Month: February 2017

Bam to continue working on priority measures with minority

Sen. Bam Aquino’s new role as member of the Senate minority will not prevent him from pursuing passage of laws that will uplift lives of the Filipino people.

“Though we have a new role as the minority, sisiguraduhin pa rin namin na maipapasa ang mga batas na makakabuti sa ating mga kababayan,” said Sen, Bam, who was stripped of the Committee on Education’s chairmanship and replaced by Sen. Chiz Escudero last Monday.

“Hindi maliit na bagay ang pagkawala ng chairmanship sa kumite ng edukasyon. I chose the committee because there were a number of reforms we wanted to push like free tuition in SUCs and feeding program in public schools,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam also thanked Sen. Escudero for committing to continue the work that he started on several priority measures.

Before he was replaced, Sen. Bam was spearheading the interpellation on two education-related measures — the Free Tuition Fees in SUCs Act and the Pagkaing Pinoy Para sa Batang Pinoy.

“Sen. Escudero agreed to let me work on my priority education bills until they become laws,” Sen. Bam said.

The senator also thanked Sen. Grace Poe for acknowledging the committee’s work during his stint as chairman. Poe is a staunch advocate of the Pagkaing Pinoy Para sa Batang Pinoy Act.

While some senators have stated that the Liberal Party has hampered work on the Senate’s legislative agenda, LP President Sen. Kiko Pangilinan asserted that 20 out of 29 bills close to being passed are defended by LP lawmakers.

 In the past 6 months, Sen. Bam has filed 118 bills and 26 resolutions, has sponsored 4 committee reports, and conducted committee hearings for 5 resolutions and 15 bills.

NEGOSYO, NOW NA!: Negosyong de-padyak

Mga kanegosyo, sa kagustuhang mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang pamilya, napilitan si Nanay Corazon Clave na sila’y iwan upang magtungo sa Lebanon at Dubai para magtrabaho.

Masaklap ang kapalaran ni Nanay Corazon sa kanyang naging mga amo sa Lebanon. Maliban sa pananakit, madalas pa siyang ikinukulong ng mga amo at hindi pinapakain sa tamang oras.

Ngunit natiis itong lahat ni Nanay Corazon para sa kapakanan ng pamilya. Nang matapos ang kontrata sa Lebanon, muli siyang sumugal at nagtungo naman ng Dubai.

Makalipas ang tatlong taon sa ibang bansa, nagbalik si Nanay Corazon dala ang kaunting naipon mula sa pagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa at ginamit sa pagpapatayo ng bahay para sa pamilya.

Upang may maitustos sa pangangailangan ng pamil­ya, nagtrabaho si Nanay Corazon bilang kasambahay sa isang pamilya sa Los Banos, Laguna sa loob ng limang taon.

***

Noong 2006, may nagsangla kay Nanay Corazon ng pedicab. Habang tinitingnan ang pedicab, nagka-ideya si Nanay Corazon na ipabiyahe ito sa kapitbahay para kumita habang hinihintay na matubos ng may-ari.

Makalipas ang ilang araw, napansin ni Nanay Corazon na mas malaki ang kita sa pedicab kung marami siyang unit na bumibiyahe.

Doon niya naisipang mangutang sa CARD ng pitong libong piso upang tuluyan nang mabili ang isinanlang pedicab at magdagdag ng lima pang unit.

Mismong mga kabaranggay ang kinuha nilang driver na nagbabayad sa kanila ng boundary na singkuwenta pesos kada araw.

 

Mula sa kanilang araw-araw na kita, bumili pa sila ng dagdag na unit hanggang sa ito’y umabot sa 30 pedicab.

***

Maliban dito, sinimulan din ni Nanay Corazon na magtanim ng ornamental plants sa bakanteng lote ng kanyang bahay.

Gamit ang puhunang P500, nagtanim si Nanay ng halamang melalone, sensation, pakpak-lawin at silog na pumatok naman sa mga taga-Los Banos at iba’t ibang bahagi pa ng Laguna.

Sa ngayon, nasa P600,000 na ang taunang kita ng kanilang negosyong pedicab at ornamental plants.

Balak ni Nanay Corazon na gamitin ang naipon upang magtayo ng maliit na grocery at panaderya para sa mga anak.

Hindi naging katuparan ang tagumpay ni Nanay Corazon kung wala ang tulong na ibinigay ng CARD-MRI, ang pinakamalaking microfinance institution sa bansa.

Nagpapautang ang CARD-MRI ng puhunan sa mga nais magsimula ng negosyo nang walang kola­teral at sa mababang interes.

Mayroon na silang iba’t ibang sangay sa Pilipinas, na makikita sa kanilang website na www.cardmri.com at www.cardbankph.com.

Bam on removal as committee chairman: Nasampolan kami!

Nasampolan kami!

 This was how Sen. Bam Aquino described the move to replace him as chairman of the Committee on Education and strip other Liberal Party (LP) members of their respective committees.

 “This is really a political move – a partisan move. Palagay ko nasampolan kami because we’ve been speaking out against certain policies like the death penalty. Tutol kami doon,” Sen. Bam said in a radio interview.

 “Iyong pagbaba ng age of criminal liability, iyong pagsuporta kay Senador De Lima at iyong pagpunta namin sa EDSA,” he added.

During the session, Sen. Bam manifested that “if this is the price to pay to show up on the streets of EDSA, talking about democracy, talking about the issues of  violence on our streets, I gladly pay that price”.

After he was removed as committee chairman, Sen. Bam manifested that the move had nothing to do with the performance of the Committee on Education, to which no senator objected to.

 “I chose the education committee because may plano kami, may reporma kaming gustong itinulak. Thankfully, Sen. Chiz Escudero seems to be intent in pushing the same reforms. But it’s not a light matter because you put a lot of effort, you work on these bills,” Sen. Bam said.

Before he was replaced by Sen. Chiz Escudero, Sen. Bam was spearheading the interpellation on two significant education bills – the Free Tuition Fees in SUCs Act and the Pagkaing Pinoy Para sa Batang Pinoy measure.

“We will support Senator Escudero when he finalizes these bills and hopefully gets a second and third reading. It was a pleasure being your Committee on Education chairman,” Sen. Bam told colleagues.

Transcript of Sen. Bam Aquino’s Media Interview after losing Chairmanship of the Committee on Education

Q: On move from majority to minority, and removal of committee chairmanships

 

Sen. Bam: Well, Joel, naririnig-rinig na rin namin ito kaninang hapon. Palagay ko, sabi ko nga kanina sa manifestation ko, hindi naman ito tungkol sa performance ng mga kumite kasi gumagana naman ang mga importanteng batas sa aming committees.

This is really a political move – a partisan move. Palagay ko, nasampolan kami because we’ve been very adamant about policies like the death penalty. Tutol kami doon. Iyong pagbaba ng age of criminal liability. Iyong pagsuporta kay Senator De Lima. Iyong pagpunta namin sa EDSA.

Iyong pagsabi namin na nakakabahala na iyong patayan sa ating bayan. Palagay ko, nasampolan kami ng Majority. But ganyan talaga ang pulitika. Dito sa Senado, bilangan ng boto iyan.

So, as I said earlier, if that is the price to pay for my independence, then so be it.  

 

***

Q: On removal of committee chairmanships

 

Sen. Bam: Well, usually kasi Joel, iyong pagtanggal mo sa kumite is based on performance. Kung hindi nagpe-perform iyong committee mo, doon ka usually tinatanggal. But in this case, it’s clearly political. Wala naman atang nag-object kung this is a political move.

Ganyan talaga. Ganyan talaga iyong buhay na napili namin but alam mo, noong sumama kami sa majority at sinuportahan namin si Senator Pimentel, isa lang naman iyong hiling namin, na manatiling independent ang Senado. Iyon lang naman ang hiningi namin sa kanya. Na susuporta kami sa mahalagang isyu sa ating bayan gaya ng sa Edukasyon, sa Agrikultura, sa iba’t-ibang bagay – allow for cooperation to happen sa iba’t-ibang polisiya. At sa ibang polisiya naman na tutol kami, hindi lang naman ang LP, ang iba sa amin tutol rin naman – ang payagan iyong debate at payagan iyong pakikipagsapalaran ng ideya. So, iyon naman iyong aming batayan sa pagsama sa majority.

Now, mukhang hindi na yata iyon tanggap at siguro talagang politically, kailangan pare-parehong silang gustong gawin, pare-parehong sabihin, then we respect that. At baka panahon na nga na sumama kami sa minority.

 

***

Q: On independence of Senate voting

 

Sen. Bam: Wala naman, Joel, pero hindi kasi ganyan sa Senado.

In the Senate kasi, bilang isang institution na known for its independence, iyong dynamics talaga dito, is that every senator, may karapatan magsalita at tumutol sa mga bagay-bagay na sa tingin niya o sa tingin niyo na hindi dapat mangyari. And that goes beyond majority and minority.

In fact, I would say, iyong botohan dito, palaging conscience vote. So, hindi kasi ganyan ang history ng Senado natin. In the Senate, may mga isyu, halu-halo iyong botohan diyan. Cross-party, cross-majority-minority. And iyon lang naman iyong hiniling namin kay Senator Pimentel noon, noong sumama kami sa majority, na manatiling independent ang ating Senado.

 

***

Q: On the minority numbers

 

Sen. Bam: Baka lima, baka maging anim. Sa totoo lang, hindi pa kami sigurado. Baka may mga movements pa rin. But most likely, five or six lang, Joel.

 

***

Q: On move from majority to minority, and removal of committee chairmanships

 

Sen. Bam: Well, alam mo, again, dito naman sa Senado, iyong mga batas na mahalaga sa taumbayan suportado naman iyan ng both the majority and the minority. So, iyong mahalagang batas, for example, iyong batas natin sa free higher education, iyong batas natin sa feeding program, nag-usap na rin kami ng bagong chairman at ng majority floor leader, ipagpapatuloy ko pa rin iyan kasi nasa kalagitnaan na iyan ng pagpasa.

I’ll continue that, and we’ll support iyong bagong Chairman ng Committee on Education natin, si Sen. Escudero.

Pero sa mga bagay na tingin natin tutol gaya ng death penalty at pagbaba ng age of criminal liability, siguro, bilang minority, kailangan na talagang tutulan at bigyan ng boses ang mga tumututol dito at panatiliin iyong debate dito sa Senado.

 

***

Q: On removal from the Senate majority

 

Sen. Bam: Palagay ko. Sabi ko nga mukhang nasampolan kami. When we joined the majority many months ago, sinabi ko na independent, ibig sabihin niyan, sa mga bagay na puwede tayo magtulungan gaya ng free higher education, ng feeding program para sa ating mga kabataan, pagpasa ng coco levy, tulong-tulong tayo.

Pero sa mga bagay-bagay na hindi tayo sumasang-ayon, payagan iyong debate, payagan iyong palitan ng kuro-kuro. That was our, iyon iyong aming deal, kumbaga sa pagsuporta sa mayorya noon. Ngayon na tinanggal na kami sa kumite palagay ko hindi na iyon ang gusto nila.

 

***

Q: Is this a warning not to go against the president?

Sen. Bam: I think klaro naman iyon. Kapag mamartsa ka sa EDSA at sasabihin mo na kailangang panatilihin ang demokrasya at kalayaan sa ating bayan ay sasampolan ka talaga. Iyon iyong nangyari sa amin.

***

Q: Si Sen Recto, party member siya, wala siyang sinasabi against the administration. Bakit siya ang pro-tempore?

Sen. Bam: Kailangan siya ang tanungin niyo tungkol diyan.

Ang masasabi ko lang, ang mga natanggal ngayon sa mga committee chairmanships, kami iyong nandoon noong Sabado – we were all present there. Sa mga interviews doon sinabi namin na mahalaga ang demokrasya sa ating bansa, mahalaga na may kabilang boses na pinakikinggan ang taong bayan dahil demokrasya tayo. Maybe because of that, after a few days, ayan natanggal na kami sa aming chairmanship

***

Q: Is it time na mag minority na kayo?

Sen. Bam: Here it is, alam mo naman dito sa Senate iba iba talaga ang botohan ditto, hindi siya laging minority-majority. In fact, pag dating sa death penalty halo-halo ang tutol dito.

 

***

Q: On an independent Senate

 

Sen. Bam: What we want to see is an independent senate, isang senado na independent sa pamumulitika, can go cross party pag kinakailangan, can support reform pag kinakailangan, at kung kinakailangan mag-debate, mag-dedebate. That’s always been what we wanted kaya sumama kami sa majority. But now that they’re taking us out, maybe, sa tingin ko ayaw na nila nun. They want to see a majority and minority along party lines.

 

***

Q: Did you have an inkling on this reorganization?

Sen. Bam: Earlier today may mga narinig kami. Narinig naming it might happen today.

 

***

Q: On losing the Chairmanship on the Committee on Education

 

Sen. Bam: Alam niyo, ang mga committees na iyan hindi lang naman iyan basta basta binibigay. I chose the education committee because may plano kami, may reporma kaming gustong itinulak.

Thankfully, Sen. Chiz Escudero seems to be intent in pushing the same reforms. But it’s not a light matter because you put a lot of effort, you work on these bills, iikot mo yan, hihingi ng suporta sa iba’t ibang sektor. These bills are important. Sa akin kahit wala ako sa majority, alam ko naman na itutuloy nila ang Free Higher Education Act at feeding program.

Pero rule of the majority ‘yan. Ganun talaga sa senado, kung kayo ang nakararami, kayo ang nasusunod. There’s no point crying foul about it because that’s really how things are here in the  Senate. Ganoon ang pulitika dito.

Initially, we joined the majority because we wanted an independent Senate. Iyon iyong pinaka-hiling namin kay Senate President Pimentel, sana manatiling independent ang ating Senado.

Pero ngayon na iyong mga tumututol sa iilang mga polisiya – hindi nga lahat ng mga polisiya – sa iba  pa lang ay tinatanggalan na ng chairmanship, sa tingin ko iba na talaga ang gusto nila mangyari.

 

***

Q: Sir, para bang nagiging rubber stamp iyong Senate?

 

Sen. Bam: I hope not. And, I think naman, my colleagues will not allow that. But it’s pretty clear that if you are vocal on some of the policies of the current administration, talagang may consequences iyon. At ito na nga ang consequences na iyan.

As I said earlier, kung ang kapalit ng pag-commemorate ng EDSA celebration, kung ang kapalit ng pagtutol sa patayan na nangyayari sa ating bansa ay matatanggalan ka ng kumite, eh di, I’d gladly pay that price.

 

Q: Do you see a stronger minority?

 

Sen. Bam: Well, the interesting thing is our stances on issues have not changed. We’re still against the death penalty, we’re still against the lowering of the age of criminal liability. We’re still in favor of a number of the bills that we’ve filed and a number of our colleagues are also in favor of that.

So palagay ko iyong major dito iyong chairmanships. But in terms of policies, I think it will roughly be the same.

Bam urges youth to register for SK polls

Sen. Bam Aquino encouraged the youth to go out and register for the Sangguniang Kabataan elections, which will be held simultaneously with the selection of new barangay officials on October 23, 2017.

 ​​The senator made the call after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported a low turnout of registrants, which number just 193,229 from January to February 10 this year.

​​The Comelec is eyeing six million new voters —two million regular-aged voters, and four million youth – before registration ends on April 29. The SK and barangay elections will be held on October 23, 2017.

​​“Now, more than ever, we must speak out, we must participate in electing our leaders,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Youth in the 16th Congress.

​​“Let’s not waste our vote​ and let’s make the most of the SK reforms we fought for in Congress,” added Sen. Bam, who pushed for passage of Republic Act No. 10742 or the SK Reform Act as co-author and co-sponsor in the 16th Congress.

​​The first legislation with an anti-dynasty provision, the SK Reform Act prohibits relatives of elected officials up to 2nd civil degree of consanguinity or affinity from seeking SK posts.

​​In addition, the law adjusts age limit of SK officials from 15-17 to 18-24 years old, making them legally capable of entering into contracts and be held accountable and liable for their actions.

​​Furthermore, SK officials will now be required to undergo leadership training programs to expose them to the best practices in governance and guide their development as leaders.

 ​​The new law also mandates the creation of the Local Youth Development Council (LYDC), a council that will support the SK and ensure the participation of more youth through youth organizations.

 ​The LYDC will be composed of representatives from the different youth organizations in the community – student councils, church and youth faith groups, youth-serving organizations, and community-based youth groups.

Bam: Have the PNP become hired guns of foreign syndicates?

Have the Philippine National Police (PNP) become guns for hire of foreign organized crime?

Sen. Bam wonders about this after Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre revealed links of a foreign mafia to the kidnapping and murder of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo.

 “Kung totoo po iyan, kailangan i-explore. Pero in this case ni Jee Ick Joo, ginamit nila iyong pulis natin. It’s not the case na mga Koreano iyong pumatay sa Koreano kundi mga pulis natin,” said Sen. Bam during the Senate committee on public order hearing on the kidnap/murder case.

 “Dalawa o tatlong pulis at isang civilian, according to his (SPO4 Roy Villegas) story na sumasang-ayong ang PNP, pinatay ang isang South Korean businessman sa kalagitnaan ng PNP,” he added.

Sen. Bam made the pronouncement after Aguirre claimed that he has received information that the businessman was kidnapped twice by the said mafia before being killed inside Camp Crame.

Senior Supt. Albert Ferro, director of the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (AIDG), supported Aguirre’s statement, saying only a transnational syndicate can recruit personnel from the PNP and NBI for their illegal operations.

During the hearing, Sen. Bam admonished Villegas for doing nothing while the South Korean was allegedly being strangled by SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel inside a parked car in Camp Crame.

 Villegas, for his part, admitted that he did not do anything to prevent the murder as he was earlier threatened by Sta. Isabel that something will happen to him.

 Sen. Bam also advised policemen who will be in the same situation as SPO4 Villegas to honor their oath to protect the citizentry.

 “Our police should honor their oath. When they are asked to murder, they should stop it, not allow it,” said Sen. Bam.

Bam: People Power belongs to the people

“People can celebrate EDSA People Power 1 in their own way to help keep its memory alive”.

This was Sen. Bam Aquino’s response to government’s plan to hold a quiet and simple ceremony in commemoration of the bloodless revolution’s 31st anniversary Saturday inside Camp Aguinaldo.

 “Ang celebration ng People Power ay nasa taumbayan. Hindi iyan pagmamay-ari ng isang tao o isang pamilya,” Sen. Bam stressed in a television interview.

 “That belongs to the people and it’s up to the people. Maraming iba’t-ibang mga bagay kung paano maaaring ipagdiwang ng taumbayan ang okasyon,” he added.

Sen. Bam said he respects the government’s decision to hold a simple celebration, saying it’s their prerogative.

 “I think government doing that move it’s probably the best move for them at this point, considering that President Duterte is also not attending,” said Sen. Bam.

 Meanwhile, Sen. Bam said the fight against corruption and threat to democracy remains, 31 years after the historic event that toppled the Marcos dictatorship.

“We’re still fighting against corruption. Marami pa ring mga nangyayaring hindi dapat mangyari pagdating sa korapsyon,” Sen. Bam said.

  “We’re fighting for democracy. We’re fighting for people to be able to speak up. Before, they were fighting for press freedom. Now, it’s freedom online – to be able to say what you want to say without being trolled,” he pointed out.

 Sen. Bam also stressed that dissent actually results in better policy, adding that exchange of ideas sometimes leads to better things.

 “We should allow for these democratic spaces, especially this week na inaalala natin ang EDSA,” the lawmaker said.

BIDA KA!: Ang pagdiriwang ng EDSA People Power

Mga Bida, gugunitain natin sa Sabado ang ika-31 anibersaryo ng EDSA People Power 1.

Sa halip na gawin sa nakasana­yang People Power Monument, gagawin ng pamahalaan ang pagdiriwang sa loob ng Camp ­Aguinaldo.

***

Para sa akin, iginagalang natin ang desisyong ito ng pamahalaan. Ito’y isang karapatan na hindi ­natin maaalis sa kanila.

Subalit hindi rin maaalis ng pamahalaan ang karapatan ng iba’t ibang grupo na magsagawa ng hiwalay na pagdiriwang para gunitain ang makasaysayang pangyayaring ito sa bansa.

Naniniwala ako na ang People Power ay para sa taumbayan at marapat lang na bigyan sila ng karapatan na ipagdiwang ito sa paraan na kanilang gusto.

Sa ngayon, may plano na ang February 25 Coalition ­para sa paggunita ng mapayapang rebolusyon na nagpatalsik sa diktaduryang Marcos.

Ang February 25 Coalition ay binubuo ng iba’t ibang grupo,­ kabilang ang mga biktima ng kalupitan noong ­martial law at millenials na mulat sa mga nangyari sa panahon ng diktadurya.

Magsisimula ang itinakdang rally ng February 25 ­Coalition sa Barangay White Plains sa Quezon City ­bandang alas-kuwatro ng hapon.

Susundan ito ng martsa patungong People Power Monument, kung saan madalas gawin ang pagdiriwang sa nakalipas na mga taon, para magsagawa ng programa.

 

***

Nag-iba man ang pamahalaan sa paraan ng pagdiriwang, hindi pa rin maaalis ang napakalaking ambag ng taumbayan­ sa tagumpay ng People Power 1.

Ito ang panahon na tumayo ang taumbayan at ipinakita ang kapangyarihan at lakas laban sa militar, sa mga opisyal­ ng pamahalaan at sa kapulisan.

Sa panahong iyon, tumayo ang taumbayan para sa ­demokrasya, tumayo tayo laban sa katiwalian at nanindigan tayo para sa mabuting pamamahala.

Ito ang yugto ng ating kasaysayan na nagawa natin ang bagay na tila imposible ng mga panahong iyon.

Ang tila matibay na pader ng diktadurya, nagiba ng sama-­samang puwersa ng milyun-milyong katao na dumags­a sa EDSA.

Ito ang bagay na dapat ipagmalaki at panatilihing buhay ng lahat ng Pilipino, sa kabila ng pagkakaiba ng ating mga pananaw at prinsipyo sa buhay.

Bam eyes students’ safety during field trips in probe

Are there tight guidelines to ensure our children’s safety?

Sen. Bam Aquino said this will be the main focus of the impending Senate probe on the bus accident that killed 15 people, including 13 students from Bestlink College, during a field trip in Tanay, Rizal.

 Sen. Bam has filed Senate Resolution No. 297, calling for an investigation into the accident, which also claimed the lives of a teacher and the bus driver.

 “We need to check the guidelines. Are there tight guidelines to make sure that our children are safe?” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education.

 “Gusto nating malaman how we can avoid these type of accidents. This is not the first accident na nangyari in a field trip na may namatay. Mayroon nang nangyaring ganito in the past,” he added.

The probe, which will be conducted jointly by the Committees on Education and Public Services, would determine if the students were coerced by the school to join the field trip in exchange for a passing grade.

 “We need to make sure that walang napilit.  Kailangan nating alamin ang katotohanan sa mga kuwento na na-threaten daw iyong mga bata na babagsak kung hindi sumama sa field trip,” the senator said.

 Sen. Bam said representatives from the Department of Education (DepEd) will also be invited to the hearing to discuss regulations regarding field trips in elementary and high schools.

 According to initial investigation, the students were en-route to a medical and survival training for their National Service Training Program subject when the bus lost its brakes while traversing a curved highway before hitting an electrical post.

Transcript of Sen. Bam’s Senate media interview

On field trip tragedy

 

Sen. Bam: Sumusuporta kami sa CHED at sa LTFRB sa kanilang imbestigasyon sa nangyaring trahedya.

 Alam ho natin napakahirap nito sa pamilya ng mga nasalanta. Our hearts go out to the families, especially the parents of the youth who were killed in this accident.

 Mahalagang maimbestigahan natin at malaman natin ang mga repormang gawin sa guidelines. Malaman din natin kung mandatory ba ito o voluntary nga ba talaga.

 We will support the investigation of CHED and LTFRB and we will be filing a resolution to look into the matter sa ating Committee on Education.

 Probably by next week or next, next week, gusto nating alamin, unang-una, kung ano talaga ang nagyari at kung anong reporma ang dapat gawin upang maging safe ang out-of-school activities sa ating kabataan.

Nagsabi na rin po ang CHED na ang mga waiver na iyan ay balewala. Gusto nating malaman kung ano talaga ang bisa ng waiver. But even with waivers, hindi ibig sabihin niyan, hindi mo na gagawing pangunahin iyong safety ng mga bata.

Gusto nating malaman ang patakaran diyan and also sa pagkakaroon ng field trips. We agree in general na mahalaga ang ganitong klaseng activities but it must be done in a safe environment na alam natin na ligtas ang mga kabataan natin.

 Hindi naman kami naghahanap kaagad-agad ng blame dito sa bagay na ito. Ang mas gusto nating tutukan ang reporma sa ating guidelines upang mas masiguro natin na hindi na maulit ang ganitong trahedya.

Alam niyo, naibalita po iyan na may threat na ibabagsak. Definitely, tutol po tayo diyan. Kahit anumang dagdag gastos na mga activities, dapat po talaga optional at hindi siya part ng iyong grado.

 Gusto po nating makita iyan at maimbestigahan. Again, the committee will support CHED and LTFRB in its investigation.

Hopefully makahanap tayo ng mas magandang guideline for the future habang alam ho natin, nakapasakit nito sa pamilya ng nasalanta, we also want to make sure the rest of the public na hindi ito mauulit.

 

On SPO3 Arthur Lascañas

 

Q: Narinig niyo ba iyong presscon tungkol kay Lascanas?

 

Sen. Bam: Well, a number of us have already said that we will support the Committee on Public Order. Susuportahan po natin si Senator Lacson sa kanyang pagdinig doon sa isyu na ito. And as I said in my statement previously, kailangan ipakita sa Senado na impartial kami at independent. Kailangan pong ipakita na transparent ang proseso at payagan ho natin na mangyari iyong hearing  and then from there we can see kung totoo nga ba iyong sinasabi ni SPO3 Lascañas.

 

Q: May nagsasabi na dapat siyang ma-charge ng perjury.

 

Sen. Bam: Palagay ko. Yes. Alam mo kung under oath ka, at nagsabi ka ng isang bagay tapos binaliktad mo, you are liable for perjury.

So yes, under oath, sasabihin niya na nagsinungaling siya then, yes, he is liable for perjury.

But sa palagay ko ngayon, that’s the least of his concerns. Kasi umaamin siya sa murder. Umaamin siya sa mas mabibigat na mga bagay. Hindi lang sa perjury. Kumbaga, kung umaamin ka na sa pagpatay ng napakaraming tao, iyong pag-amin mo sa perjury, palagay ko, maliit na bagay na lang.

 

Q: Iyong pag-amin niya Sir, so how about iyong credibility niya?

 

Sen. Bam: Iyon iyong kailangan nating malaman. Tayo naman dito, sanay sa imbestigasyon. We can tell kung ang isang tao ay credible o hindi. We’ve had hearings on the BI, the Bureau of Immigration cases. We’ve had hearings on the Jee Ick Joo cases. Sa bawat hearing may mga nagsasalita and it’s up to the senators, the media and the public to determine kung totoo nga iyong sinasabi ng tao o hindi. Many times, kino-call-out namin kapag nagsisinungaling. But there are a few times kapag palagay na namin, nagsasabi ng totoo, kino-call-out din namin na mukhang totoo.                       

 

On Andanar’s allegations of paid media

 

Sen. Bam: Well, alam mo, let’s begin with the USD 1,000. Kayo kaharap ko kayo mga Senate media, ni isa sa inyo may nagsabi na may nag-offer ng USD 1,000.

Wala naman, di ba?  Wala.

So palagay ko mahalaga na i-check ni Sec. Andanar ang kanyang sources kasi baka nalilinlang din siya. Baka iyong kanyang source mismo, misinformation ang pinanggagalingan kaya tuloy nagsasabi siya ng mga bagay-bagay na hindi naman totoo.

Oo, sinabi nga niya na walang tumanggap pero kahit iyong offer man lang. Ni isa sa mga tao dito nagsabi na totoo iyon. At mahalaga na i-call-out natin iyan kasi hindi naman rin tama na kung anu-ano lang iyong sasabihin.

Sasabihin may intelligence report o may source pero wala namang nag-ve-verify. Wala namang sumasang-ayon sa report na iyon.

 So, palagay ko po iyong source mismo ang nagsabi na may offer. Wala namang nangyari talaga. Baka iyong source na iyon ang nagsabi na may destabilization plot sa Sabado na palagay ko, hindi rin iyon totoo.

 

On Andanar’s refusal to apologize to Senate media

 

Q: Iyong refusal, Sir, to apologize…

Sen. Bam: Well, alam mo, iyong… kami naman dito whether elected or appointed officials, sometimes nagkakamali talaga. At kapag nagkakamali ka, dapat aminin mo rin na nagkamali ka. Mag-apologize ka.

Iyong pagsabi kasi na may nag-offer ng USD 1,000 sa media dito sa Senate, it casts a doubt on the integrity of the whole PRIB, lahat kayo dito.

At alam kong masakit iyon. Nag-statement na kayo. Nagsabi na rin kayo wala naman talaga nag-offer.

Palagay ko, what Sec. Andanar can do is to check his sources. I-double-check niya instead of casting doubt on the media and the opposition, check his sources.

And kung malaman niya na talagang wala namang ganoong offer, talagang huwag na siyang maniwala sa source niya. And mag-apologize siya sa senate media.

 

Q: I-reveal na lang niya iyong source niya?

 

Sen. Bam: Well, iyan ang panawagan ng ilan sa inyo dito na i-reveal na lang niya iyong source para malaman natin kung pinupulitika ba iyong mga gawain dito sa Senado o hindi.                       

 

On Sen. De Lima’s call for Cabinet to declare Duterte unfit 

 

Q: Do you agree for them to go as far as that?

 

Sen. Bam: Well, that’s really up to them. Sa kanila iyan. I doubt that will happen because the Cabinet is the family of the President, kung tutuusin pero more than the officials, mas mahalaga kaysa sa amin na mga opisyales ang taumbayan dapat iyong magsalita doon.

Nakakatakot talaga considering na anraming patayan na nangyayari sa ating bansa. Maraming intimidation at harassment na nangyayari online and offline. Pero ang mahalaga espsecially now na inaalala natin ang panahon na tumayo at tumindig ang taumbayan na huwag nating kalimutan, that’s part of the Filipino fabric. Iyong magsabi, magsalita, tumindig kapag may mga bagay-bagay na sa tingin natin mali naman. 

 

On February 25 “ouster” plot

 

Sen. Bam: Well, alam mo, iyan naman iyong dati nang linya ng ating administrasyon kapag tumututol ka kahit sa iilang mga polisiya. Pinapalabas na plotter ka. In fact, maraming beses, napagbintangan na rin ang aming partido niyan.

But kailangan siguro nilang ihiwalay. Ano iyong destabilization plot, ano iyong part of the democratic process.

Palagay ko kasi, baka hindi sanay na may tumututol sa mga polisiya na hinahain nila sa taumbayan.

 We have a lot of policies na mabibigat na dinidiscuss ngayon. Iyong death penalty, iyong lowering the age of criminal liability, iyong ating constitutional changes.. At palagay ko, iyong ating Senate needs to fulfil its role in history na maging lugar kung saan may debate, may talakayan, may pakikipag-usap sa mga tao na iba ang pananaw.

And again, hindi dahil tumututol ka sa mga polisiya, agad-agad ay nanggugulo ka.

This is part of our democratic process. Kailangan pangalagaan natin iyong espasyo na lahat sa atin dito kayang magsabi ng gusto nating sabihin, na hindi tayo na-ha-harass at hindi tayo nababansagan na coup plotter tayo. 

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