Friday, June 29, 2012

Youth Leadership Summit 2011

The 2nd Mechanized Infantry (MAKASAG) Batallion, 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade (P), Light Armor Division Philippine Army, our partner for peace and development in Maguindanao Province held a four (4) day Youth Leadership Summit (YLS) scheduled  on the 23rd to 26th of May 2011 at Datu Pendililang Elementary School, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao with a theme, "Kabataan, Kabalikat tungo sa Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran ng Maguindanao". The keynote speaker for this activity was Col. Mayoralgo M. Dela Cruz CAV (GSC) PA, Brigade Commander of 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade, (LAD), PA. This activity was a joint effort of the Local Chief Executives and other stakeholders in the municipalities of Guindulungan, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Salibo and Datu Piang, Maguindanao.

The Youth Leadership Summit is one of the Philippine Army's major programs on youth sectors. It started on 2008 in Central Mindanao. It develops the youth to be partners-stakeholders in "winning the peace" in Central Mindanao.

Its purposes are to transform the youth sectors to be more productive and responsible members of the society and to develop youth's characters, attitudes and individual leadership.

The objectives are to enhance leadership potentials, to inculcate awareness on the threat to national security, to develop strong sense of patriotism and to promote good citizenship.

The Youth Leadership Summit gives premium on the enhancement of youth leadership skills and their active participation in civic works being implemented by Local Government Units/Local Government Academies and Non-governmental Organization. This program also aims to encourage the youth from all walks of life to become active collaborators in achieving peace and development catering issues of the youth sector in the area.


JCI Cotabato joined the 2011 Youth Leadership Summit on the 24th of May 2011. The 2007 Past President Donjie G. Vertuoso together with his co-trainer, then Vice President for Individual Development now 2012 President Oliver B. Makilang shared their expertise on leadership, team building and good governance.
JCI Trainer Donjie G. Vertuoso
JCI Co-trainer Oliver Makilang with VP for Community Development Archee Aguila

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Kapihan sa Senado: Interview with Sen. Chiz Escudero

Photo from GOOGLE
June 14, 2012 Transcript

First Part

It is our pleasure to have with us today no other than Sen. Chiz Escudero. As JBC member, may we know the status of the selection process for the next chief justice
Sa June 18 ang last day para mag-submit ng application, nomination, at pagtanggap ng nomination at consideration ng Judicial and Bar Council (JBC). Mula doon namin sisimulan ang proseso ng pagsasala ng mga aplikante at nominee at ipa-publish namin ang mga pangalang ito para kumuha rin ng tulong sa publiko na magbigay ng impormasyon o endorsement na pabor man o kontra sa mga pangalang nagnanais na amging Chief Justice ng bansa. Sa panahong din iyan, matapos ang Lunes, gagawin namin ang schedule ng interviews, ang psychological test, ang pag-submit nila ng iba't ibang dokumento na ni-require ng JBC para mabuo ang litrato ng mga aplikante at nominado na nais naming makita.

There is a proposal to make it televised.
Okay lang sa akin iyon kung ako ang tatanungin dahil dito naman sa Senado lahat ng ginagawa namin dito ay televised at nasa likod namin ang ilaw ng camera. Sanay kami doon at wala akong problema doon.

When do you expect na makapag-submit ng shortlist kay President Noy?
Our tentative schedule is July 15 so that the President will have about one and a half months to study the list, read through it, have the names there investigated, talk to them, and find out who is the best person for the job. We are required by law to submit not less than three names to the President.

This early, parang nag-expres si BIR Commissioner Kim Henares. She said that she has the edge over other nominees.
Well, libreng mangarap, libreng magkaroon ng paniniwala ang bawat isa. Subalit, ayokong i-prejudge pabor man o kontra ang aking magiging boto sa pagpili ng mga nominees na isa-submit namin.

Palace said the next CJ need not be old. So hindi factor ang age.
You know I would be very careful whenever it says Palace or the President. Minsan kasi hindi tumutugma iyon.

Ibig sabihin hindi iyon ang stand ni Pnoy, sir?
I don't know. Minsan lang talagang hindi tumutugma iyon kaya I won't take it hook, line and sinker. And besides, the President has his alter egos seated or sitting in the JBC. Assuming she will decline the nomination on the person of Sec. De Lima, I guess it will be best expressed through her if she will resume her position in the JBC after she makes a decision on whether or not to accept any nomination.

Right now ilan na ho ang nasa-submit ninyo?
Mga July 15 magbibigay na kami ng listahan.

Anong time frame?
Ninety days from the time the office was vacated.

Right now ilan na ang nasa-submit na nominees?
My list has 14 pero ongoing pa ang pagtanggap ng JBC ng mga pangalan at ipa-publish naman namin ang mga pangalan as soon as makumpleto at matapos ang period to submit applications and nominations.

Can you name samples.
Lumabas na rin sa dyaryo.

For the record.
Binura ko na yata.

Syempre nandoon na automatic si Justice Antonio Carpio, BIR Commissioner Kim Henares.
We have not received confirmation on the consideration of the five senior Justices namely Justices Velasco, Carpio, De Castro, Brion, and Peralta. Hindi ko alam kung mat natanggap na kaming confirmation ng pagtanggap nila ng consideration ng JBC para mabilang bilang bahagi ng mga nominado.

Mayroon bang mga ibang mga senators na..
Well, clearly the Constitution requires that the applicants and the nominees for Chief Justice must be a member of the Philippine Bar. If you are not a member of the Philippine Bar, you are automatically disqualified.

Si Cong. Teddy Boy Locsin isa-submit daw yata ang name today bilang nominee.
Ang JBC ay passive body. Para kaming saleslady na nasa likod ng counter at naghihintay ng mga pangalan na isa-submit sa amin hindi kami pwedeng mamili sa puntong ito kung sino ang pwede at hindi pwede. Hindi kami pwedeng magdesisyon sa puntong ito na maglagay ng pangalan kung hindi naman nag-aaplay o hindi naman nano-nominate. Kailangan lang namin na hintayin na dumulog dila sa amin at mag-submit ng panagalan ng kanilang nominee o ng sarili nilang pangalan mismo bilang aplikante.

Wala pang desisyon kung televised o hindi ang deliberations?
Wala pa. Tinalakay initially. May reservations ang ilang mga myembro pero gaya ng nasabi ko, personally, wala akong problema doon at pabor ako doon dahil iyon naman ang ginagawa namin dito sa Senado araw-araw sa ginagawa naming trabaho dito.

May concerns na pag televised, ang mga critics ay kaliwa at kanan. Hindi makakapg-decide nang maayos, madidistract ang mag member ng JBC.
Bahagi na iyon. Nainiwala naman ako sa kasabihan na anumang tama ay hindi dapat itago sa dilim. Madalas ang ginagawang masama ay iyon ang itinatago sa dilim. Kung tama naman at wala kang ginagawang mali, wala kang dapat katakutan.

Anong masasabi nating bago sa nomination ng JBC ngayon?
Una, mas malawak ang kaalaman at interes ng media at taong bayan dito sa selection process na ito. Sana hindi humupa iyon hanggang sa pag-appoint mismo ni Pangulong Aquino ng kapalit ni Chief Justice Corona.
Pangalawa, may ilang innovative at bagong requirements bugso na rin ng impeachment proceeding at complaint na inimpose ng JBC. Kabilang na dito ang pag-submit ng ITR sa mga nagdaang taon, kung may mga matagal nang naninilbihan sa gobyernong na-nominate, at pag-require na mag-submit ng waiver pabor sa JBC para makumpara namin ang bank accounts niya kung tumutugma sa SALN niya. Ang eksaktong rason kung bakit natanggal si Chief Justice Corona, hindi naman siguro dapat nandoon din sa ino-nominate namin para pumalit sa kanya.

Dati nabanggit ninyo ang pagte-televise..
May rule sa JBC pero hindi pa namin napagbobotohan kasi. May isang maliit na rule sa JBC na kinopya lamang ang mga nagdaang rule na nagsasabing bawal ang live coverage. Under the existing rule, baka pwedeng i-cover pero hindi lang live. Ibig sabihin nandoon kayong lahat, okay lang manood kayo, bukas sa publiko. Ang live coverage provision lang, hindi ko alam kung paano namin matatalakay iyon sa darating na Lunes. Pero kung talakayin man iyon at pabotohin kami, papabor ako na bukasan iyon. Wala namang pinagkaiba iyon sa ibang trabaho na ginagawa ko dito sa Senado.

So dapat munang i-amend ang rules bago pwedeng i-televise.
May isang myembro na nagsabi niyon. In fact, noong lumabas iyon ay hindi ko mainitindihan kung bakit ako ang tinatamaan. Pabor naman ako sa pagsasapubliko niyan. Sinabi ko lang naman kung ano ang nangyari sa deliberation na may nagsabing may rule, na may nagsabing bago natin magawa iyon kailangang mag-publish na hindi naman nangangahulugan na iyan ang posisyon na pinanghhawakan ko.

Iyon parang in favor kay Commisioner Kim Henares, parang medyo may nakakapansin na mga bata ni Purisima is slowly taking over... if matutuloy rin si Bunoan sa Department of Energy Secretary.
Hindi ko alam. Ang tingin ko naman sa kanilang lahat ay bata ng sambayanan at bata ni Pangulong Aquino. Walang karapatan siguro maski na sinong gabinete na angkinin na bata nila ang isang tao e hindi naman sila ang amo. Ang amo pa rin ay si Pangulong Aquino at nagsabi ang amo na ang boss niya ay tayo kaya tayo ang amo at hindi siya.

Factor ba ang age ng applicant? Kasi pag si Henares ang napili, she'll be serving for around 20 years.
Naniniwala ako na hindi kapansanan ang pagiging bata. Ibinato sa akin iyan at ilang beses ginamit laban sa akin iyan sa nga nagdaang panahon. Hindi kakulangan ang kawalan ng karanasan. Ang factor siguro, tama ka, ang haba ng panahon ng paninilbihan kung bata ang mailalagay. Hindi ang kakayanan ha. Hindi ko tatawaran ang kakayanan dahil lamang sa edad ng sinumang aplikante.

Isang titimbangin siguro ng kada myembro ng JBC, gayundin ni Pangulong Aquino, ay ang haba ng panahong isisilbi kung bata ang ilalagay. Kaedad ko, 42, isipin mo kulang-kulang tatlong dekadang uupo iyon doon at 28 years bago mag-70 maliban na lamang kung mamamatay, magkakasakit, o mai-impeach. Dapat timbangin ng JBC at ni Pangulong Aquino kung gusto ba natin na ganoon katagal? Are we going for stability and predictability of decisions and of the court? Or gusto ba natin na may bagong dugo na pumapasok doon, may bagong ideya, bagong kaalaman, bagong perspektiba kasabay ng pagbabago rin ng panahon. Those would be considerations up for the president and us.

Would that work against Henares or kay De Lima?
It could work for or against them. Again, if you are after stability and predictability in the decisions of the court that will last a long time, then perhaps you might want to go for that. If you're after a new perspective every once in a while and not to tie the hands of the next president and be bound by the choice of this president for the next four or five presidents, that would be subject to the exercise of the President's wisdom and in a way the discretion of the JBC as well. We will weigh and consider that.

Pero being a member of the JBC.
It's not a total disadvantage. Again, it has its advantages and disadvantages which we will have to consider wholistically.

Requirement ba na dapat 15 years na nagpa-practice ka ng law?
Oo. Pero ang definition ng Korte Suprema sa pag-practice ng law ay marami nang ibig sabihin. Pwedeng nag-a-appear ka sa korte, nagtatrabaho ka sa law firm, pati nga nagtuturo pwede rin.

Sa kaso ni Kim Henares
I think she is engaged in the practice of law in various capacities: working for a private corporation, as a lawyer, working for an NGO, and working in the BIR as a a lawyer.

Hindi ba negative daw na nagtestify sila during the impeachment trial and yet nag-express ng interest for the position.
Personal niyang desisyon iyan. It's a matter of personal choice and taste. On my part and in the part of Sen. Drilon for example, when our names were mentioned, agad-agad kaming tumanggi at nagsabi na ayaw at hindi pwede dahil may kinalaman kami directly sa pagpapatanggal sa nagdaang Chief Justice. Hindi naman maganda at masarap sa panlasa para sa amin na tumanggap at magsabing interesado kami matapos lumahok sa proseso. Sa panig nila, it's up for them to decide. If they accept the nominations, then apparently okay lang sa kanila. I can only speak for myself na hindi okay sa akin iyon.

There is a report that Sec. Rene Almendras will replace PMS Chief Julia Abad and then former Finance Sec. Bunoan to be named as new Energy Secretary. Good decision ba iyon?
I'll cross the bridge when I get there when I meet them at the Commission on Appointment especially the new Energy Secretary if at all. Hindi naman kasi dumadaan sa Commission on Appointment ang PMS. Ang dumadaan lang sa amin ay mga kalihim na ina-appoint sa line departments. I'll cross the bridge when I get there. I do not know personally or I do not redcall having dealings with the former undersecretary if he will be a good choice. I do not know him that well.

Pero may other cabinet position ba na sa tingin ninyo ay dapat rin na maging part ng reshuffle?
Wala akong nakikita. Bahagi iyan ng opisyal na pamilya ni Pangulong Aquino. Desisyon niya kung sino ang nais niyang maging bahagi ng kanyang pamilya. Ang tanging papel namin sa Senado ay i-confirm ang sinumang napupusuan niya.

Si Ochoa as Chief Justice
I don't think he is nominated and I don't think he has applied.

Any comment sa decision ng Supreme Court na 11-3 ang voting at upheld ang Php 1.3 billion contract ng Comelec sa Smartmatic.
Isa sa naging pinakamalinis na halalan ang automated elections kaugnay sa nagdaang eleksyon. Ang importante lamang sa akin, paboran man o hindi ng Korte Suprema, ilabas na nila ang kanilang decision na ginawa naman nila para maka-adjust ang Comelec kunsaka-sakaling talo sila sa kaso at nang makapag-rebid at sumunod sa iniuutos ng Korte Suprema para umabot pa na magkaroon ng automated elections sa May 2013. Ngayong lumabas na at lalo pa ay kinatigan ng Korte Suprema ang Comelec, sana wala nang maging problema para ang tungo natin papunta sa improvised at mas pinagandang automated system sa 2013 elections. We have to admit na may pagkukulang at shortcomings ang nagdaang sistema.

Ang concern ng mga petitioner ay nagkaroon ng mga glitches noong 2010 so baka maulit din daw ito.
Again, learning from the past I hope we learn from our mistakes na hindi mangyari pa ang mga nangyari noong nagdaang eleksyon. Siguro naman matapos ang unang beses na nagawa natin ay mas marunon na at mas magaling na tayo ngayon.

11-3 ang voting. Malabo na'ng ma-reverse kunsakaling may appeal.
Malabo na because it's not a divided court. Ang depinisyon ng divided court ay sa 15, 8-7 ang boto. Ibig sabihin, isa lang ang bumaligtad. Posibleng bumaligtad rin ang desisyon. Sa layo ng botohang ito hindi divided court ito at malamang sa malamang statistically at least ay hindi ito mare-reverse.

Ang decision na ito under OIC o acting Chief Justice Carpio ay masasabing independent pa rin ang ating Korte Suprema.
Oo, kasi kung maaalala ninyo kaugnay ng kontrata may ilang mga opisyal sa administrasyon rin ni Pangulong Aquino, bearing in mind that Comelec is an independent constitutional commission, may ilang mga personalidad sa administrasyon rin ni Pangulong Aquino na kumwestyon sa kontratang pinasukan ng Comelec sa Smartmatic so hindi masasabi na ang pagpabor sa Comelec ay pagpabor sa administrasyon o sinumang partido.

Ano yung masasabi nyo sa desisyon ng UNA na isama si Migz Zubiri despite Sen. Koko Pimentel's opposition?
Desisyon nila yon, desisyon ng UNA yan, wala ako sa posisyon ara kuwestiyunin o magsalita kaugnay noon, masyadong malapit ang relasyon officially ni Sen. Koko Pimentel sa PDP-Laban at sa UNA para panghimasukan ng sinuman na ni hindi nahagi ng PDP-Laban o ng UNA. Siguro sapat na rin naman ang pag-uusap at palitan ng pananaw na nangyari sa dalawa. Nakakalungkot lang na sana maging epekto nito madagdagan ang kinatawan at representasyon ng Mindanao at hindi sila maghilawan pababa.

You're not included sa intial list ng senatorial...
I'm not part of the governing board of UNA, I am not part of the decision-making process either of UNA. I will abide and respect and welcome, of course, any help or support either UNA or any other party may extend in so far as my candidacy is concerned.

Pero my offer from UNA?
May informal na usapan at ayaw kong pangunahan.

Walang problema sa inyoo kung kasama nyo si Migz Zubiri, Mitos Magsaysay...
Usually naman sa pagtakbo ko ng mga nagdaang panahon din I usually more often than not go out on my own, so hindi magiging kasintinding isyu yon para sa akin.

Sa doon sa initial list wala kang problema?
Hindi para sa akin magkaroon ng problema kanino pa man, hindi pa ako bahagi ng listahang yon, ang kapal naman ng mukha ko kung may problema ako ni wala pa ako sa listahang yon, hindi yata tama yon.

Saan kayo mas incline?
Independent ako ngayon eh, kung may inclination ako eh di sinalihan ko na sana yung partidong yon. Mas pipiliin kong maging at manatiling independent, subalit siyempre walang taong pwedeng tumayo bilang isang isla lamang, at anumang tulong, anuamng suporta, anumang pag-imbita sa koalisyon malaking pasasalamat at maluwag naming iwi-welcome at tatanggapin.

Pero open ka maging common candidate ng UNA at ng LP?
Pangarap siguro yon ng lahat ng tumatakbo, bakit hindi.

Para daw namamangka sa dalawang ilog ang ganoon?
Hindi puso ang pinag-uusapan dito, eleksyon at pulitika.

On turn-coatism bill
Magandang pakinggan yan pero nangyari na yon noon sa ating kasaysayan kung inyong maaalala, nagpasa rin noon ng isang PD si dating Pangulong Marcos noong siya ang nakaupo at ipinagbawal ang paglipat ng partido. This happened in our history already. Ang penalty paglumipat ka bago ang eleksyon hindi ka pwedeng tumakbo sa darating na halalan. Ito na lang ang isipin nyo, may advantage palagi maski na sinong nakaupong partido sa administrasyon kapagka ipinasa yang batas habang sila ang nakaupo, kasi alam nyo naman yung tendencies ng mga partido sa Pilipinas, kung sino ang partido ni power nandoon lahat. So pagnagkataon nakapasa yang batas na yan habang nandoon lahat eh hindi sila pwedeng tumakbo pag-umalis at tinanggal sila o hindi sila pinili. It will create an undue advantage to any party who is with the administration right now. Yung lang siguro yung downside at reservation ko doon. Siguro dapat kung ipapasa yung batas magbigay ng mala give-chance to run sa sinumang, bago mag-effective ang batas para makapagdesisyon at makapagpasya talaga yung tao saan ba siya mabibilang na partido. Hindi yung nagkataon lang ito kasi yung nakaupo, nagkataon lang ito kasi yung kakampi ko, kalaban ko yung nasa kabila. Let them feel the side what their party will be, not based on convenient, petty and temporary interest.

Pangalawa ang objective ng political party hindi naman para sa kandidato, inimbento ang political party para magkaroon ng consultative mechanism ang gobyerno. In theory lahat ng political party dapat nirerepresent bawat sector ng tao, para pagkinunsulta ng Pangulo, pagkinunsulta ng Kongreso o ng Senado, ang mga lider ng political party, in theory, parang nakonsulta na rin nila yung sambayanan. Ang problema hindi naman umuubra at umaandar yan nang ganyan sa ating bansa. Mas personality ang basis imbes na plataporma ng mga partido. Kung may nais tayong iwasto at i-correct sana yun muna, na ibase sa pagkakaiba ng prinsipyo, plataporma at paniniwala ang mga partido at hindi yung kung sino lamang yung namumuno ng partido sa particular na panahon.

Yung pagbibigay ng subsidy ng gobyerno sa mga political party
Sa dami ng pwedeng paggastusan at dapat bigyan ng subsidy ng pamahalaan siguro naman huli na dapat yung mga political parties at siguro naman huli na dapat yung pagbigay ng pera para gastusin sa eleksyon, mas marami akong pwewdng isiping isang milyon ibang bagay pa na pwedeng gastusan at bigyan ng subsidy ng gobyerno maliban yung mga kandidato.

You will oppose that bill?
In so far as the subsidy is concerned, pero yung political party reform act na nai-file noon na isa lamang yan sa bahagi may mga magagandang developments para ma-improve at magmature yung ating political parties don sa panukalang batas na yon.

Ano yung chance na ma-approve yan before 2013 elections?
Hindi ko alam at ang pangit naman siguro maaprubahan yan at isa pa yan sa mga bill na unahin namin sa dami ng pending na bill porke't mag-eeleksyon lamang. Pangalawa kumplikado rin yon dahil alalahanin nyo hindi kami pwedeng magpasa ng batas na magbebenepisyo kami. So paano yung mga tatakbo at miyembro ng partido ngayon na magiging bahagi sa pagpasa ng bill na ito, medyo magulo yung magiging implementasyon nyan kung saka-sakali.

Palace is about to submit a P2-trillion proposed budget for 2013, sabi ng iba masyadong malaki at may relasyon sa 2013 elections.
Wala pa akong narinig na okasyon na naging masama o naging malustay ang Palasyo sa paggamit ng pondi ng gobyerno, kung may reklamo pa nga ay nagigign sobrang matipid at maingat sa paggastos. Kung may malaki mang proposed budget ibig sabihin lamang nito para sa akin base sa karanasan ay mas mataas na ceiling ng paggastos pero magpapatuloy pa rin ang maingat na pamamaraan ng pag-disburse ng pondo at hindi ito lulustayin ng ganoong-ganoon na lamang, mas malaki man yung ceiling na hinihiling ng Palasyo.

Yung bulk daw noon gagamitin sa CCT at infrastructure projects
Pabor ako doon sa infra projects, sa CCT side patuloy ang aking posisyon kaugnay sa bagay na yan na stands to improvement kung talagang gagawin natin yan, iimprove naman natin nang kaunti yung pagpapatupad ng sistema.

Yung CCT may kinalaman sa eleksyon
Well identified na yung mga beneficiaries ng CCT, tumatanggap na sila ngayon at wala ng pagkakaiba yon kung saka-sakali. Pangalawa hindi tulad ng Philhealth cards ni Pangulong Arroyo noon, wala pa akong nakitang CCT o ATM cards na binibigay na may litrato, pangalan ng sinuamng kongresista, gobernador, senador o ni Pangulong Aquino para masabi at magamit kaugnay ng pulitika at halalan sa darating na taon.

Mabigat man sa kalooban ay oo pero sana yung share sa pie mas malaki pa rin yung infrastructure dahil sa pamamagitan ng infrastructure may trabaho pa rin naman tayong maibibigay, suwelso at kita sa mga taong makikilahok sa paggawa ng anumang infrastructure projects. At least pagnatapos yon hindi lamang tayo nakatulong sa pamamagitan ng labor meron pa tayong natapos na kalye, tulay o school building dahil sa paggamit ng pondo sa ganoong paraan.

It's about time daw na i-pursue na yung divorce bill, suportado mo ba ito? Kasi daw mahirapa ng process ng annulment
Ang pagkakaiba ng divorce sa annulment, legally ang annulment yung ground at basehan dapat ang-eexist nong kinasal kayo. Ang divorce yung ground o basehan pwedeng mag-exist pagkatapos nyo nang ikasal. Kaya halimbawa sa Amerika matapos nyong ikasal, incompatibility, divorce kayo. Pero yung batas antin sa Family Code mayroong catch phrase na bumubukas nang kaunti patungo sa diborsiyo. Nakalagay kasi sa Article 36 ng Family Code yung basis ng psychological incapacity as a ground for annulment must exist at the time of marriage, and this is the questionable phrase, event though it became apparent after the marriage. So medyo not here nor there yon, hindi yon tumutugma don sa legal at teknikal na pagkakaiba ng divorce sa annulment. Para sa akin may amtinding away na nga ang gobyerno at Kongreso at ang Simbahan kugnay ng RH bill, hindi ito ang tamang panahon para dagadagan na naman yan, ang dapat iimprove ng Kongreso kung meron man, yung accessibility at affordability nong kasalukuyang mga procedure para sa annulment ng Family Code para ma-avail yan ng mahihirap nating kababayan. Halimbawa, biksan ng PAO ang kanilang tanggapan para tumanggap ng annulment cases, halimbawa, mag-allocate ng pool ng libreng psychologists ang DOH, ang DSWD, para mabigay ng libreng opinion at konsultasyon para sa sinumang nagnanais.

Pero kung tapos na yung usapin ng RH bill at pag-usapan yung divorce, suportado nyo ba ito?
Again sa palagay at pananaw ko hindi ito napapanahon pa, dapat ang iimprove natin accessibility and affordability. The debate about (inaudible) between divorce and annulment as I've said has been blurred by the current wording of Article 36 of the Family Code.

Mahirap ba talaga yung process ng annulment sa ngayon?
Isipin din kasi natin minsan ito, hindi naman ganoong kadali ring pag-aralan yon, kung gagamitin nating basehan, halimbawa, yung pangugulpi, kunyari lang, bilang ground, eh di dapat idagdag din natin sa batas yung nanggugulpi bawal magpakasal, dahil pagpinayagan natin siyang idoborsiyo ng ginugulpi nya eh di maghahanap lang yon ng iabng gugulpihin, dapat kasama sa probisyon at panukalang batas kung saka-sakali ang pagbabawal na kung sino man ang may sala o may kasalana, o may ginawang pagkukulang, kung mapapasa man ang panukalang batas na ito, ay hindi pahintulutan na magawa rin nya ito sa ibang tao na magiging biktima na naman uli. Isang halimbawa lamang yan ng konsiderasyon na hindi naman dapat ganoon kadali yung ating kaisipan kaugnay nito.

On a bill criminalizing stalking
Actually panukalang batas ito para sa mga masyadong publiko na yung buhay at nais manatili at may maiwan paring pribadong aspeto sa kanialng mga buhay labas sa ilaw ng camera, labas sa atensiyong nais ibigay sa kanila ng publiko, nasa pulitika man sila, showbiz, sports o saan man. Hindi ko sasabihing earth-shaking o makakapagbuti ito ng buhay ng maraming tao pero ang importante mayroon tayong ganitong batas upang sa gayon maprotektahan yung minorya man na nagdurusa sa ganitong uri ng sitwasyon.

Well nedefind naming yung stalking, malayo yon sa paparazzi, magkaiba yon, sa depinisyon naming, sa panukalang batas iba ang intension at iba ang nais naming saklawain. Hindi pasok don yung paparazzi.

May imprisonment?
Meron, for sure meron.

I-postpone daw yung barangay elections
Pabor ako don, pabor akong ipagpaliban ang barangay elections pero hindi pa rin ako pabor na i-synchronize yon sa national and local elections sa 2013 man o sa 2016. Kahit ilasng buwan man lang, ang rason ay marami, una, halimbawa, non-partisan dapata ng barangay elections, bakit mo isasabay at ihahalo sa maliwanag na political party at partisan na halalan. Pangalawa kung sa ngayon ay mahaba na yung balota na back-to-back pa, lalo na pagsinama natin yung mga kanidato sa mga barangay baka maging two or three pages na yung balota natin sa darating na halalan. At panghuli pag-isabay at isama mo yan halos lahat nang makakasalubong mo sa kalye kumakandidato at tumatakbo. Again hindi tamang paghaluin yung non-partisan sa clearly partisan electoral activity.

Hiwalay din naman bakit kailangang ipostpone?
Maikli naman kasi masyado yung termino nila, napakaikli na nga napakaliit pa ng suweldo, anong magagawa at pwede nilang maiwang alaala sa kanialng mga barangay, kung hindi. At in the past I think it has been postponed on several occasions too. Ang nangyayari lang kasi noon, ipopostpone para lang mapostpone muna kahit alam namin na hindi yon ang permanenteng solusyon. Sana pagpinostpone ang barangay elections i-set na rin naming yung term, i-set naming yung tamang gap ng elections nang hindi manaka-naka ay binabago at niri-reset at sini-set ulit.

Ilang taon yung ideal sir?
Para sa akin apat.

Pero para kay Chairman Brillantes huwag na daw idaan sa eleskyon kundi i-appoint na lang daw yung mga barangay officials
Well option din yon, dati kasi ina-appoint lamang ang kapitan del baryo pero sang-ayon sa Local Government Code dapat botohin at ihalal sila unless maamyendahan ang batas, yan pa rin ang magiging sistema ng pagpili ng mga barangay leaders natin.

Kung ipopostpone yung barangay elections kailangan pa ring magpasa ng batas?
Definitely kailangang magpasa ng batas bago ipostpone yon dahil may naunang batas na sini-set yan.

On PCOS machine
Well pinagdaanan na ng Korte Suprema yung legalidad, kabilang yung bidding, presyo at kung disadvantageous to the government or not, hindi na para sa oversgith committee na gawin pa yon. Ang dapat siguro tingnan at pagtuunan ng oversight committee ay yung mga glitches na nangyari nong nagdaang 20120, na ito ay hindi na maulit pang muli at madagdagan ng panibagong glitches pa. Buo ang tiwala ko na aasikasuhin at inaasikaso nya yan dahil matindi at mabigay na adbokasiya nya yan- electoral fraud- at matiyak na hindi na mngyayari.

Sir P1.8 billion ang amount na involved, hindi ba napakalaki yan?
Actually mas mura pa yon kung ikukumpara mo sa sitwasyon kugn saan bibili tayo ng bago at may bagong contractor na magproprovide dahil na rin sa naunang sistemang prinovide ng Smartmatic.

Sir hindi ba mas makakatipid kung list na lang sa halip na bumili mismo ng� obsolete na rin yon�.
Again tinimbang na at sinukat ng Korte Suprema yung legalidad, yung pagsunod o pagtalima sa bidding procedure at kung disadvantageous o hindi sa pamahalaan yan, hindi na para sa amin o para sa akin na sabihing mali o tama yon.

Maraming reklamo tungkol sa PCOS, isa na ko sa nagrereklamo don noon, pero ayon sa statistics ng Comelec, lahat ng recount nila, lahat so far, kung ano yung nabilang ng PCOS at angign resulta ng halalan nong nirecount nila yung mga balota yung pa rin ang eksaktong lumabas. Sa katunayan ayon sa Comelec, ulit ang gagamitin ko ang statistics ng Comelec, wala pa daw protestang nananalo tungkol don sa maling bilang ng PCOS sa local na mga laban ha, sa local na mga laban. Wala naman kasing protesta sa national na laban nong 2010, maliban yung kay Vice President Binay. Kay Migz nong 2007, not 2010.

Paano yung source code who will validate it, will you have access like Congress?
Ganoon siguro ulit ang gagawin, parang ako noong ako ang chairman ng electoral reforms committee, binigay sa amin, pinagbigay-alam sa amin at binigyan din kami ng access. Alalahanin nyo rin si Chairperson Brillantes hindi rin isa ron sa mga kumbinsido rito sa PCOS nong nagdaan eleksyon, so kung anumang reservation meron siya noon marahil dala pa rin niya yon hanggang ngayon at marahil alam nya yung mga issues na dapat i-address ng PCOS machine na ito dahil bahagi siya ng grupo, sector at mga tao na may malaking reservation tungkol dito sa PCOS machine nong 2010.

Yung creation ng new Congressional districts, will that cost yung P70 (million) na kailangan din nila?
Automatic yon kung P70 million man o P100 million, hindi ko alam magkano na ngayon eh, automatic yon, kaya sa punto de vista ng probinsya na may bagong likhang distrito, dagdag na pondo mula sa national government yon para sa probinsyang yon. (So lalaki na yung pondo para sa PDAF?) Lalaki.

Kung mapapasa yon for October by 2013 hindi ba karagdagang gastos yon?
Yes. Oo pero alalahanin nyo rin ang prinsipyo at paninindigan sa Saligang Batas, for example, that there shall be no taxation without representation, pagdagdag ito ng kinatawan at boses sa Kongreso dahil sang-ayon sa Konstitusyon dapat may isang kinatawan kada 200,000 tao, siguro dapat baguhin natin ang Konstitusyon kung nais nating bawasan yon, one congressman per 500,000 or at least one per province, hindi ko alam, pero sa ngayon yung batas one congressman equals 200,000 (people).

www.chizescudero.com

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

1988 Mutya ng Cotabato

PRINCESS ALMIRA D. UNTONG-PASIGAN, crowned 1988 Mutya ng Cotabato during the 29th Araw ng Cotabato coronation night, then 18 year old, born on September 12, 1971 in Cotabato City. She's the youngest daughter of the late Datu Laudan Untong (my uncle) and Mrs. Asuncion Dacanay-Untong. She graduated in Notre Dame University, Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

She also won the title Miss Phillipines Red Cross Cotabato  and 3rd runner-up Miss Philippines Red Cross National, both in year 1989.

She also joined and one of the finalist of the 1989 Miss World University in Tokyo, Japan.

1988 Mutya ng Cotabato and her runner-ups
She's also the MOD Magazine cover girl in May 1989 issue. 

MOD Magazine Cover Girl
She married Mohamad Pasigan on July 14, 1990. Amazingly, she's now a mother of nine (9) kids namely: Mohamad Ali, Mohamad Murad, Mohamad Taheer, Mohamad Esmael, Czarheena Hoda, Shehrazsad Suad, Shakeera Azeeza, Ameera Phatma and the youngest daughter Halima Mariam who was born on November 5 and died at a very very young age on November 8, 2009.

And lastly, she's the first Mutya ng Cotabato in our clan. I am very proud to say that this beauty and brain is my first cousin. =)

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

ANC Transcript: Interview with Chiz Escudero

TRANSCRIPT: From the Office of Senator Chiz Escudero

NETWORK: ANC
PROGRAM: MORNINGS @ ANC
ANCHOR: PINKY WEBB
INTERVIEW WITH SENATOR CHIZ ESCUDERO

Photo from GOOGLE
May 31, 2012

WEBB: Sen. Chiz good morning!

FGE: Pinky sa ating televiewers magandang umaga!

WEBB: Alright, a lot of things that we need to discuss. Let’s start with your statement about Associate Justice and now acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio. Why not?

FGE: Well let me clarify that. Interview yun sa UKG, kinatigan ko lang naman yung posisyon ni dating Senador Rene Saguisag. Na sinabi nya na baka mula sa isang away ay mapunta na naman tayo sa isang away. Imbes na natuldukan na sana yung issue e’ hahaba pa yung kwento. That was the only reason and secondly in relation to sitting as presiding officer of the JBC, if he’s going to be a nominee or an applicant, he would inhibit himself anyway from participating in the JBC deliberations given that he is a potential, if he applies or if he is nominated, if he accepts.

WEBB: So, again let’s clear that, Did you say out of delicadeza?

FGE: Yes. But agreeing with Sen. Saguisag. Kasi di ba kung maalala mo, isa siya sa mga tinuturo, totoo man o hindi, ni Chief Justice Corona..

WEBB: Behind the smere campaign against him.

FGE: Sa pagtanggal sa kanya sa pwesto.

WEBB: Hindi man lantarang na sinabi yung pangalan niya but everyone is inducing it’s Associate Justice Antonio Carpio.

FGE: Ganun na rin yun.

WEBB: Yung isang nagmamadali di ba sabi niya na maging chief justice?

FGE: Yes. But, in so far that I am concerned, I’m not saying that I am prejudging him in so far that I am not voting for him or voting for him on the JBC. I’m merely talking of procedure and to my mind what’s good for our country at this time.

WEBB: But, I guess that he’s sweep under the rug. He’s the acting chief justice.

FGE: Let’s clarify that, Pinky, maraming nagsasabi na bakit daw siya ang inappoint ni Pangulong Aquino? President Aquino had nothing to do wiht the appointment or with the ascendancy of Justice Carpio as acting chief justice. That is by virtue of our rule, practice and tradition of the Supreme Court that the senior justice will serve as acting chief justice in case that the chief justice is removed, becomes incapacitated or is not in the country.

WEBB: Automatic. Okay. That is very clear now. Walang kinalaman si PNoy dito.

FGE: Yes.

WEBB: Number two, JBC. There are many interpretations on how the JBC should look into nominees, okay, what is your take? Because...let’s summarize it. Is it automatic, number one, that you can among just yourselves nominate chairman of the JBC?

FGE: No. But then again the law abhors a vacuum, Pinky. So always there would be always an acting officer in the person of either the acting chief justice or any justice of the Supreme Court designated by the court. The mere fact that the law does not state the procedure or manner by this will be settled does not mean we would be paralized. No. Again the law abhors a vacuum. We have to fill up that vacuum.

WEBB: It’s mandatory that you fill up that eight spots? Kasi yung eight, for example, yun yung kay Renato Corona.

FGE: Especially siya yung presiding officer, Pinky.

WEBB: Yes.

FGE: That has come to pass already. After Justice Carpio assumed the role of acting chief justice, in fact he already called for a meeting. We have a meeting on Monday.

WEBB: I see. So that’s it. Because I was talking to Congressman Neil Tupas yesterday. He’s very specific. He goes, it did not say that acting chief justices will be the chairman of the JBC. It said chief justice. So he said, there naman is very clear. Do you have opposing view?

FGE: Again, it abhors, the law always abhors a vacuum. We cannot be paralized simply because, paano kung yung incumbent chief justice, namatay bigla? Inatake. Ano yun paralisado na tayo? Hindi na tayo pwedeng pumili ng chief justice? Hindi na tatakbo  ang JBC? I don’t think that is the intent of the framers of the Constitution.

WEBB: Okay. So since si Associate Justice Antonio Carpio already called a meeting, you had one on Monday?

FGE: We have one on Monday. The process will begin already on Monday. Hopefully, if he is going to be a nominee, as it has happened in the past, he will inhibit. And someone will sit as presiding officer.

WEBB: And with that going to be a vote amongst the seven remaining?

FGE: No. Someone will take his place.

WEBB: Like who?

FGE: One of the justices.

WEBB: Of the Supreme Court?

FGE: The next senior. The next senior justice perhaps.

WEBB: I see. Because there is, let’s put it on the table, there is quite a chance that he would be nominated as a chief justice. So he sits there for now and once nominated, he inhibits and somebody, who’s the next senior one?

FGE: The next senior is Justice Presbitero Velasco.

WEBB: I see. So then he’s going to be the acting chairman.

FGE: Yes.

WEBB: As chief justice, again, these schools of thought, do you have to choose from the present line up of the associate justice or can you actually have an outsider come in? Because there is a vacancy, can that outsider  coming in as a nominee be  designated as chief justice.

FGE: Some people are saying, we first have to fill up the vacancy of the chief justice from amongst the justices right now, and then after that is vacated we will now fill up outside the vacated position of the justice, no, it’s not necessarily the case. We are not bound from choosing amongst the 14 justices to recommend to the president. Walang prohibition, walang nagbabawal, walang limitasyon ang JBC na yun lang ang pagpipilian. Kahit sino pwede naming pagpilian. Pagdating naman sa presidente, may limitasyon. Ang pwede lang niya i-appoint yung galing sa listahan ng JBC. Hindi siya pwedeng pumili ng tao sa labas ng binigay naming listahan.

WEBB: So, I’ll give you a scenario. You have three nominees, A, B,C. The president chooses A. So pasok siya.

FGE: That’s it.

WEBB: That’s it. It makes it 15. No, but the president have to choose from among the three nominated as a chief justice or it can be anyone of the 15?

FGE: No. He can only choose from the list that we submitted. We will give him a list with at least three.

WEBB: Yeah. And that has to be the chief justice?

FGE: Yes. Specifically chief justice. Now, if one of the justices is appointed by the president, then the JBC will start the process all over again from the nomination of the vacancy created by the associate justice.

WEBB: Associate justice. Okay, step one, you choose three, next step the president..

FGE: At least three. We can give him 10, we can give him 15.

WEBB:  Aren’t you supposed to give him three?

FGE: A minimun of three.

WEBB: I see. Okay.

FGE: It can be five, eight, ten, fifteen or twenty names.

WEBB: I see. So among the minimun of three after that the president will choose among them, number one, it has to be the chief justice first. If that happens to be incumbent associate justice, you begin another process?

FGE: When the vacancy is created, we begin the process again.

WEBB: But those people, let’s say you chose five and then that was an associate justice of the president chose as chief justice, why can’t you just, you know, choose from the four?

FGE: We can’t because the notice and application procedure applied in the position of the chief justice. Baka ang gusto lang niya maging chief justice, ayaw niyang maging associate siya.

WEBB: Associate justice.

FGE: O baka nag-o-oppose yung tao. Chief justice yan, importante yan, pag associate hindi na ko magrereklamo.

WEBB: Which is unlikely? But at the same?

FGE: At the same time it has to be specific. The process, Pinky, will begin on Monday. We will order that the notice of vacancy be published. And we will invite applicants and nominees. I think roughly ten days. We will give the public ten days to apply or either nominate someone. The JBC here is a passive body. I cannot nominate but someone else can and we have to rule upon that nomination. Pangalawa, walang plastikan dito at walang pasaysay dito. Hindi pwedeng inonominate kita, Pinky. “Sige bahala ka. Silent lang ako d’yan ha.” Hindi pwede. Accept the nomination before we consider you on the JBC.

WEBB: And then they go through an interview. A one on one interview right?

FGE: But before that, after we get the list of applicants, we sort it out. We try to remove those who are clearly disqualified. Kunwari yung hindi natural born citizen, or kunwari yung na-convict na for a previous offense. And then we publish again the list of names that we have pre-qualified and ask the public for their comments, opposition, inputs, additional  endorsements and after that they’ll undergo an interview from the members of the JBC. Not only that, a psychological test, as well. That’s the new innnovation of the JBC. Pangatlong hihilingin ko, papahingan ko silang lahat ng waiver ng secrecy of bank deposits at FCDU dahil baka mamaya ‘yung SALN nila hindi rin tumutugma sa deposito nila sa bangko ay matanggal din sila katulad noong predecessor nila.

WEBB: So, interview, psychological test and a waiver? Those are the, but do you have to get...

FGE: The SALN?

WEBB: No, I’m sorry, do you have to get the approval of the rest of the members of the JBC for this?

FGE: Yes, or if ever I don’t get it Pinky, whoever refuses to submit that waiver, then I will not vote for that person.

WEBB: Next question, for example, I’m interested for the post of associate justice. And I’m thinking that in the first round, there’s a nominee, Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and I’m thinking, “huwag nyo muna kong inominate dyan,” kasi para sa’kin, if I were to think ahead, I wanna be in the second round. Kasi sabi mo sa first round kung may pinili na, magbabago pa kayo. Doon na lang ako sa second round. Pwede ba ‘yun?

FGE: Pwede rin naman sa, pwede rin namang masama sya sa first round. Pwede rin naman syang masama sa second round. For example, Justice Villarama of the Supreme Court has been on the list for about 4 or 5 vacancies before he was finally appointed by President Arroyo. So, sometimes, perseverance, you  know, works.

WEBB: Huwag kang susuko. Alright, pero senator, do you think that ‘yung pananaw nyo po might have a problem? Is it possible that that might conflict with some members of the JBC?

FGE: Which one Pinky?

WEBB: What you just told me, that Antinio Car...

FGE: The waiver?

WEBB: Hindi hindi, ‘yung Antonio Carpio comes in as a presiding officer, acting presiding chairman rather.

FGE: He is and he can and he is the presiding officer Pinky.

WEBB: Kasi, you know, I just asked it again because as I told you, I interviewed Cong. Niel Tupas and he had a different view. So, I’m thinking, baka magkaroon ng conflicting opinions dito on Monday?

FGE: Well, paano nya oobjectan na, “Hoy, wala ka dyan dapat. Umalis ka dyan.”

WEBB: E nandoon na?

FGE: E sya nga ‘yung pupukpok e. So, dapat pagpukpok pa lang...

WEBB: “I protest.”

FGE: “Teka muna bago tayo magprayer a? Hindi ka dapat naglilead ng prayer.”

WEBB: Alright, bago ko makalimutan, meron pang isa. You have the power, you have a veto power, so, if I’m the one being nominated and you’re 7. 7 na lang kayo ngayon ‘di ba? Ay, hindi, sorry 8, because Associate Justice Carpio is coming in. If I’m coming in and hindi mo ko gusto, veto power, tanggal na ako?

FGE: No. This is not like on Commission on Appointments. Hindi rin ito...

WEBB: But that’s what Cong. Niel Tupas told me yesterday.

FGE: Hindi rin ito old boys club, perhaps, he’s referring to nominees for RTC and MTC positions, because, usually, that is not put to a vote anymore. Usually nominees are merely named, unless he or she has a problem, someone will say, “Excuse me, that guy has a case. Here is the case blah blah blah.” In a way, that sounds like a veto but not really. But with respect...

WEBB: But it has to have justification.

FGE: Yes, but with respect to positions of appellate courts, meaning CA, Sandigan Bayan, CTA, Supreme Court, we put it to a vote, unless he is clearly...

WEBB: What’s CTA, Court of Tax Appeal?

FGE: Yes.

WEBB: Okay.

FGE: Unless he is clearly disqualified by law, meaning, he has a pending case for example.

WEBB: Alright, but on mere opinion, you don’t have a veto power?

FGE: No.

WEBB: Not one of you?

FGE: We will just vote, and whoever gets a vote of 5, will be in the list.

WEBB: Alright, question from Twitter, Momblogger says, “Corona got unanimous vote in 2002. What assurance do we have that the Judicial Bar Council will do its job properly this time?”

FGE: Last time around, there were only 3 nominees. Nobody submitted because everybody thought it was a midnight appointment. So, only 3 persons were finally qualified. Actually, four, but one backed out, Justice De Castro at that time backed out. So, we were left with three nominees, Justices Carpio, Brion and Corona. So, everyone, so it was decided by the JBC to send the list to vote for everyone in the list otherwise, we could not have filled up the minimum of three nominees for that position.

WEBB: Yeah, because you still need a minimum of three.

FGE: Yes.

WEBB: Alright, just looking back, I remember Senator Chiz that Justice Carpio, I think, and Carpio-Morales if I’m not mistaken, at that time, refused to be nominated, remember? As a chief justice? They were saying, pending maybe the next administration. Hindi ba parang they withdrew personally?

FGE: Yes, they withdrew.

WEBB: Yeah, I remember that.

FGE: They withdrew pero may naiwan parin e.

WEBB: Yeah, okay, so, that settles JBC by Monday though senator, what do you think you’ll be able to achieve by Monday alone?

FGE: Order the publication of the notice of vacancy. That’s it.

WEBB: Umpisa na ‘yun.

FGE: It will take us about one and a half months Pinky. So, that means, the president will have that list, one and a half months before the lapse of the period within which he had to fill up the position.

WEBB: Right.

FGE: Which is 90 days.

WEBB: Okay, so, if you start let’s say on June 1, more or less July 15 tapos na ‘yun. You’ll be able to submit to the president and...

FGE: The president, that’s roughly one and a half months or 45 days, to decide from the list.

WEBB: Okay, that settles the JBC that I can remember the questions I wanted to ask you. Number 2, Senate bill. You have Senate bill 107?

FGE: Yes ma’am.

WEBB: During your speech, or at least your justification of a guilty verdict.

FGE: Explanation.

WEBB: Okay, sorry, explanation of your guilty verdict. Your defense, for a guilty verdict, you said that, you know, “hinahamon ko” you’re challenging your colleagues in the Senate and in the House of Representatives to sign a waiver. Let’s keep this conversation very simple first. You submit your SALN...

FGE: Yes.

WEBB: To the secretary of the Senate?

FGE: Yes.

WEBB: Who’s that?

FGE: Emma.

WEBB: Okay.

FGE: Emma Lirio-Reyes.

WEBB: When you submit that, can I just go to Sec. Emma and say, “I want a copy of Sen. Chiz Escudero’s SALN.”

FGE: Technically yes. That should be allowed, but somehow, they are overzealous when it comes to these things. So, for example I don’t know if I can say it, when a media, when Rappler for example asked for it from us, directly, we gave it. And it’s now somewhere in the web.

WEBB: Directly.

FGE: It’s now somewhere in the web.

WEBB: But supposed to be, it’s something that we can, even if you’re not a media person, you can just asked it from the...

FGE: In theory, yes Pinky. But usually, it goes through a procedure. Doon ako napaplastikan sa procedure.

WEBB: Sige talk about that.

FGE: Usually, it goes through a procedure. They would ask you, “Why?” meaning with what purpose? And usually, they blurr, parang sinisilhouette nila ‘yung address. Kasi hindi naman pwedeng malaman ng kahit sino lang kung saan ka nakatira.

WEBB: Of course.

FGE: So, isisilhouette lang nila ‘yung address, but all the rest it can be given for free.

WEBB: So, I’ll see your statement of assets, I’ll see your assets, liabilities and your net worth?

FGE: Yes.

WEBB: Okay, so you challenged your colleagues in the House, in the Senate and House of Representatives to sign a waiver. But when this trial was ongoing, it was already mentioned somehow. Please explain it to us, that when you submit your SALN, you actually submit a waiver. So, what’s the difference of that?

FGE: The waiver in the SALN right now is a waiver in favor of the Ombudsman, Pinky, to look into any and all records you have in all government agencies. So, BIR, AMLC, everything.

WEBB: So, may waiver ka na sa...

FGE: In so far as government...

WEBB: “Ombudsman, you have the right to look into my accounts.”

FGE: Yes. In so far as government agencies are concerned, no, only government agencies. It is not a waiver in so far as banks are concerned. Kaya kailangan idag, may....

WEBB: Nandoon naman ‘yung AMLC, ‘di ba?

FGE: But it only concerns transactions above 500,000. And remember, AMLC is now being looked into by the senators, well, for releasing that document. That waiver Pinky pertains to these previous years accounts only. So, when Ombudsman Morales used the waiver as an excuse, to get the records from AMLC, AMLC should have just released records in 2010. But they gave the ombudsman and the Senate records including 2011, even 2012. Again that is...

WEBB: So, ano dapat ulit senator? Just the last year?

FGE: ‘Yung waiver should be the last year. ‘Di ba tinanong ko si Ombudsman Morales, “Hawak nyo ba ‘yung waiver ni Justice, ni Chief Justice Carpio ng 2012, for 2011...

WEBB: Chief Justice Corona, you mean?

FGE: Corona, I mean. “for 2011 assets and liabilities?” sabi nya hindi daw. So, I presume ang hawak nya in 2011 waiver for 2010 assets?

WEBB: Right.

FGE: So, AMLC should’ve just released accounts pertaining to 2010 and before, not 11 and 12. We’re clarifying that here. And besides Pinky, if you listen to the explanations of vote, not justifications of vote, explanation of vote. Lahat, karamihan ng mga senador binase ‘yun sa hindi nagtugma ‘yung nakadeposito sa bangko, doon sa kanyang SALN. Pwes, kung ‘yun ang sukat, ang sukatan na ginamit naming lahat, edi dapat mabuhay din kami sa sukatang ‘yun.

WEBB: Yeah.

FGE: At kung sino man 'yung ipapalit din namin kay Chief Justice Corona, dapat pumantay din doon sa napakataas na antas at sukat na ‘yun. Kaya nga hihilingin ko at sana maintindihan ako ng aking mga kasama sa JBC, “Hilingin natin, natural lang ‘yun . Yung unang tinanggal natin, yun ang rason ba’t natanggal eh. Siguro naman dapat din ipalit natin should comply with this high standard.”

WEBB: Because that would be very unfair among you guys. The chief justice was disqualified for never holding any government position…

FGE: Because of that reason.

WEBB: Because of that. So everybody should follow. You should have the same….. You should be competent…

FGE: That’s precisely what I said in my explanation and even yesterday when we were confronted with a very similar situation.

WEBB: (Laughs) Kay Ambassador Sonia Brady?

FGE: No, with Ambassador Padalhin. I have nothing against him. He’s a very nice person based on the few minutes that I had a chance to be with him inside the hearing. It just leaves a bad taste in the mouth and I don’t have the stomach to do a 180 degree turn after what we did the day before. And that it was like dejavu. Honest mistake. I thought it was like this, really.

WEBB: But it seems like your colleagues didn’t mind so much.

FGE: The only difference is he’s not on trial. In the case of Chief Justice Corona, he was on trial before the Senate. But I’m not talking about...

WEBB: Do you have to be on trial for a reasoning like that to work?

FGE: That’s precisely my point. I said, although you’re not on trial and we are not accusing you of anything, I just cannot, in good conscience stomach allowing this to pass.

WEBB: Okay.

FGE: Again, I apologize to him as well but I did not want to do this. I just want to be consistent.

WEBB: At least… Exactly. That’s the word I was gonna use – consistency. There, so do you think your Senate Bill 107 has a chance of passing?

FGE: It was sponsored yesterday. Let’s see which among, who among the senators will ah…

WEBB: Maybe we should televise it again. (Laughs)

FGE: …object or vote against it.

WEBB: But what is your gut feel?

FGE: It’s been sitting on the floor for the past year and a half, Pinky.

WEBB: Okay, that’s not so bad. I mean, some of those have been sitting there…

FGE: No, this is Committee Report No. 2. This is the second committee report that has reached plenary in so far as the Congress is concerned.

WEBB: So you’re saying that even before the impeachment of the chief justice, you had this already?

FGE: Yes, we filed it early on. Sabi ko nga sa kanila, kung pinasa lang natin ‘to, wala nang mga TRO-TRO pa. Wala nang mga waiver-waiver pa.

WEBB: So this means that, senator, if this is passed, even dollar deposits can be opened?

FGE: Yes, Pinky, because the prohibition is against banks, as I explained. It’s not against the depositor. That’s a twisted interpretation of the law that the bank covers or includes even the depositor.

WEBB: That made it clear for some people, to be quite honest with it. The confidentiality rule is focused on the banks?

FGE: Not the depositor. Now, if you want to make it confidential, then don’t enter government. Nobody’s forcing you to run for public office anyway or accept a public position.

WEBB: Ah okay. So how much are you worth? What’s your net worth?

FGE: My net worth, una wala akong dollar account. (Laughs)

WEBB: (Laughs) Hindi ka pa nakaipon ah, ng dollar account.

FGE: Hindi. Wala nang silbi ang dollar kasi may credit card. Kasi mag-aabroad ka, may credit card naman. Pagdating mo dito, babayaran mo nang pesos. Aside from the fact na bihira naman ako…

WEBB: Unless ibang company, ganun?

FGE: Aside from the fact na bihira naman ako mag-biyahe sa iba’t ibang bansa. Hindi ko kinakailangan ng euro, dollar o kung ano. Kung pupunta ako sa halimbawa… Card na lang ngayon eh. Hindi naman kailangan.

WEBB: Pero kasi yung ibang tao, they feel that of course having a dollar account, you know, itatago mo yan. I mean, you know, as savings and it will have a little interest.

FGE: Again, that’s not true that nobody declares dollar accounts. Yesterday, in the confirmation hearings of ambassadors… Kasi sila yung nasa abroad. Alam mo, lahat sila nag-declare sa kanilang previous SALNs. Even Ambassador Padalhin.

WEBB: In their previous SALNs ah?

FGE: In their previous SALNs. Even Ambassador Padalhin, nakalagay dun kung magkano yung cash-on-hand n’ya na dollar at peso. Magkahiwalay ah. So it’s not true that nobody declares. People do declare if they have, especially those who are living abroad.

WEBB: Okay. So how much is your net worth?

FGE: Actually hindi ko maalala, Pinky. (Laughs)

WEBB: (Laughs) Kaya napunta tayo sa iba’t iba.

FGE: No, it’s the accountant that… It’s our accountant that does it so that it’s all based on documents, on ITR records and a reminder also of those who are filing SALN, your SALN should be a mirror image of your ITR. And people forget this always, their residence certificate, yung sedula nila, yung community tax certificate. Diba pag kumukuha ka ng sedula Pinky, yung iba nagbabayad, sampung piso lang yun. It should actually be based on the income you earned from the previous year. So kung magkano man ang binayaran mong ITR…

WEBB: Says who?

FGE: It’s in the law. Kung magkano man ang binayaran mong ITR, yun din dapat yung babayaran mong community tax certificate.

WEBB: Ganun ba yun?

FGE: It should be a mirror image.

WEBB: Ayan na oh, ninenerbyos na si Ron.

FGE: Because that would be a contrary declaration. Kung sampung piso lang ang binayad mo, ibig sabihin you’re not earning an income.

WEBB: Ako, I’ll pretend I didn’t understand that ah. (Laughs)

FGE: (Laughs)
               
WEBB: Well, anyway, very quickly, Sen. Chiz, on a last note, they say the problems of the chief justice isn’t over because of the possible investigation. Yung pagtuloy ng investigation ng Ombudsman. What can you say about this?

FGE: That is a natural consequence but I hope the Ombudsman will be fair and I hope, alam naman natin na nag-away sila, nagtawagan sila na sinungaling. But I am of the firm belief that the Ombudsman will overcome that and will treat this case fairly and just like any other case, the last thing we want, Pinky is for the impeachment decision of the Senate not to be the end of this all. The last thing we want is for it to continue at lalo pang lumaki yung problema.

WEBB: There is a clamor here. (Laughs)

FGE: (Laughs) Hindi. Hindi.

WEBB: There is a clamor here… Hindi ko pa nga natatanong, hindi na.

FGE: Clamor ba ang tawag dyan, iisa lang?

WEBB: Clamor. Kamusta daw ang lovelife mo?

FGE: Anong sabi ni Presidente Aquino? Coke Zero daw s’ya? Ako regular coke. (Laughs)

WEBB: (Laughs) Hindi nga? Can you say something more than that?

FGE: Regular coke nga ako.

WEBB: Sige ka, I’ll say something more. (Laughs) How is it so far? I mean, people know that, diba?

FGE: Katatapos pa lang ng impeachment, Pinky. Naubos lahat ng oras namin dun. (Laughs)

WEBB: Bakit, sa gabi, impeachment pa din iniisip mo?

FGE: Syempre, kailangan mong timbangin yung mga… (Laughs)

WEBB: (Laughs) Well, alright, Sen. Chiz Escudero thank you so much for coming this morning. You know, it’s done. After almost 5 months, 44 days, it’s over. And to tell you the truth, people, or even people I speak with are wondering where you’re gonna be voting. I mean, it’s flip-flopping in terms of, saan ba ‘to pupunta? Saan ba to papanig, etc.

FGE: Well because Pinky, it’s unfair. What’s unfair actually is for someone, for a senator-judge to have a decision even before the case was finished. Medyo mali naman yata yun. It’s more proper not to have a decision until it’s finally over.

WEBB: Right. Absolutely. Reserve your judgments after.

FGE: After you’ve heard everything.

WEBB: Alright, Sen. Chiz Escudero, thank you so much for visiting us here on Mornings.

FGE: Thank you.

WEBB: Good luck ah. (Laughs)

FGE: Magandang umaga po.
 -END-
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