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BAMBA "Manny"
Nacionalista Party
State of health: No major surgery; blood pressure taken Feb. 14: 120/80
State of affairs:
I’ve been a lawmaker since 1992 and I can say that I have a pretty good understanding of our
law.
Economic advisers-I have quite a lot. Romy Bernardo, Felix Medalla. I respect Pepe Diokno I
read a lot of articles, Fortune, Economist.
Foreign affairs? Lauro Baja. Ambassadors, I talk to them a lot. Garry Laurel.
Security/peace and order, politics, legal matters, media/public relations, health, education,
environment? No one person
Legal advisers: I don’t need them. You consult 100 lawyers, you get 100 answers. Depende na
lang sa issue.
Media? Many
How do you intend to repay campaign donors, or recoup your personal investments in your
campaign? No need to recoup, my family has enough.
What role will the first lady play in your administration? It’s up to her.
Economy/trade/finance
Which economic sector would you focus on? Agricultural because only for reasons one 70% of
our poor people are in agriculture.
Which sectors should remain protected or subsidized, or liberalized?
In reducing loses we have to work on entities like NFA. I’m not saying I’ll abolish the NFA, I’m
just saying that you have to redefine the role of the NFA.
I’m very confident that we can be sufficient. Repair the existing irrigation system.
India, China – because Chinese have entrepreneurial sense. I want to develop an entrepreneurial
revolution.
For so long as the standard is the same with developed countries, I have no problem.
How do you bring down power cost and boost energy security?
Attract more foreign investments in power. We have to remove the cartel, if there is, and
welcome all investors.
Is OFW deployment a problem or a boon? Both at this time. Investments must be lured to
create jobs and bring back most of our workers.
Are you in favor of further easing bank secrecy laws to improve fight against money
laundering? Just implement the existing laws
Foreign affairs
Which country do you consider as RP’s most important ally? Which country should be a
closer ally? Is China a threat, a challenge, a friend? China and US, US and China, it’s a
balancing act.
What is your policy toward Myanmar? Will RP be a champion of human rights on the
global stage? We can stand for human rights but if you have to strengthen ASEAN you must
also respect the views of the other members.
What will RP ties with the US be like under your administration: We have a foreign policy
of fear. That should be removed. Whether you are US or China, hindi ako natatakot dyan.
Environment
What are your short-term / long-term plans to deal with the kind of flooding brought by
Ondoy and Pepeng?
Clear the waterways in entire Metro Manila.Dredging. Relocation. Plant trees. Reforestation.
Tap the NPA to have a plausible working arrangement with them for reforestation. Be results
oriented.
I will be very, very aggressive in this area.I have planted more than a million trees in my
lifetime.It’s a win-win situation because it will generate employment and is the cheapest way of
beautifying the countryside.
We are victims here. The developed countries are the ones responsible for this. We have no
choice except to participate in the efforts to stop global warming. We can seek carbon credits.
We should tap the private sector... address global warming and address our economic problem. I
want to be more aggressive on this.
Human rights
How do you stop the murders of left-wing militants/journalists? Modernize our Armed
Forces and the PNP, strengthen them so that they can do their jobs and make it clear that we will
not be tolerating human rights abuses.
How do you promote respect for human rights in the AFP/PNP? Leadership. The President
must be respected by the AFP and the PNP. The President should also address their concerns.
Once you have done that it will be easy for them to understand your instructions.
Should economic rights take precedence over civil liberties? Do we have too much
freedom? Is democracy working for RP?
There is no need I don’t see any conflicts on this e. Sa tingin ko, as we improve the lives of our
people, as we move economically, much better pa ang protection of civil liberties. Because nag-
iimprove na, we will be able to increase the salaries of the police, of the teachers, the salaries of
the judges, and modernize our police and etc. On the contrary, complementary sila.
Hindi naman. Magulo lang talaga tayo. We thrive in chaos. This all boils down to
leadership. That’s why if your leadership is not felt, then either you impose martial law or you
explode. A strong leader need not impose martial law to impose order. If there is no natural
leadership, you have to buy everybody, you have to buy the local governments with projects, you
have to buy the congressman so that you will not be impeached.
Is the RP press irresponsible? Do you feel that you’ve been treated fairly by mass media?
Hindi naman.
If you’re going to do it now, I’m against it. If you’re going to do it during the next term of the
president, I have no problem with it.
Well, I’m indifferent whether its constitutional convention or constituent assembly provided it’s
done properly. This idea of not including the Senate, I’m against it.
I don’t believe that economic provisions of the constitution are the things stopping the growth of
our economy. We can grow despite these provisions. But if the people want it changed, amend
this constitution, di ako masyadong strong ang feeling.
Federalism/decentralization
What is important is the leader. It’s not the system. To me, parliamentary system itself is not bad.
Presidential system is not bad. What is important is what the people want.
Reproductive Health bill: Against it only because I believe it should not be put into law.
Bahala na ang tao kung ano gusto nila gawin. I always view population not as a liability. To me,
if the country is managed well, in a-competent manner, in fact a big population would be a way
in which we could be a great nation.
Gay rights/gay marriage: Human rights are important but divisive matters are not a priority.
National security
How do you intend to bring peace to Mindanao? Strengthen the Armed Forces. Improve the
Human Development Index. Continue the peace process.
What’s your policy toward communist rebels? The problem of the NPA can be solved through
economic development.
Are you in favor of a fixed term for the AFP chief? A longer term
How important is US military aid to Philippine national security? With which other
countries should RP have closer military alliances?
We have to review this. Are we really getting enough? At the end of the day, national interest
should be are primordial interest.
When the political leadership betrays the public trust, should the military intervene?
Who will define it? There will always be a group of people who will say that the President is
violating public trust? We have to be careful about this. As much as possible I would go with the
side of stability.
How do you stop corruption in the PNP/AFP? Transparency in public bidding, among others.
Education needs additional funding. We go for gold. Universities should compete with the best
in the world. Address low literacy rate.
Which particular area will you focus on? Are you in favor of additional years in grade
school and high school? Free universal kindergarten? We should add an additional year in
grade school. I will focus on primary education.
How do you improve English proficiency, and how important is it in raising national
competitiveness? I agree that English should be made a medium of instruction.
Will arts and culture be a priority in your administration? Yes. To me we are losing our
soul. It does not take too much to develop and improve arts and culture in the country.
Health care
What are your priorities in improving public health care? Health is crying for reforms.
Priority should also focus on medicines. Modernize equipment. Free healthcare to our people.
How do you keep our doctors, nurses and other health professionals home?
Build more hospitals on government land. Doctors should be pulled out of the salary
standardization law.
Judiciary
What the president did, has been doing, is pinakialaman yung judiciary, pinakialaman ang
legislative habang siya ang executive.
Should GMA appoint the next chief justice, and will you respect the appointment?
The next president should appoint the next chief justice. But if President Arroyo does, I will toss
it to the Supreme Court.
Will you prosecute GMA for corruption? Leave it to the judicial system
Marcos wealth? Finish all the pending cases. Settlement possible. PCGG may have to be
abolished.