noon pa lang sinasabi ko na kung tayo magkokoncentrate lang sa enforcement, you will not be successful. Even if it takes six years.

Q: Napakalaki ng budget natin sa intelligence, bakit walang managot sa intelligence or sa counter intelligence tungkol sa report ng mga nangyayaring ito?

SP Sotto: Hindi ko pwedeng basta sisihin yung issue ng intelligence if you are referring to what happened in Pampanga. Kasi, ang totoo niyan, gumawa sila ng raid na hindi sila nagpapaalam kahit kanino. It was not really an official raid. That is what we see. Sa investigation namin, hindi official yung raid. Titirahin nila si Johnson Lee, ganun ang dating sa amin. I am not saying that this is 100 percent accurate, but this is what we see as far as the investigation is concerned. So it is not an issue on intelligence, they were going to hit Johnson Lee, hulidap ang tingin namin. Pagdating doon, may 200 kilos na shabu, hindi ba? (Unclear) si Johnson Lee. Based on the reports na sinasabi, pinaransom pa siya ng P50 million. And then siguro, sabi nga ni Sen. Lacson ito, kung hindi nireport, wala nang makakaalam. They have the 200 kilos, they have the P50 million from Johnson Lee, (unclear) si Johnson Lee, tapos ang boxing. Wala nang nakakaalam nun. Silang labing apat lang ang makakaalam nun. Bakit? Ano ang ginawa? Humabol ng accomplishment. Gusto ng accomplishment, gusto ng medalya. Nagreport ng 38 kilos, teka muna, pinakawalan natin si Johnson Lee, paano? Merong isang lokong Koreano soon sa Clark, hulihan natin. Tinira, tumira ng iba. Pinaamin, sa iyo ito. Sabi nung hinuli, hindi akin yan. Nireport ngayon, dinala sa provincial, humabol ng accomplishment. Hindi kaya ng intelligence yun. Kung hindi nila nireport, wala na yun. Nireport, humabol ng medalya. Ayun, sumabit. Again, it boils down to what? Marunong ang Diyos sa lahat. Magkakamali at magkakamali ka, at lalabas at lalabas ang katotohanan. At ang masama doon, ang daming sasakyan. Pinagkukuha yung sasakyan ni Johnson Lee. That will be part of the investigation tomorrow na lalabas. Yung mga sasakyan na tinira.

Q: You signed a resolution galing sa Blue Ribbon committee to make the contents of the executive session public. Si General Albayalde has been insisting na dapat ilabas yun to be able to establish the motive why he is being implicated. What is this thing that Albayalde has been insisting?

SP Sotto: Sabi nga sa lenguahe natin, ikinalulungkot kong sabihin, na hindi totoo yung sinasabi niya. Kwinento ko na nga kanina. Accidental yung kay Mayor Magalong. Ang gusto naming kunin kay Mayor Magalong na report was the raid in the NBP in the previous administration. Ano ang nangyari. At pagkatapos nun, ano ang kuneksyon nung mga drug lord doon sa mga recycling. Dahil yung mga drug lords, may mga lumabas na gumamit ng GCTA. Naglagay. Yun ang connection nun. Pagdating doon sa loob, kaya napilitan kaming mag executive session, was because Mayor Magalong was very careful in naming names of people that were mentioned when there was this issue ng napakalaking recycling nung araw. Sabi merong napakalaking issue ng recycling nung araw, nangyari nung 2013 na inimbistegahan ng CIDG. At siya ang head ng CIDG noon. Tinanong namin, sino yung involved, ayaw niyang sabihin. Pagdating sa executive session, pwedeng niyang sabihin, so ginawa namin, executive session. So what you hear now is precisely what happened. There is nothing else, there is nothing to hide. Yun lang ang sinabi niya, inimbestigahan niya nung araw, ang nangyari ay yun mismo, yung naraid ko na 38 kilos, 162 yung narecycle, kinuha yung mga kotse, dinala sa provincial command, at during that time, ang regional director, kami pa nga ang nagtanong nun, sino ba ang provincial director nun, si General Albayalde, sabi niya. Wag nyo na masamain, ako I would rather think na talagang lumitaw ito (unclear) the investigation. So kung meron dapat sisihin, let's say si General Albayalde, meron siyang dapat sisihin, Senado ang sisihin niya. Yung Blue Ribbon, hindi si Mayor Magalong. Mayor Magalong was forced to say what happened during his investigation. Ganun lang talaga ang nangyari doon. Kaya palagay ko I cannot agree.

Q: How do you protect the witnesses?

SP Sotto: Mostly we recommend to the WPP. Yung iba ayaw. They want to handle themselves on their own. Now doon kay Yolanda and her common law husband, si Godfrey, the Senate is taking care of them. They are under the custody of the Senate. We are working on a WPP also for them but I don't think it will be necessary if his sentence is terminated by this year. Baka matapos na this year, if not, then napakagaan naman ng kaso niya, we might recommend a pardon already.

Q: If they say na may threat sila, you will assist them?

SP Sotto: Yes. Definitely. Kaya nga malakas yung Sergeant-at-Arms ng Senate. The OSAA is a very strong and powerful body.