UGNAYAN SA BATASAN FORUM HELD AT HOR MEDIA ROOM ON

NOVEMBER 24, 2015 AT 11:43 A.M.

PRESENT:
HON. CAROL JAYNE B. LOPEZ
HON. DAN S. FERNANDEZ
HON. ALFREDO D. VARGAS III
HON. BARRY GUTIERREZ
HON. XAVIER JESUS XJ ROMUALDO

At 11:43 a.m., the Ugnayan sa Batasan forum was called to order.

MODERATOR. Sige start na tayo. Pero baga tayo mag-ask ng question,
may kaunting pakiusap lang tayo sa ating mga kasama sa media. Kasi nagprovide na po ng mga stenographers para ho sa ano natin--iyong transcript ng
forum ay clear na makuha sa recording nila, paki gamit na lamang po ng mike.
May mike po tayo diyan, both sides, meron po tayong tig-isang mike.

And

please, nire-request nila, nang ating mga stenographers, na kung maaari ay iidentify po muna nating iyong ating pangalan para clear pong maano. At mag-

raise na lang po ng kamay para hindi ho tayo patung-patong o nagsasabaysabay, para ho sa recording na rin ng ating forum.
So, thank you very much sa mga stenographers natin, Plenary po ito, mga
Plenary stenographers ito, namely:

Lourdes Boo,

Antonino Crescini, Arceli

Cabanos, Amelita Fabroa, Fe Careso and Ariel Benipayo. Thank you very much
po sa inyo. (Applause)
Okay, let us start now the forum, our guests, mga kaibigan, wala pa ho
iyong isa.

But isa hong spokesperson ng coalition ng Daaang Matuwid,

Congressman Barry Gutierrez is present, Congresswoman Carol Jayne Lopez of

Party-List YACAP, sila po iyong mga anak ni Mar, kasama si Congressman Dan
Fernandez, First District of Laguna; Congressman Alfred Vargas, Fifth District,
Quezon City and Congressman XJ Romualdo from the Lone District of Camiguin.
So, tamang-tama ho iyan, we have two lawyers here, ano po, isang bar
topnotcher pa ito, so, we can ask questions, legal questions, especially sa case
po ni Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
Sino pong gustong mag-ask ng first question. Kindly raise your hands.
Kung wala ako na lang. O sige.
MR. PACPACO. Good morning, Mam, Sirs, I am Ryan Pacpaco from
Peoples Tonight .
Tanong ko lang po, how will the position of the President affect the
presidential campaign of Secretary Roxas in connection with his opposition for

the passage of proposed Tax Reduction. Si Secretary Mar, alam ko open ho

doon, di ba?
REP. GUTIERREZ. Well, from the start naman, malinaw naman iyong
explanation namin dito, na iyong position ni Presidente is really one of, well, not
really opposition completely to yong proposals, pero an insistence na if there is
going to be a reduction in taxes, kailangan magkaroon ng corresponding
pagbabawas noong

P30 billion na mawawala because of the imminent tax

reduction. So, hes actually looking for a more comprehensive solution bago siya
magbukas doon sa usapan ng taxes.
Ang posisyon kasi namin, from the start, we are open to it but ganoon din,
there is actuallythere is a need to actually take a look at the entire proposal.
But we are willing to explore even iyon isang mas piecemeal na approach to the
subject matter. Na-explain na iyon several times ni Congressman Quimbo, who
is actually one of the proponents of the tax reform measure.
And just for the record and to make it very, very clear, si Secretary Mar
has always been consistently for reduction of taxes. In 2004 when he was
elected to the Senate, he was actually the first Senator na nagtulak na
magkaroon ng full exemption for minimum wage earners. That is now a law. So,
the minimum wage--the exemption from taxes being enjoyed by minimum wage
earners right now is actually a direct result of the bill that Secretary Mar filed
when he was actually elected senator in 2004.

So, maraming nagsasabi sa mga ibat ibang mga tao ngayon, taxes dapat
ibaba, dapat bawasan, sinasakyan na iyong issue. But among all the candidates
na nagsasabi niyan, si Secretary Mar lang ang mayroon ng talagang malinaw
na track record on reduction of taxes. And I think that should speak louder than
any claim that the current candidates are actually making on the issue of income
tax reduction.
REP. FERNANDEZ. Saka dadagdagan ko iyon, kasi baka nalilito ang
mga taumbayan. Kasi sinasabi ng taumbayan na parang ayaw ng gobyerno na
ibaba natin iyong buwis lalo na doon sa mga minimum wage earners natin. Baka
hindi nalalaman ng ating taumbayan last August po ang Finance Department
under Secretary Cesar Purisima submitted to the Congress nong reduction,
actually exemption noong P1 million earner a year na tax exempted. Iyon nga
lang meron siyang additional proposal na i-increase iyong ating VAT from 12% to
14%. That was submitted to Congress. At iyon ang pinagdebatehan natin sa
committee. At ang naging desisyon nga ng Congress ay iyong mga P180,000
below will be exempted from tax rates. At apat na bracket iyon, if I am not
mistaken, kumbaga iyongP180,000 to P500,000 will be having a tax rate of
seven percent (7%) at iyong P5 million yata is 17 percent.
So, in other words, meron presumption na gusto ng gobyerno at ng
Kongreso na ibaba iyong buwis ng ating mga mamamayan. Iyon nga lang siguro
iyong mga naninira sa gobyerno ay ang mina-maximize nila ay iyong ayaw, ayaw
ng Pangulo o ayaw ng gobyerno na ibaba natin iyong ating tax rate. But in

reality, the President have said na saan kasi kukuning revenue, di ba mawawala,
so, magkakaroon na naman tayo ng deficit. Tapos ang mangyayari ia-adjust
natin iyong ating VAT. Pero ang sinasabi naman namin dito sa Kongreso iyong
mawawalang loss of revenue ay mama-maximize naman by spending it noong
magiging take home ng atin pong mga taxpayers na nabawasan iyong kanilang
buwis.
So, this is under study right now. At siguro bigyan natin ng panahon and
the right time siguro ay mapapagtugma-tugma po natin ang lahat.
REPORTER 1. When is the right time?
REP. FERNANDEZ. Well, the President is studying it right now, and at the
same time, iyong ating pong partido aydarating sa panahon na talagang
kailangan na nating bawasan, kasi nga po iyong atin pongsinasabi nga ni
Senator Sonny Angara na iyon atin pong sinusunod na buwis ay 19 years na.
Ganoon na katagal iyong ating pagbabayad natin ng buwis natin. So, sa palagay
po namin ay ito na iyong tamang panahon para ayusin na po iyong atin pong tax
rates.
MODERATOR. Any follow-up question related sa taxation?
Yes, Sir.
REP. REPORTER 1. Now, when is the right time, di ba? And besides,
why should Congress kowtow to what Malacaang says, di ba?
Congress should be an independent body.

I mean,

REP. GUTIERREZ. Congress is continuing the discussions. That has

been very, very clear from iyong statements ni Speaker Belmonte and ni Senate
President Drilon. That has been very, very clear from iyong positions of the
proponents, si Senator Angara saka si Congressman Quimbo sa House of
Representatives.
So, the discussion is ongoing.

But obviously, in any discussion of

amendment of laws, particularly a law as important as taxation which is the

lifeblood of government, hindi naman namin puwedeng iwalang bahala iyong
inputs ng Executive, particularly the President and his economic team headed by,
right now, si Secretary Purisima.
So, the discussion is ongoing.

That is very, very clear.

Kaya nga

nagtataka ako, bakit iyong mga ibang mga kandidato na miyembro naman ng
Legislature, imbes na mag-engage doon sa ganoong venue, e, daldal ng daldal
sa media, sinasakyan iyong issue.
Ang tanong ko sa kanila, sino ba ang unang nagtulak nitong partikular na
issue na ito to begin with? Sa Senado, it was Senator Angara who is with the
Administration Coalition.

Sa Congress, it is Congressman Quimbo who is a

spokesperson for the Ang Daang Matuwid Coalition.

So, kita natin kung sino talaga iyong sinserong nagtutulak, sinusubukang
magkaroon ng maayos na proposal, na ultimately makakapagbaba ng buwis
without necessarily impacting on the capacity of government to provide essential
services. At kita natin kung sino iyong sinasakyan lang iyong issue purely for

electoral and political purposes dahil pumutok na itong mga issue at mayroon
nang mga nauna sa kanila.
REP. LOPEZ (C.J.). And if I may add, Freddie, no, kasi makikita mo ito,
itong mga tinatawag ninyong anak ni Mar. Halos lahat kami, if not all, are for the
reduction. So, it says a lot, di ba?
Hindi kami sumusunod lang sa kung ano ang statements ng Malacaang,
we have our own positions. And lahat itong mga position namin, we confer with
our candidate.
So, ang laking bagay nito na we engage ourselves in discussions, and we
are making steps para isulong ang bill na ito.
So,

hindi

ito

basta

pa-pogi

points

lang,

hindi

ito

dahil

lang

nangangampanya, ito ay talagang matibay na stance ng aming candidate at ng

mga anak ni Mar.
REPORTER 1. Just one final question. Is it doable now in this Congress?
REP. GUTIERREZ. What?
REPORTER 1. Is it doable in this Congress? Because, di baI mean,
you have a problem with the quorum, and then, after the Christmas break you
have only about nine or 12 session days left in the calendar.
REP. LOPEZ (C.J.). I do not think it is a question of support, but it is a
question of quorum.
REPORTER 1. But, is it doable? Is it doable? Can you do it?

REP. LOPEZ (C.J.). I think so. Maging optimistic tayo. I think everything
is still doable at this point.
REP. VARGAS . I will just answer directly the question of Ryan.
I think it should not affect the campaign of Secretary Mar Roxas, and I do
not think it will, as long as malaman lang ng tao, makita lang ng tao iyong track
record ni Mar Roxas, and makikita that he is open to it, and his record with speak
for itself na he is a very progressive thinker, he is a technocrat, at sa tingin natin
he canmalinaw namandapat lang malinaw talaga sa tao iyong stand ni Team
Mar at iyong track record niya na nagpapakita na iyong dinedepensahan niya,
iyong mga manggagawa talaga.
REP. FERNANDEZ. Saka iyong credit ratings updates natin. Napakataas
noong rating natin e. Bakit kamo? Kasi iyong ating deficit, we were able to
manage this rightly e in proportion to our GDP. Nagawa iyon ng ating Pangulo.
REP. FERNANDEZ.

Nagawa iyon ng ating Pangulo.

Actually,

naiintindihan ko din ang Pangulo doon kaya ayaw niyang magbaba or kaya
pinag-aaralan ngayon. Kasi nga kung magkakaroon tayo ng deficit, hindi ba,
pangit sa pananaw noongbaka bumaba ulit iyong ating credit ratings eh, kaya
iyon ang pinoproteksyonan ng ating Presidente. Kaya, he said that this is all
under study, kaya we just have to wait. Kasi nasa democratic system tayo ng
gobyerno.
MODERATOR. RG, please.

MR. CRUZ. To anyone in the panel, is it hard for Secretary Roxas to

actually approach the President, tell him, Hey, this is actually a good idea.
Maybe, here is a solution. Ito siguro, puwede nating kunin dito iyong pampuno.
Mayroon bang idea si Secretary Mar at inilapit niya na ba kay Pangulong Aquino
ito para naman magbago siya ng kaunti ng isip?
MODERATOR. Anyone in the panel?
REP. LOPEZ (C.J.). Well, its not hard for him to approach anyone, even
the President. Si Secretary Mar, as far as I know him, very ano iyan, he will deal
with any situation, head-on, so ilang times na din nilang na-discuss iyan with
other officials. At gaya nga ng nasabi, unang-una pa lang ay naghain na siya ng
panukala na para i-exempt ang taxes ng mahihirap, at ginawa niya itong batas.
So, ito ngayon, he has been having so many talks with the President, as
far as I know, regarding this. Hindi siya tumitigil.
MR. CRUZ. Bakit hindi niya makumbinsi si Pangulo? Because, right now,
you know, Secretary Roxas is not yet President, he still has to defer to the
Presidents word, and since he is hoping to succeed him, baka naman mayroon
siyang puwedeng sabihin sa Pangulo para naman makumbinsi siya.
REP. LOPEZ (C.J.). Lets leave it sa kanilang dalawa na lang, sa kanilang
pag-uusap. Economist si Secretary Mar at alam niya naman kung paano niya
makukumbinsi ang Presidente, siguro hindi pa lang ang tamang panahon ngayon
para harapin nila iyan. But I am sure, if and when the time comes that it is

Secretary Mars turn to become President, I am sure, I am confident to say,

maraming magbabago when it comes to our taxation.
MR. CRUZ. So, is it better if we just wait for him to be President?
REP. LOPEZ.

No, what I am saying is, President Aquino is still the

President right now. So, Secretary Mar is not even a Secretary right now, he can
only say his views and thoughts in computations and whatever, so he is deferring
to the decision of the President. So, kapag time na ni Mar Roxas na maging
Presidente, I am confident to say, maraming magbabago. So, hindi pa lang niya
time kasi ngayon. So let us respect that.
REP. GUTIERREZ. No, I think very clear naman that he has made his
position known to the President. He has expressed iyong kaniyang perspective
on the issue of taxes. But at the end of the day, admittedly, he is not a member
of the Cabinet right now. Iyong relasyon nila is one which is purely personal, sila
ay magkaibigan. He has no official position in the government. And even when
he was with DILG, he was head of the Department of the Interior and Local
Government but he was not a member of the economic cluster. Kahit papaano,
we have to expect that the President will principally listen to the Cabinet
members who are part of the economic cluster on this position. So, definitely,
mayroon silang personal relationship, sila ay close, but at the end of the day,
iyong advice ni Secretary Mar kay Presidente is the advice of a learned friend. It
is not the advice of your official Secretary of Finance or your official head of the
Central Bank or your official head of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. So, I think,

10

that we should bear that in mind and also respect iyong dynamics na iyon that
happened withiniyong official relationships of the President to his close-in
economic advisers.
REP. LOPEZ (C.J.). But, let us not forget that when he was Senator may
ginawa talaga siyang concrete steps. And, likewise, kami bilang mga incumbent
Congressmen, may ginagawa rin kaming steps. So, respetuhin lang natin din
iyong mga posisyon at kakayahan sa bawat posisyon ng isat isa sa atin.
MODERATOR. Lyra, please.
REP. FERNANDEZ.

Saka, let us not forget that Mar Roxas is a

Presidential candidate right now and any movement from him, na talking to the
President about lowering the taxes, might be construed by the people that it is a
political gimmick. Kaya siguro kung gagawin ni Mar Roxas iyon, na kausapin
ang Presidente in his own capacity, siguro huwag na lang i-blow up or sila na
lang siguro ang nag-uusap. Kasi, otherwise, it will be construed as a gimmick for
the administration party.
MR. ABANDO. But dont you think that, you know, I mean Secretary
Roxas, you said, he is not a part of the economic team when he was a member
of the of the Cabinet. But let us remember that he was a working graduate and
he was a DTI Secretary and so I dont know the logic of what you are saying and
number two is, I mean you were saying about, Congressman Fernandez was
saying that, I think as a personal friend of the President, I think he is in the best

11

position to tell the President exactly, because you are talking of the national
interest not the interest of just one, hindi ba.
REP. FERNANDEZ. That is very true. Iyon nga lang ang problem natin
the Mar Roxas, we have to differentiate the friendship and his position now as an
ordinary citizen of this country, hindi na siya kasama sa Kabinete. Katulad ng
sinabi ni Barry Gutierrrez na si Mar Roxas is now outside the Cabinet members.
So, the best that Mar Roxas can do is try to talk to the President as a friend at
iyong concern niya para po sa pagbabawas ng buwis ng ating bansa, ng ating
mga mamamayan.
MODERATOR. Okay. Let us recognize, Lira, please. Lira, paki pasa
lang, please, the microphone.
MISS LYRA. Iyong allies po ni Presidente or kayo, may efforts po ba kayo
to convince the President to change his mind about the? Everybody.
REP. FERNANDEZ. Kasi we did our share as a Member of this Congress.
All of us have approved iyong bill natin, lowering the tax rate of our people.
Unfortunately, sinasabi nga sa news that this was rejected by the Palace. But in
reality the Palace is studying this proposal of ours. So, kami dito ang aming
position dito sa Congress ay for lowering the taxes. So, in a way siguro hindi na
namin kailangan pang mag-exert ng extra effort to tell the President dahil nga we
are a separate entity, we are a separate Body from Malacaang. So, what we
did in approving the said bill is tantamount on saying to the Executive department

12

that this is our view and this is our decision.

So, it is up to the Executive

department to decide on their own also.

MODERATOR. Before we discuss politics, Sir, question ko lang, follow-up
lang diyan. We all know that Speaker Belmonte and Senate President Drillon ay
nag-effort na to talk to the President and mukhang walang clear na answer
talaga sa Presidente bilang isang Legislative Body na sinasabing indepent sa
Executive department, kaya niyo ba na ipasa iyong Tax Reform Bill na iyan
without the basbas of the President?
REP. GUTIERREZ. Definitely, kaya ng Congress ipasa iyong bill kung
gusto talaga ng Congress but at the same time may relationship naman talaga
ang Executive and ang Legislative. Even for example, if we pass it, ipapasa na
pero ayaw talaga ng Executive puwede naman nilang i-veto, so wala din. That
is why it is very important also that we work together at may consensus between
the Executive and the Legislative with regard to tax reform.
MODERATOR.

Anyway, mamaya-maya Okay.

Paulo.

darating

naman si, hahabol si Congressman Miro Quimbo, siya naman ang Chairman ng
Ways and Means, part talaga siya ng panel. Okay, let us talk now the politics.
Sir, eto si Mayor Duterte of Davao, finally, ay nag-declare na na he will run for
President.

Tamang-tama

mayroon tayong dalawang Mindanaons dito,

Congressman Romualdo and Congresswoman Lopez. Ang sabi ng mga political

analysis, malaking pagbabago ngayon sa mga ratings ng mga declared
presidentiables or mga presidentiables. Ano sa tingin ninyo, may epekto ba ito

13

kay Senator Mar, kay Secretary Mar, considering po na siya po ang inyong
kandidato?
REP. ROMUALDO. Well, sa tingin ko iyong possible candidacy of Mayor
Duterte has always been parang in play pagdating sa surveys, pagdating sa mga
analysis kasi hindi ba pagdating sa surveys palagi namang nandoon ang name
niya, palagi namang lumalabas. So, I think now, parang he was always treated
as a candidate even before. So even now, ngayon na nag-declare na siya, I
dont think may major changes naman and iyong sa isyu ng Mindanaoans
whether may magsi-shift ng support, sa tingin namin hindi talaga, kasi, for me
hindi naman kami parang regionalistic basta na may candidate na from our place
automatic na i-su-support namin. We always look at the qualifications and kung
sino iyong pinaka-capable talaga, and we believe that it is Secretary Mar. So, I
do not think na may ganoong regionalistic na thing na may mangyayari. So, I
think, he has always been treated as a candidate, iyong mga analysis, iyong mga
survey is always there. So, I do not think it would make a very big difference
pagdating ngayon na nag-officially na nag-declare na siya.
REP. LOPEZ (C.J.). Congressman Romualdo is from Mindanao, I am
from Mindanao and we are both for Mar Roxas. So, Davao City is not the entire
Mindanao, it is not the entire 82 provinces, so it is just one area or one region. If
it will make a dent, as he has said, we have always treated Mayor Duterte as one
of the candidate, so walang major effect din naman iyon sa amin.
REP. FERNANDEZ. Ako, pwede akong magtanong?

14

Can he still run? Iyon ang tanong. Kasi, ako, I am looking sa Rappler, ito
ngayon, nakita ko iyong certificate of candidacy niya, ni Dio, well, nakalagay
talaga, talagang he is running for Mayor ng Pasay City, so ang daming
complication. Well, with all due respect, pero parang papaano mo ikocomprehend itong finayl niya na it will set a bad precedent naman siguro. I am
not a lawyer and I cannot speak well on this but I am sure na kapag ito in-allow
ito ng Comelec, halimbawa, ako gusto kong tumakbo ng Senator, magfa-file
muna ako ng ano ko pwede kong i-substitute pagdating ng panahon, pero I will
still file my candidacy as Mayor of Sta. Rosa City. Baka lahat nalang ng tao
ganoon ang gawin and then you choose on the right time para tumakbong
substitute ka. I think hindi naman tayo ano rito para magpa-bebe tayo na tipo
bang lagi na lamang titingnan natin iyong aksyon niya na lagi tayo sa huli magfafile. I think this is not right and we have to set itwe are under the rule of law
and we have to follow the law, di ba?
REP. VARGAZ, Sa akin, for me, hindi talaga makakaapekto ng malaki
iyan, kasi judging from what I feel sa area at saka sa pag-ikot namin nationwide,
iyong ranking, o iyong ratings ni Secretary Mar, solid iyon, iyong mga boto niya
na mayroon siya ngayon, solid iyon, hindi soft iyon, hindi lang basta-basta out of
popularity na pwedeng mag-burst iyong bubble ng basta-basta. Ito, solid itong
mga botante niya, mga tunay na naniniwala and madaling ma-sway in the long
run iyong mga undecided pa. And, sa tingin ko mase-sway at mako-convince din

15

na in the near future iyong mga tao na ito may plataporma, ito may malinis na
track record, at dito kay Mar, ay maganda talaga iyong plano.
REP. FERNANDEZ. Magdadagdag din ako doon, kasi additional, may
tanong uli ako, ilan taon bang naging Mayor si Mayor Duterte? Ilang taon siya
naging Mayor? Twenty-two years, di ba? Naging Congressman pa siya, tapos
naging Vice-Mayor pa siya, ako bigyan mo ako ng kalahati lang ng term niya, 10
taon, dodoblihin ko ang nangyari sa Davao City. What I am trying to say here,
hindi tingnan lang natin, tingnan lang natin. Kasi, that the President was given
six years, wala pang anim na taon, but we are comparing Davao City to the
Philippines, di ba? Like Malaysia, ang Malaysia, di ba ang Malaysia si Mahathir
bin Mohamad, he served 22 years at under his Party, iyong UMNO, they served
for like 50 years, tuloy-tuloy, seven Prime Minister na ang nanggaling sa UMNO.
Now we are talking about Philippines, six years. Singapore, si Lee Kuan Yew,
how many years siya nag-serve sa Singapore, siya ang first Prime Minister ng
Singapore, from, I think, 1959 to 1991, 31 years siyang nagsilbi bilang Prime
Minister, tapos ang nanalo lahat doon is under the People Action Party. For 60
years sina Lee Kuan Yew, nabago nila, they made Singapore from a third-world
country to a first-world country. And now, we are talking about Philippines, six
years, di ba? Ako, tingin ko po ang pagsisilbi po sa bayan ay tatlong quality ang
kailangan: Unang-una, 10 percent, good intention, 40 percent policy and program
and 50 percent, iyong will and mandate of the people.

16

Now, Davao City, gumanda ang Davao City, not because of him, not
because of him, the reason why Davao City is right now, kasi binigyan natin siya
ng mahabang panahon para maglingkod sa Davao City. At sa 20 taon, ibigay po
ninyo sa Liberal Party, we will convert this country from a developing nation to a
developed nation. Magiging number one po tayo. Iyon nga lang po, kailangan
po natin ng panahon.

Ang Singapore, ang Malaysia, well, ang Brunei is a

monarchy, but they were able to make Brunei what it is right now.
REPORTER. Sir, you are saying that Mayor Duterte is underperformer
and that the Comelec should disqualify him on the basis of baseless substitution?
REP. FERNANDEZ. Okay, sa akin, ano iyong tanong mo.
REPORTER. Iyong pagiging underperformer, parang nakukulangan ka pa
REP. FERNANDEZ. No, no, not underperformer, nagkataon lamang that
Mayor Duterte was given 20 years of serving the Davao City. Ako nga, bigyan
mo ako ng 10 taon, pagagandahin ko ang ano e, iyong Sta. Rosa o
pagagandahin ko ang Davao e. Kasi, ako, ito ang challenge ko sa iyo, bigyan
mo ng tatlong taon si Mayor Duterte, mapapaganda niya ba ang Davao City?
Ako, I have nothing against Mayor Duterte, I love the guy dahil magaling siya, but
the problem is, sa pagsisilbi sa isang bayan, kailangan mayroong quality o
mayroong qualification. Kailangan, sama-sama po iyong good intention, good
program and policy, and the intent and the will of the people, iyon ang nagkataon
na mayroon si Mayor Duterte, na hindi natin pa naibibigay sa Liberal Party. Six
years, and we are talking about the whole Philippines, aba, my God, I mean,

17

kulang, bigyan ninyo ng pagkakataon ang Liberal Party to show that we can do it
also. If he can do it in Davao, we can do it in the Philippines. Were not talking
about Mar Roxas. Were not talking about the personality of Mar Roxas. Were
talking about his good intention, the partys good intention, the program and
policy, and the support of the people.
REPORTER. Sir, aasahan ba namin iyan sa Sta. Rosa?
REP. FERNANDEZ. Aasahan po natin iyan sa siyudad ng Sta. Rosa.
(Laughter)
MR. CRUZ (RG). Sir, so, how many years do you need for thedoes the
LP need para maging progressive ang Pilipinas, I mean, Ferdinand Marcos
served for 20 years, so, you need more time than President Marcos?
REP. VARGAS. Well, according to Economics, kailangan ma-sustain itong
growth na ito for 20 years.

So, naka-six years na tayo, and you know, the

international ranking associations or organizations, maganda na po iyong

nasimulan, and itong six years na ito, let us admit it, may narrating naman talaga
iyong Pilipinas at maganda talaga nasimulan and
MR. CRUZ (RG). So, LP lang po ang mabuti para sa Pilipinas?
REP. VARGAS. No, its forthis is a democracy. So, ang ipinaglalaban
lang po namin dito, ang sinasabi namin, maganda itong programang sinimulan,
and sayang naman kung hindi ito ipagpapatuloy ng itong programang ito mismo.
And sa panahon po ngayon, maraming nagsasabi na maraming nagkicriticize kasi alam ninyo naman iyong panahon ngayon, hindi po ba? So, siguro,

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sa pahanon din ngayon, sabihin natin, let us ask the voters, na siguro, makapagisip-isip din tayo ng maayos, kasi iba na ito, political season na, election season
na, so, kahit ano, kahit anong maliliit na bagay ay ibinabato sa gobyerno, sa
katunayan, bugbog na bugbog na nga iyong administrasyon sa mga criticisms,
but still, but still, napakaganda ng nagawa, and itong huling halimbawa, itong
APEC, ay ang ganda ng mga resulta, pero ang naha-highlight, iyong mga maliliit
na bagay na hindi naman talaga natin maasahan dahil wala namang perpekto.
MODERATOR. Paolo, and after Paolo, si Sammy, paki-ano lang ng mic.
MR. PAOLO. Sir, for Mayor Dan Fernandez. Sir, so, you are saying that
he is not an underperformer, he is in fact, qualified, but he is also overrated
because of the long time,
REP. FERNANDEZ. Yes.
MR. PAOLO. ... the long chance that he is
REP. FERNANDEZ. Yes, yes. Kasi ako, bigyan mo ako ng 10 taon,
pagagandahin ko ang isang bayan e. I mean, iyon na nga iyong qualification of a
good leader, it is time, the support of the people, and your policy and program.
Dito sa pagtakbo ni Mar Roxas, huwag na po nating tingnan si Mar Roxas,
tingnan po natin iyong good intention, tingnan po natin iyong polisiya ng
gobyerno, at tingnan din po natin iyong length of time. Six years is not enough
for good President, but six years is badis too much for a bad President.
Kaya, sana po bigyan natin ng pagkakataon, hindi si Mar Roxas, bigyan
po natin ng pagkakataon iyong sinimulan ng daan na matuwid.

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Kasi, ang totoo niyan, ang magandang campaigner namin ay si Mayor

Duterte. Bakit? Kasi pinakita niya iyong mahabang serbisyo sa bayan with good
intention, with good program and policy, it works. Kung nagawa niya sa Davao,
magagawa sa Pilipinas. Pero, it doesnt mean, it doesnt follow na iyong tao, ang
dapat iyong programa, iyong good intention and the support of the people.
MR. PAUELO ROMERO. Sir, I justtoit may be a bad comparison, but
just in case you want to answer, the accomplishments of Secretary Mar, former
Secretary Mar, is way better than the Mayor. I mean, if you compare his national
offices, being a Senator and him, just a mayor, I mean, iyong just ko is just for
comparison. Is that
REP. FERNANDEZ. Comparison of what? That the good secretary has
done in a
MR. PAUELO ROMERO. Yes. Yes, I mean, he is a better, he is much,
compared to Mayor Duterte, he is obviously.
REP. FERNANDEZ.

Much, much better.

MR. PAUELO ROMERO.

Yes, I mean, accomplished more than the

Mayor in 2002, 20 or so years in Davao, right, is that ?

REP. FERNANDEZ. No, no, no, I am not saying that kasiwhat I am
trying to say is that our party, the Liberal Party, we have a policy and program
that we wanted to follow.
MR. PAULO ROMERO. Yes, sir.
REP. FERNANDEZ. Hindi ba?

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MR. PAULO ROMERO. Definitely.

REP. FERNANDEZ. And then, we have a heart and intention to do that.
Nowngayon, bigyan mo ng mahabang panahon ng pagseserbisyo ang
isang magaling na panunungkulan, may mararating ang bansang Pilipinas. So,
what we are trying to say that, iyong nagawa po ni Secretary as a DILG
Secretary, as a Secretary of Transportation, hindi po iyon ang comparison kasi
iba po iyong ginagawang programat polisiya ng Liberal Party at saka iyong
ginagawa niya bilang Secretary ng isang departamento.
MODERATOR. Okay. Sammy and the next is Charlie.
MR. SAMMY. Kay Congressman Dan, kasi nabanggit kanina ni Cong.
Dan iyong legality noong kay Duterte. Gusto kong madinig naman from a legal
personality, ni Cong. Barry at saka ni Cong. Romualdo, kung ano iyong nakikita
nilang hurdle doon sa problema ni Duterte na ifinayl niyang candidacy noong
kanyang papalitan, supposed to be, itong si Mr. Dio, eh, Mayor ng Pasay City.
Ano iyong possible na nakikita ninyo bilang mga lawyers?
REP. ROMUALDO. Well, over the last few days, may mga lumabas na na
legal luminaries on the issue of substitution, possible substitution of Mayor
Duterte, and they raised valid points. Sa nakikita nga namin, parang magiging
mas complicated pa ito or as complicate or possibly, even more complicated than
the case of Senator Poe.
So, the issue is whether he can validly substitute. The problem is, iyong
nag-file, iyong, supposed to be na isa-substitute na, although iyong form, well, I

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havent seen it and we have seenwell, iyon nakita ni Cong. Dan kanina iyong
form.

WeI havent seen it, pero, based on reports, iyong form says, for

President, but iyong finill-up, which is I think more indicative of the intention of the
candidate is for Mayor of Pasay City; but that complicates things, so, the
candidacy is for Mayor of Pasay City. So, but then iyong substitute, gustong
mag-substitute for President. So, Comelec has to resolve that and I think certain
people have already spoken about itI think magkakaroon talaga ng challenge
iyan when Mayor Duterte does substitute.
So it will beit is a tricky legal issue, I think.
REP. GUTTIEREZ. Well, ganito lang naman iyon. Clear naman iyong
ating rules on substitution and one of the major requirements, in fact, probably,
the most important requirement for a substitution is that the person being
substituted has actually filed a valid certificate of candidacy. Iyon iyong point.
And right now, that seems to be the big question: Valid ba iyong pag-file ni Dio
given that there are some, well, questionable parts noong kanyang COC? Hindi
din clear kung Comelec is going to consider him a qualified candidate at hindi
siya magfa-fall under, lets say, the rule on nuisance candidates, and so on. So,
that has to be resolved first.
REP. GUTIERREZ.

we can even talk about

the validity of the

substitution, we have to talk about the validity of the candidacy of Dio, the
person who is sought to be substituted.

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But of course, at the end of the day, lahat naman ng ito hindi naman kami
ang magdedesisyon e, ang magdedesisyon nito ay iyong Commission on
Elections. So, if and when Mayor Duterte, finally, officially files his appropriate
papers before the Comelec, seeking to substitute for the candidacy of Dio, then,
that will be the appropriate time for the duly empowered Body, which is the
Commission on Elections, to make iyong determination of the validity.
REPORTER 1. Will he run for President?
Well, no, he is a candidate for Mayor of Davao, dahil alam ko iyon ang
pinayl niyang COC, but he is not a candidate for President. He has announced
his intention but that intention has to be translated into: one, an actual filing
before the Comelec; and two, the Comelecs favorable ruling on his application
for substitution.
REPORTER ARCHIE. Kay Cong. Dan Fernandez. You said na Duterte
was able to transform Davao to what it is now, kasi, dahil nabigyan siya ng
opportunity to serve for such a very long time. Are you saying we should give a
term limit for officials?
REP. FERNANDEZ. We have term limits naman e.
REPORTER ARCHIE. Hindi, kaya nga, kasi kulang iyong ano e, sabi mo,
kulang iyong six years e, at sa
REP. FERNANDEZ. No, no, we dont look like
REPORTER ARCHIE. local officials
REP. FERNANDEZ. Yes, yes, I understand.

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REPORTER ARCHIE. three times three is nine years lang, e you are
asking for 10 years sa Sta. Rosa.
REP. FERNANDEZ. I understand your question. Pero we dont look at
the personality of a person running for presidential position.

Kasi nami-

misconstrued tayo na kailangan pahabain natin iyong posisyon ng Presidente for

the longest time. Like in Malaysia, 22 years si Mahathir di ba? Tapos, sinundan
siya noong kaniyang anointed one, parang si Lee Kuan Yew, 31 years siyang
nagsilbi. Tapos, iyong anointed one niya follows, si Prime Minister, I think, Goh
e. Then, after Goh, iyong anak naman ni Lee Kuan Yew served for 14 years.
So, in other words, 56 years iyon, straight, under one party, The People Action
Party.

Sa Malaysia, under the UMNO, the United Malayan National

Organization.
Here, sa Pilipinas, we have a President who is serving for six years di ba,
under the Liberal Party, pero matatapos iyong termino niya di ba? So, we have
to change the President, but we dont change the policy and program.
So, ipagpatuloy natin iyong programa ng Liberal Party for another twelve
years, then we will be somebody someday. Of course, Mar Roxas will pursue the
same program and policy. So, that is why we have to let the people decide.
Kaya nga sabi ko sa iyo tatlo ang qualifications e. One, good intention for 10%;
40%, iyong policy and program; and 50% the willingness of the people to support
it. Without 50%, hindi mo maipagpapatuloy iyong magandang programa.

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So, we need the three qualities to have what Malaysia and Singapore
have right now. Kailangan po natin continuity of policy and program, and at the
same time good intention and the will of the people.
REPORTER DEL ROSARIO. Mayor, mataas din yata ang drug problem
sa Sta. Rosa, gagayahin mo ba iyong mga ginawa ni Duterte?
REP. FERNANDEZ. Patayin natin iyan.
REPORTER DEL ROSARIO. Sino ang papatayin mo?
REP. FERNANDEZ. Patayin natin iyong ating mga kahirapan ng ating
bayan, pero huwag nating patayin iyong mga iyon.
REPORTER DEL ROSARIO. Hindi, iyong drug problem nga. Ang ginawa
ni Duterte, tipong aminado naman siya, na nawawala iyong mga drug pusher, e
gagawin mo ba iyon sa Sta. Rosa sakaling maging mayor ka?
REP. FERNANDEZ. Ako, actually, hindi ko makita kung rethorics iyon or
may truthfulness on the statement of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, pero it works. Sa
Davao pag sinabi niya, pag ikaw nag-addict ka diyan, putang ina mo, papatayin
kita. (Laughter) Hindi, well, nag-work out iyon. Pero we really doesnt know
kung talagang totoong pinapatay niya o hindi. Those are scripts under his own
direction. So, if ever na ako, Ill be elected as Mayor, I can do that also di ba?
Hoy, ikaw, pusher ka, putang ina mo, papatayin kita. Di ba? Pero, maaari din
naman pong hindi gawin di ba?
REPORTER DEL ROSARIO. Pero sa Davao Sir, namamatay talaga e.
REP. FERNANDEZ. Ha?

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REPORTER DEL ROSARIO. Namamatay talaga sa Davao.

REP. FERNANDEZ. E, iyon ang hindi ko alam. Pero
REPORTER WILLY.

Question lang po baka sakaling alam ninyo.

Nabalitaan ninyong nakipag-meeting daw kanina si Secretary Mar sa pamunuan

ng INC?
REP. GUTIERREZ. Wala kaming alam tungkol diyan. Off the record, wala
kaming alam tungkol diyan.
The press conference was adjourned at 12:25 p.m.

Noted by:

DR. CELINE MARIE F. BUENCAMINO

Director
Media Affairs and Public Relations Service

Transcription of Notes courtesy of Plenary Support Service stenographers

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