* Paquito Ochoa Jr., executive secretary, who is Aquino’s long time confidante and former administrator of Quezon City.
* Alberto Romulo, Foreign Affairs
* Cesar Purisima, Finance
* Leila de Lima, Justice, chair of the Commission on Human Rights under the Arroyo administration
* Voltaire Gazmin, Defense, who was chief of the Presidential Security Group under the Corazon Aquino administration
* Armin Luistro, Education, president and chancellor of De La Salle University who is very close to the Aquino family
* Florencio “Butch” Abad, Budget, who was former Batanes congressman and Education secretary of the Arroyo government. Abad also served as campaign manager for Aquino in the May elections.
* Cayetano Paderanga Jr., director general of the National Economic Development Authority, who had served as Monetary Board member and socioeconomic planning chief under the Corazon Aquino administration.
* Proceso Alcala, Agriculture. Alcala was a former congressman of Quezon province.
* Ramon Paje, Environment. Paje served as DENR secretary.
* Jose “Ping” de Jesus, Transportation and Communication, who is president and chief operating officer of Meralco.
* Rosalinda Baldoz, Labor, administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration under the Arroyo government
* Enrique Ona, Health, director of the National Kidney Institute.
* Alberto Lim, Tourism, executive director of the Makati Buisness Club.
* Gregory Domingo, Trade. He served as DTI undersecretary and managing head of the Board of Investments between 2002 and 2004. He was also executive director of SM Investments Corp. and vice chairman of Belle Corp. before his DTI appointment.
* Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, Social Welfare secretary, the post she once held under the Arroyo administration.
* Mario Montejo, Department of Science and Technology, who was with Water Fun, an amusement park. Aquino said the Filipino technology used in the park like slides and waves was an invention of Montejo and his team.
* Jose Rene Almendras, Energy, who is working for Manila Water.
* Rogelio Singson, Public Works, former chair of the Bases Conversion Authority.
* Virgilio de los Reyes, Agrarian Reform, vice dean of the College of Law and a teacher of Business Law in the MBA program of DLSU.
* Teresita “Ging” Deles, presidential peace adviser
* Julia Abad, chief of the Presidential Management staff, who served as Aquino’s Senate chief of staff and is a daughter of Butch Abad.
* Edwin Lacierda, presidential spokesman.
* Eduardo de Mesa, presidential legal counsel, who has been one of Aquino’s lawyers since 1998.
* Patricia Licuanan, Commission on Higher Education, who is president of Miriam College. Licuanan is also very active in women issues serving as the Philippines’ representative, then vice chairwoman and eventually chair of the Conference on the Status of Women during the 1995 World Conference on Women held in Beijing. She also served as the trustee of the Center for Asia-Pacific Women in Politics.
* Kim Jacinto-Henares as head of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Henares was a former BIR executive.
Transcipt of the press conference:
Aquino: Sorry na-delay na-traffic sa EDSA I had to wait for Cabinet members to be present. I promised you we will formalize everybody’s nomination:
Executive secretary : Atty. Paquito M. Ochoa Jr. Jojo has been helping me out I’m not a lawyer, he has helped me out in understanding the law and the intricacies of the law ever since I started in public office.
Our relationship stretches back on a 2nd-generation basis already. Both our parents were allies in the LP, have been consistent allies all throughout our lives. He has given me the most sound advice on somany matters pertaining to my work as legislator. Therefore I’m very confident his role as the guardian of my back, he’s more than qualified.
Department of Foreign Affairs: Alberto Romulo who graciously consented to retaining his position. And we are very fortunate to have him as a senior member of the Cabinet.
Department of Finance: Former Sec. and sec-designate Cesar Purisima. I think his credentials speak for himself. But most of these people their credentials speak for themselves.
Department of Justice : Leila M. de Lima. I am very sure you are familiar with the quality of her work. As you know, the judicial is a very important portion of our platform and again we are very fortunate to get her to consent to carrying the burden primarily for judicial reform in our country.
Department of National Defense: Ret. Lt. Gen. Voltaire Gazmin, perhaps one of the key people for giving me the opportunity to be present before you because he took good care of us during the numerous coup attempts during my mom’sincumbency, as well as his continuous dedication to the Filipinopeople in this very abnormal situation we find our country in.
Department of Education: educator, Christian brother, Fr. Armin Luistro of DLS system,and coming from the Ateneo de Manila University I think it already speaks highly of the qualifications of Bro. Armin that I begged him to join the Cabinet.
Department of Budget Management: will have as its head my mentor obviously older than me.
Florencio Abad. He has been a 5-time congressman, I’m only a 3-term congressman therefore he’s more senior. The budget is the enabler of all of our policy decisions. We believe he is the best person at the present time to assist us in judiciously spending the people’s funds to help him and help us.
National Economic and Development Authority: Cayetano W. Paderanga Jr. and we will have a NEDA that will give us sound advice due to economic considerations and not political considerations.
Department of Agriculture: which we hope to be a main agent for the job generation aspect of our platform we have Rep. Proceso V. Alcala (Quezon). Among his work is agriculture primarily based in his district. One of innovations is to enable farmers in his district to have a centralized market were buyers and farmers enjoined to dealing with each other directly bereft of middlemen, increase profits of farmers and dropping prices for consumers. He has been heavily involved in environmental concerns within and without Quezon, organic farming and so many aspects of agriculture have been the advocacies of Rep. and Sec-designate Alcala.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources: Usec. Ramon Paje who graciously agreed to serve as Secretary of Natural Resources.
Department of Transportation and Communication: Jose de Jesus. As you know he served under my mother’s Cabinet both as Secretary to the Cabinet and one of the most if not the most hardworking members of my mother’s Cabinet. As SPWH he used to sleep 3 hours a day to make sure government projects are done on a timely and correct manner, his only luxury was a 5-hour rest period during Sundays. First assignment is to make sure he sleeps more than 3 hours a day because he is a work-driven individual who will oversee the transformation of DOTC characterized by the NBN ZTE deal into an agency that truly serves the interests of the people.
Department of Labor and Employment: Usec. Rosalinda Baldoz. She used to head the POEA among other agencies. Her concentration also is with the workings of NLRC, which we believe is an adjunct of her agency under DOLE in need of very strong reforms. We find in her the capability to make this agency truly responsive to the needs of the working man.
Department of Health : director of National Kidney Institute , Enrique T. Ona, who will head DOH. In our interview we saw in him the potential to become a complete alter-ego, especially given the fact that health agenda is No. 3 on our platform. And he has been given instructions specifically with regard toexpediting universal coverage of PhilHealth, one of our campaign promises.
Department of Tourism: Alberto Lim. He has been involved in various business endeavors to include the setting up of El Nido and Amanpulo. Daming details ito. Bottom line: Tourism is seen as one of the key venues for increasing jobs in the country. We need someone who has proven competence in this field. Hopefully in the not too distant future we will have as aggressive and successful campaign as what Thailand has been doing in this country with regards visits by Filipinos to Thailand. From present 3m tourists every year this will exponentially grow to the growth of both upstream and downstream industries for tourism.
Department of Trade and Industry : Gregory L. Domingo, served in that capacity as Usec for (Board)of Investments. Presently exe dir SM Investments Corp., international trade law and business law lecturer, MBA program, DLSU. Ganoon kami ka-unifying, kailangan saklawin natin lahat. Trade obviously especially in areas like EU where we have very uneven trade relations, we see the DTI portfolio as very essential, to be manned by a very competent individual who will foster the necessary trade and investments in the country that will lead to the fulfillment of the first part of our platform, which is job generation.
Department of Social Welfare and Development: most closely guarded secret, Corazon Juliano-Soliman, who needs no introduction.
Department of Science and Trade: Dr. Mario G. Montejo, a man of numerous titles, meaning so many degrees. He is a person I have known for the past few years, actually few decades. Among the inventions his companies set up, they were a group of academicians who decided they wanted to make their studies more practically. They set up a corporation to translate scientific studies into practical technology and applied technology for the countrymen.
Among the inventions they did was … filters which we previously we imported from Australia to the tune of 80%. In inventing not only the design they also invented machinery to produce all these filters. If you are familiar with the water amusement park Water Fun, the first that featured slides, waves, etc, that was Filipino technology, Dr. Montejo and team’s effort. None of it was licensed from abroad. This was Filipino designed, enhanced, experimented, etc.
We expect him at helm of DOST to provide the backup. Any other agency would propose especially if it concerns technical considerations be it the creation of a dam, provisions of IT services, to include capability of Phivolcs and Pagasa we would want an agency that can evaluate completely the proposals they will be presenting to us. The current practice is to ask the proponent to justify the proposal he is already proposing and to evaluate the proposal which I think is counterproductive. So DOST under Dr. Montejo a real partner as an agent of change for our country.
Department of Energy: Jose Rene Almendras. He is to my right, I knew him since college days. He is a very good friend of mine presently with Manila Water. His main training has to be with finance. Portfolio of DOE is obviously we want somebody who is not part of the industry inasmuch as there will be a lot of dealings with the industry. We do not want to fall into a trap of regulatory capture. He has his proven competence in the various firms he had headed and worked for, enables him to handle the DOE which is primarily a finance-heavy sector and component of our Cabinet. Therefore we believe he is the best candidate to fulfill the mandate of the department as well as to be free from regulatory capture.
Department of Public Works and Highway: returning to public service Rogelio Singson, very extensive CV. I don’t think he is a stranger to most of us. It is coincidental he is presently with Maynilad. Hopefully our water utility sector will not suffer with the absence of these two.
Department of Agrarian Reform: Virgilio R. delos Reyes. His task and I have to reinstate ..I met him first at the interview I was very impressed with the knowledge he possessed with regards to the problems pertaining to the … which unfortunately have not been covered by Pagcor. Hopefully he will help us craft amendments to make sure the … is able to fulfill its primary mandate of empowering farmer beneficiaries throughout the country.
Peace process: second most closely guarded secret, Teresita Deles.
Presidential Management Staff: I have been served faithfully ever since I became senator about 3 years today by the Hon. Julia Abad. She has undergone numerous schoolings. But more than that she has my absolute trust having run my office. If I have been able to do anything within the Senate it is because of her I think she possesses 80% of the brain I am holding.
Presidential Spokesman: Edwin Lacierda. Has been will be and hopefully will always be.
Pres Legal Counsel: Eduardo de Mesa, one of the first lawyers when I took upon public service in 1998.
Commission on Higher Education: Dr. Patricia Licuanan. She will as her primary mission rectify the current situation where the government agency tasked to oversee higher educational institutions seems to be sleeping on the job especially as an example in nursing school profession. We have over 40 institutions who had not had a single board passer for quite a long time. She will now refocus CHED, that it serves the interest of the people rather than institutions that have no right to set up courses they are not competent in teaching.
Bureau of Internal Revenue: Atty. Kim Jacinto Henares. Kim has been functioning in effect as secretary to the Cabinet in all the policy briefings that I have been subjected to. She has been very effective in coming out with answers to a lot of the questions in my rushed preparations for this presidential campaign. More importantly it is through her and the BOC commissioner we have yet to designate where we hope to recover efficiency first demonstrated by the Ramos admin and give us the needed revenues together with SOF without resorting unnecessarily to new taxes
Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines: Maj. Gen. Ric David
Philippine National police: Wait for PNP Chief Jesus Verzosa’s retirement Dec. 25, 2010.
Department of Interior and Local Government: candidates still pending. Pending the choice I will take the portfolio of DILG and hopefully I can relinquish it to one of the 2 candidates (note: corrected himself later to three) in the very near future hopefully by next week.
Technical Education and Skills Developmetn Authority: I am just making sure the person I nominated and talked to on several occasions, there is a question if he has been informed officially. So he may be shocked by hearing it in the news. I will make sure I’ll call him this afternoon.
Press Secretary: We’re transforming that office into the Communications Group, which handles not only workings with the press but also is the main avenue for feedback with our constituents. We are still in the process of organizing this particular office. The meeting I came from was organizing that particular office. We only tackled Cabinet positions. There are already … 25
Bureau of Customs: still evaluating the candidates present
Chief of Staff: For now PMS will act as chief of staff
Commission on Information and Communication Technology: Below Cabinet and there is a debate whether to transform it into a department. There is pending measure in the legislature transforming CICT into a department level position.
Q-nd-A
Q: (???)
A: There may be a few. Presently in my mind, 1, out of 25 political appointees currently available, one
Q: Retired generals
A: I think I stated publicly that being a person from either the military or the police services who has by workings of law forced to retire at 56 for there to be a DQ I think it is an erroneous policy. If the person who the state has trained extensively for practically 20 to 30 years of their lives and are at the peak of their performance if the state can still retain their services and if the people can
benefit, they should be given that opportunity
Q: (???)
A: First I can work with them, which means we have the same viewpoint on a lot of issues especially those that will be tackled by their respective departments. So that’s first. Then we went through
extensive questioning with a lot of them. What baggage are they bringing if any? If there’s no derogatory report beyond texting that has come to our attention that should disqualify them
Q: PNP Chief?
A: PNP chief, I publicly stated we will wait for Gen. Verzosa’s retirement Dec. 25 this year
Q: Clue to who the DILG candidates are
A: Both of them are local government officials. I’m sorry I have to correct myself, it’s not only 2, there are 3 of them. Each has a particular set of pluses and minuses. We are also trying, some of them have multiple roles that they can fill. And it’s my fault, I still have to make a decision, I didn’t talk to them until after I got proclaimed. We’re still not that confident of choosing which of the 3
Q: Who is frontrunner?
A: That would be a disservice
Q: Robredo
A: There are 3. I didn’t confirm Robredo as part of the 3
Q: 1 of nominees in DILG is Binay?
A: I did not offer the post to him. And he clarified he didn’t seek the post also. He was only asked if he had a choice, which would he have chosen
Q: So Binay not included in Cabinet?
A: You have to ask VP Binay. I didn’t ask him and he didn’t accept any of the positions I offered him. And I asked him at the end of the conversation please think about it. He has not gotten back to me so I assume he has not changed his position
Q: You have NSA, are you bothered by criticisms you are retaining some of PGMA men
A: Kung ganoon ang pananaw siguro dapat isisante natin ang buong bureaucracy dahil nagtrabaho silang lahat kay Gng. Arroyo mali siguro pananaw yan. Kung walang issue ginawa ang tao nagkataon nagsilbi doon, I don’t think Sec. de Jesus will mind., Sec. De Jesus started government service during the Marcos administration. When he served my mother, if I were to give out awards at that point in time, he would be No. 1 on the list or very close to No. 1 on the list of people deserving the best performing award. If we adopted the rule anyone who served under Marcos would be automatically disqualified our country would have been deprived of the services of de Jesus. Can I point out
that when he accepted DPWH portfolio he was responsible for the flyovers at that point in time greatly reduced traffic. He had so many criticisms leveled at him, had so many cases filed at him by losing bidders. It took him until the middle of PFVR term to finish all those cases so I am really fortunate someone as industrious and produced so many results has consented to helping me out again
Q: Speech update?
A: At present time I’m human and yearning to make it better. I am still working on my speech for tomorrow. It is undergoing its 9th revision and it’s almost done. The MBC speech I understand took us 19 revisions. It will be what sets the goal posts so I want it very, very clear and understood by the vast majority of our people and at the end of the day I hopefully can be inspiring enough to convince them to help us out in our quest to radically change our country. So how am I feeling? Siyempre may kaunting anxiety. But at the same time I keep going back to what the people had already demonstrated in their support for me and my candidacy and I am hoping we retain this and
with that I’m sure we will overcome any problem
Q: Judicial spending, identify where to cut or boost spending?
A: Ang hirap ng tanong mo. Bukas pa kami uupo bukas lang namin ma-secure ang data na kailangan namin para naman masagot nang maayos at di hula-hula lang. Kung papayagin mo kami narito sa harap natin si Sec. Abad dapat mag-aral ng numero at Sec. Purisima ng DOF, bigyan ninyo kami ng 2 linggo mag-submit sila ng state of the nation mula sa pananaw ng bawa’t isang departamento. Baka it will not be too much to ask if…
Q: Is it correct to say all targets for macroeconomic and fiscal targets set by Arroyo admin are up for review?
A: I think in solving any problem you have to correctly identify the problem first. The solution that is correct will present itself flowing from a correct identification of the problem. As I told you in
previous press conferences we are not sure of the data that is being presented. Yung window-dressing and all that. We want to make sure of the lawy of the land. Therefore the Cabinet meeting tomorrow, that will be the first order of business. Everybody reviews their particular areas of concern and presents a picture so we can come up with formulae that will determine how we solve each problem
Q: Assume terms of office of appointees 6 years
A: In fairness some of them I will not identify malaking sacrifice. Some of these people a lot of them have significant paychecks that will be cut from their private sector employment. Some of them have
families they have obligations also. I asked some of them ano sweldo, paano anak mo. ES is young like me. Sec. Almeda is a little less young. I cannot ask them to commit 6 years. They did say a minimum of for instance 2 years, some will say at least 1 year. The bottom line is I don’t think they will leave the Cabinet if they have to leave it without attending to the major concerns or putting the necessary corrective actions already in place
Q: P349-billion budget deficit
A: We assume but we are not sure
Q: Maintain no new taxes? Proposal to increase VAT to 15%
A: Pasensya na po paulit-ulit sagot dito pero bago tayo magisip ng bagong buwis kailangan isip muna tama ba ang buwis na nakokolekta dahil sinabi ko sa inyo marami tayong reports na sino ang smuggler at evader nakahanda ang files. Handa na ang gagawin sa tao, ano ang processes and procedures na gagawin para magpakita ng halimbawa maparusahan ang guilty at magsilbi sigurong babala sa lahat na magsusubok gayahin ang ginagawa nila at nagkaka-effect na. So ang punto nito ang analogy meron kang timba puro butas, yan ang revenue collection natin, maski buhos tayo ng tubig, tapon din ng tapon …Increase tayo ng increase ng taxes tulad ng proposed tax on text, di
pa plugged ang loophole at leakages walang nangyari. Ang kabuuan iayos natin ang pagkolekta. Ang first step unahin natin iayos ang pagkolekta para mabalanse natin or at least maging mas tama ang tinatawag nating fiscally responsible mas maabot natin. Sa deficit kasi nag-finance tayo sa debt. Kung mangungutang tayo sino ang magpapautang sa atin na di onerous ang debt. Dapat sa panahon ng maraming walang trabaho, sa panahon na hirap ang negosyo, huwag natin hatawan ng ganitong pabigat mababawasan tayo ng trabaho. Pero di natin rule out kung talagang obligado at kailangan papasukan natin yan pero di yan ang una nating hakbang
Q: After 1 year ban sino hahabol Cab secretaries, sino sa MMDA and NBI?
A: MMDA, ulitin ko lang, bakit may Cabinet na sinasabi ngayon ang pinakaimportante. Other units NBI adjunct of DOJ yan 2nd level paguusapan natin with MMDA. Kalian lang ako na-proclaim kalian lang nagkaroon ng karapatan mag-alok ng pwestong ito, 5000 ang pwestong pupunuin di natin mapupuno nang matino sa madaliang panahon
Q: After 1 year sino papasok?
A: Di ko ma-reveal sa inyo lahat. Kung … saka na. Pwede naman maraming pwede naman magbago. … sino interesado after 1 year or baka masyadong … performer ang narito ngayon. So can we cross the bridge later on. There are positions we have to fill right now
Q: Open to … borrowing
A: Am I open to borrowing? That practically says I want to borrow already. As I told you we have to study the lay of the land. We will have to determine exactly what the conditions are, bereft of political spin, to identify the problem correctly. There is also the zero budgeting we have to undergo, which means basically review each and every item in the budget which impacts whether or not the deficit increases or decreases. And you are already asking us to embark on the solution. That will have to wait. If it has to be done then it will be done. But yung possibility is not a certainty
Q: Campaign, you let Roxas recommend Cabinet members, how many are recomendees
A: I don’t have the exact number… initially … choosing he imparts his knowledge of particular people he knows of. He tells me the processes of mind of each individual especially if I don’t know the person, he tells me particular instances that will demonstrate the capabilities or lack thereof of a particular candidate for a particular position
Q: Roxas…
A: I think we are part and parcel of the same vision, the same ideology and the same platform. I don’t see why I shouldn’t consult him especially in areas where he has knowledge that I don’t. And in
the same token he has consulted me on several instances where I possess knowledge he didn’t. So I don’t think that should be an issue. And I should be very conscious of trying to solicit as much
information about people who will be undertaking very great responsibilities for our country
Q: Consideration din ba na some appointees supported/pushed for your campaign
A: Ang support nila from the beginning bakit di magiging consideration? Shared vision ba kayo? Ito ang problema ito ang solution ito ang kailangan na paraan para magkaroon ng reporma at pagbabgo. Ang nagpakita ng pruweba from the beginning di sinuportahan ka dahil ikaw di siguradong mananalo, ako ang pinakahuling kandidato. Ako ang pinaka hindi handa tumakbo. E nandoon sila umasa nakipagtulungan sa akin dumamay sa lahat na hirap at siguro panahon na yan sinabi ko sa kanila tinutulungan ninyo ako ngayon pag ako nanalo sabihin ninyo sa akin bahala ka na diyan. Di ako nagboluntaryo sa lahat na nagmungkahing tumakbo tayo siguro pwede ko pakiusapan huwag
ninyo ako iwan dito tulungan pa rin ninyo ako dahil mas madali natin malutas kung mas marami tayo nagtutulungan
Q: Kris/James?
A: That I think does not impact on the interest of the state and I will not comment on that
Q: NSA
A: Yes but I haven’t talked to him
Q: Divulge?
A: Until he says yes I don’t want to divulge. He might say no
Q: Overall approach of GRP and DFA on RP-US relations, if you have audience with Obama, will you discuss challenges of comprehensive immigration reform?
A: That will be one of the topics but my focus has to be domestic concerns specifically job generation aspects here. And I understand from the US ambassador there is very intense eagerness to come back and invest in our country and that would be the primary topic if I am given the chance to talk to President Obama
Q: Lim/Trillanes
A: Gen. Lim is out already on custody, granted bail by the court. Trillanes has been charged by the competent authorities. It is undergoing judicial process. The executive cannot order. The executive
has to conform to the laws also
Q: Describe Cabinet composition
A: You will see old and new faces. You will see the young and also young. But bottom line is these are the people who I believe have committed to the philosophy that the problems in this country are
solvable and not …, and have the energy and commitment to sacrifice and do the necessary things to effect the changes the people are aspiring for
Q: Why take DILG if you can leave it to incumbent
A: Kasama sa under consideration ang Usec pero nakapaimportante ng department yan. At aking pagdidiinan ko lang sa maraming gagawin ng gobyernong national sa dulo ang local government ang magpapatakbo. At kung di tayo nakakahanap ng alter-ego natin na buong buo ang pagtitiwala, e sino ang pagtitiwalaan mo kundi ako muna
Q: So di buo tiwala kay Binay?
A: Dinadagdag mo na yan. Sinagot ko na kanina di ko inalok sa kanya tapos di ko inalok sa kanya lalabas wala akong tiwala sa kanya? Malayo na yata yan. Sorry wala kaming away ni Jojo
Q: Bring down corruption, what will be your first most important move and what will be role of DOJ
A: Thank you for the question. I forgot to mention, we are establishing the Truth Commission, under former CJ Hilario Davide Jr. This Truth Commission is the commission I promised the people we will
set up to put closure on so many issues. They will be collators of data, evidence, the proof as to who committed what and what transgression of our laws was committed. In turn with the active
assistance of all agencies of the state especially the DOJ, they will as necessary prepare and prosecute the cases to make sure those who committed crimes against the people will be made to pay. On top of that obviously the primary mandate of Sec. de Lima it seems in this country and I am sorry I have to sound like a broken record, justice is really an aspiration rather than reality. We are still from the study that mentioned it, still at the level of 18% conviction rate, meaning 82% are not convicted. We have 6-year adjudication period as average and that obviously promotes justice delayed and in effect justice denied. So those are the 2 primary mandates I discussed with
CJ Davide and Sec. de Lima
Q: Time frame?
A: Ang sensational niyan, I am giving 24 hours to solve. I want the solution that will stand up to the scrutiny of a court trial. Not only Mrs. Arroyo, I said all issues. So there has to be a resolution. Sa
ZTE ba may krimen, sa fertilizer scam. Any and all issues. Extrajudicial also and hopefully the only time frame I gave them was let us not wait for a completion of formation of conclusions for all of these issues. Every time an issue has come to the stage that we are ready to file charges, they should be filed
Q: (???)
A: You are very cynical. But I did talk to him, I did mention all the concerns he did say. But at the same time he has to balance. When you are president you task someone to produce they will produce. And there had been travesty of justice in this country because people were pressured to produce that which is incorrect. And I will avoid that same mistake. So it will have a shall we say a snowballing effect once the first witnesses come to the forefront and pieces of evidence come
to head. When you ask me to give you in a month’s time I’ll be filing charges that I think is an exercise in stupidity. That has to be the lesson. 2.5 decades after it has not finished the mandate on 1 particular subject of the people. You don’t start out with a mandate and tell them you have 1 or 3 or 6 months to finish this
Q: (???)
A: No. I said as soon as you are ready to file which means they will be forming organizations or mechanisms within a month and after that start working and given the character of CJ Davide I don’t think he will be a procastinator
Q: Natalong presidentiables, may offer
A: At the present time I have no offer made to Sen. Gordon who is also subject to the ban. Sen. Roxas is also subject to the ban but I am still in contact with our party president and I do believe we were able to deliver our message and mount best platform decided by the people because of my partnership with him and I believe it does the country good go continue working with Sen. Roxas now in a private capacity but down the line maybe we envision getting him a position within the Cabinet
Q: Sino members ng commission
A: In fairness to CJ Davide, we have been looking for a person to head the commission. I talked to him not too long ago, Sunday yata. I am not the type to micromanage anybody. So I told him you tell us the structure you need the number of people who he wants to work with and we will work to provide you with what you need to expedite your work
Q: Last week Luistro said he is reviewing sex-ed, what are your marching orders?
A: I will have to talk to Bro. Armin to discuss with him my views on it. Kung ok lang sa iyo pwede sabihin ko muna sa kanya bago ko sabihin sa iyo. Bottom line ko niyan di ko ma-adopt ang policy ng
pinaka-conservative na elements, na noong kampanya e mungkahi natin huwag pagusapan. Parang zero education, which leads to ignorance and ignorance might lead to wrong decisions, and I cannot agree with that
Q: Still see reso to assassination?
A: There’s a possibility. But as to whether or not we can prosecute some other people, the prescription period has already set in according to some legal luminaries, others say people who have not been brought before our bar of justice can still be prosecuted. There are people who are still alive who can add. But again my main interest is to educate future generations who will be subjected to … rather than prosecuting in the here and now. I think the people who are
present now understand exactly what happened
Q: Marcos era also in Truth Commission or focus on PGMA?
A: I think Marcos era issues are already being tackled by various agencies and organs of government. This will be concerned primarily with the past 9.5 years
Q: Approach on how you are going to deal with Mindanao issues especially peace
A: I think the position I stated before hasn’t changed. There has to be a continuation of the peace process that is all-inclusive and transparent. Hopefully all these particular stakeholders will be in a
position to give me at least a minimum of trust we can facilitate the all-inclusive dialogue. And we will have presidential peace adviser to continue the peace process. But we will learn from the lessons of the past where people who are vital to any agreement were excluded from the discussions
Q: Stand sa kaso ni Sen. Lacson
A: Karapatan niya yan, Pilipino siya na bumalik sa sariling bansa. Anong stand o position sa kasong yan, yan ay nasa korte na. Meron tayong prohibition na makialam ang executive sa judiciary
Q: Particular case you want Truth Commission to investigate, first case
A: Sasabihan ko ang inatasan ko mag-produce kung saan ang direction, di siguro. Independent commission ang habol ko sa kanila na beyond criticism ang kanilang pagimbestiga at may independence at freedom. Parang hinahanap di manufactured results for political purposes but
based on solid evidence and facts
Q: Tourism?
A: Kasama ang medical tourism specifically sa retiree, that will also be part and parcel of the package. But there has to be responsibility ng tourism, name ang present areas. Pinabayaan uncontrolled growth, something that was not even really world-class deteriorating because of mismanagement
Q: How long will you hold on to DILG post
A: DILG how long I intend to hold on to it? As soon as I can relinquish it I will relinquish it. Kung sa kamakalawa, I will do so
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