FULL TEXT: INQ&A with vice presidential candidate Sonny Trillanes
In preparation for the vice presidential debate held in Manila last Sunday, INQUIRER.net organized a series of individual interviews with the candidates and fielded questions from social media and chat apps.
The first to take the hot seat was Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV who is running solo. Trillanes first became popular as one of the leaders of the Oakwood mutiny. Their group of more than 300 soldiers took over the Oakwood Premier Ayala Center in Makati on July 27, 2003 to protest the alleged corruption under former president and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
READ: Candidate – Sonny Trillanes
In recent months, he has focused on the Senate investigation on allegations that Vice President Jejomar Binay and his family have been receiving kickbacks from the alleged overpriced construction of public infrastructure in Makati. He once said, “I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that the Philippines is spared from a Jojo Binay presidency.”
In this interview with INQUIRER.net Editor in Chief John Nery and Chief of Reporters Kristine Sabillo last April 5, Trillanes talked about his own motivations to run and his plans if he wins vice president, with Binay or Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as president.
FULL TRANSCRIPT:
John Nery: Good evening, Sen. Trillanes. Welcome to INQ & A. This is the first of our INQ & A forums with the candidates for vice-presidents. Our first guest is Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. Thank you for joining us tonight, senator.
Antonio Trillanes IV: Thank you, Sir, for having me.
JN: Tonight, we are live on INQUIRER.net and on Facebook. We are also carried live on Line. We are covered live on Viber, WeChat, Kakao, Firechat. We will also be aired on a delayed telecast basis on Radyo Inquirer, and of course, we are covered by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Dotnet, and Bandera.
Senator, as I explained to you, the format is very simple. We will have three rounds of questions. Each round will start with questions we sourced from the crowd – online, on social, on the different platforms I mentioned. Then after that, we will follow up with our questions. I will be joined tonight by chief of reporters, Miss Kristine Sabillo. So we will have three rounds, and we’re hoping that as we go along, we get more interesting questions. But we already have a lot of very interesting, very intriguing questions.
But let me start with a question from Twitter, which is actually quite general, Felma Perez, @001felmaperez, would like to know ano kayang plano ni Trillanes para maalis o masolusyonan ang kahirapan.
AT: Okay. Ang aking plataporma po ay nakatuon sa peace and order, anti-corruption and anti-poverty. Ang sa akin pong paniniwala, ang pangunahing problemang kailangan nating lutasin ay ‘yung peace and order problems natin. Dahil mahirap po talaga maghikayat ng negosyo dito sa ating bansa o magbukas ng negosyo. Kung maya-maya may nakikidnap or may sumasabog sa inyong mga paligid, kaya kung ito ay matutugunan natin masosolusyonan natin, ang ekonomiya natin ay bubukas at lalago at itong paglago na ito magke-create ng mga trabaho na siya naman po ay magsosolve ng kahirapan sa ating bansa. Kase kung ang isang pamilya, may isang nagtatrabaho, makakayan niya kahit papano na matugunan ‘yung mga pangangailangan ng pamilya na ‘yon. And itong anti-corruption advocacy, ito naman po ang sisigurado o ang magi-incur na ‘yung pondo ng gobyerno na nakatuon sa ating infrastructure, sa social services sa defense ay hindi mapupunta sa bulsa ng iilan.
JN: Senator, I will have a follow-up question or maybe follow-up questions tungkol dun sa anti-corruption na initiatives mo, pero katulad ng sinabi ko, we’ll get more questions from the crowd, so the next three questions, actually have to do with the questions about your campaign. They will be asked care of, Kristine,
Kristine Sabillo: Good evening, senator. We have a question from Mark Lapis, from Facebook, what’s your team strategy to make it to the top considering we only have a few weeks before the elections?
AT: We’re following the same template that we used noong 2007, nung nakakulong po ako, at itong 2013. So it’s more of a grassroots campaigning approach kase hindi naman kami abundant ng resources as compared with the others kaya wala kami noong “air war” na tinatawag, so we are optimizing our organization, ‘yung Magdalo organization. So ‘yun po ang grassroots campaigning namin.
Ang difficulties nito is mabagal ‘yung pagreach out niya sa ating mga mamamayan but base on nung 2007 at 2013, those are, I believe, ay more difficult circumstances we managed to pull through. ‘Yun lang, talagang may mga other factors and other dynamics ng campaign politics na beyond our control, so we’re sticking to that. We’re delivering directly our message to our people and hopefully itong coming debates mas makikilala nila ako.
KS: Another question from Facebook, from Dalia Domingo, “I would like to ask Trillanes about his plans for the next six years should he win the VP seat.”
AT: Kung papalarin pong manalo bilang bise president ng ating bansa, nais ko pong matalaga bilang DILG Secretary dahil nais ko pong tutukan o tugunan ang ating problema sa peace and order kasama na diyan ang lumalaganap na problema ng illegal drugs. So ‘yan po ‘yung primary focus natin. Imo-modernize natin at gagawin nating effective and efficient crime-fighting force so paigtingin natin ‘yung internal discipline, in this case ‘yung internal affairs serice ng PNP, para sa gano’n eh, maweed out natin ‘yung mga tiwali sa kapulisan.
READ: Trillanes to bat for DILG post if elected VP
Then do’n naman sa local government site, through my good governance advocacy, tututukan natin, ipopromote natin ‘yan sa iba’t-ibang LGUs ‘yung mga nadiscover natin sa Makati Investigations masisigurado natin na hindi na mauulit sa iba’t-ibang mga munisipyo. At the same time, gagamitin natin ‘yung best practices. We’ll replicate ‘yung mga ginagawa ng mga successful citizens and municipalities so that ‘yung mga naiiwang municipalities ay makakahabol.
KS: Last question from me, from Facebook, from Mona Licaro who is a call center representative, “Gusto ko din sanang itanong kay Trillanes kung nakikita niya ba ang sarili niya kung sakaling maging VP ay tumakbo din bilang president sa susunod.”
AT: Sa amin kase milestone driven ang organization namin. Hindi kami makatingin beyond what is in front of us so the primary challenge – actually ‘nung unang tumakbo ako noong 2007, doon lang kami nakatutok – kailangan naming manalo. Nu’ng nanalo then we set the next milestone, papano makakapagsilbi ng maayos which is paano makakalabas eventually. It happened. The next milestone namin is ‘yung aming party-list. In-introduce naming sa public noong 2013 and ‘yung reelection ko. So we got both milestones on 2013. So ‘yung next milestone namin ay itong pagtakbo bilang president. To be honest, I cannot see anything beyond it except for that. So du’n kami nakafocus. And coming from the military, mission-driven kami, and the mission is not yet finished.
JN: We have a feedback right away from Wendy Corpuz on Facebook saying, “Solusyonan muna ang krimen at pagnanakaw. Good point!” po daw. Balikan po naten yung anti-poverty campaign, so one thing I get is that, okay, there has been anti-corruption. There has to be initiative there. There has to be an anti-crime initiative. Can you be more specific, senator?
AT: Let’s focus on the economic development. I believe we need to focus on the development of the engines of route of the country. Nandiyan ang tourism, agriculture, ‘yang business process outsourcing and you know, ‘yung responsible mining. Kase ito ‘yung mga kumbaga hindi mo na kailangan ng iba pa, ‘no, na bago or anything na infrastructure. Today, ito na ‘yung mga God-given resources sa atin so tututukan natin siya kunyari sa turismo lang.
Compared with Malaysia, [may] 27 million tourists sila. Sa ‘tin may mga 6 million lang. So, imagine kung makuha lang natin makadagdag lang tayo ng additional 10 million tourists that would translate into at least $10 billion poured into the economy and that will generate jobs. Kaso nga hindi magkakaroon ng mga ganyang mga turista kung dito pa lang kunyari sa airport eh, nae-extort na ‘yung mga turista or matuturn-off na sa airports natin or suddenly sa Mindanao may makikidnap, may kaguluhan, so, ‘yung mga gano’n, no matter how hard ‘yung market, which is ito ‘yung approach ng administration na ito, hindi pa rin sila pupunta. Kasi ‘yung word of mouth, which is the better marketing, the anything, hindi natin makukuha. So doon pa lang ‘yun sa turismo.
Ngayon sa agriculture, ang ating lupain, especially sa Mindanao, very fertile ‘yan. Sinasabi nilang kahit anong itanim mo diyan, tutubo. Kase hindi mo nga matamnan kase andadiyan ‘yung mga kaguluhan pang nangyayari. So. ‘pag nag-open up ‘yang agriculture, and hindi lang ito ang hahayan natin, kailangan the government should step in and subsidize, really. We really need to modernize ‘yung ating farming methods and we need to help the farmers. Ang ating idea diyan, ang ating preposition diyan, we need to promote cooperatives, para ma-empower ‘yung collective. Kase ngayon ang nangyare, isa isa eh. One farmer, one land. So ang nangyare walang economies of scale even ‘yung paglatag nu’ng irrigation ay hindi systematic, tapos ‘yung pagbebenta nila nu’ng kanilang goods, nate-take advantage sila nu’ng mga middle men at nu’ng mga cartel, pero ‘pag cooperative they can be used as conduits to subsidized ng government, and ‘yung kung anong assistance, bigyan ng mga modern equipment mga post-harvest facilities and ‘yung mga farming inputs, mga subsidies, so may mga conduits na ‘yon.
Ngayon gano’n din naman sa business process outsourcing, pwede nating idevelop kase ngayon dito na nagpupuntahan na talaga because Filipinos are kumbaga maganda at their articulation especially with the English language and hindi lang ito sa Manila, they can be found all over the country. Problema ‘yung mga ibang facilities ay behind pa ‘yan sa internet, iba nga may kaguluhan kunyari sa Mindanao. Maraming gustong magbukas kaso hindi nila alam baka malay mo bobombahin na lang ‘yung kanilang building. So there are the things we have in mind so the economy will flourish. Ngayon that is for job generation which I believe is the key to the anti-poverty program. Ngayon du’n naman sa abject poor, kailangan talaga ng tulong gobyerno which is itong tinatawag nilang 4Ps ‘no. Ang 4Ps is a subsidy kase ‘yung mga abject poor hindi na nila maitawid eh, kailangan mo nang tulong. Pero precisely because wala tayong program to plug the leakages cyan at least maraming portion lagyan mo ng 10 percent. Malaki ang nawawala dun sa program na ‘yan, diyan papasok ang anti-corruption.
JN: Senator, I can’t help but think that when you talk about your emphasis on fighting crimes as preconditioned for economic prosperity or fighting poverty, I’m reminded of a presidential candidate, Duterte, on his emphasis on fighting crimes, how different are you from Mayor Duterte? What is the difference you bring on the table?
AT: Sa akin kase, unang-una hindi ako mangangako ng 3 to 6 months. Dahil imposible po yan. Hindi mo pwedeng gawin yan unless you plan to kill half the population and even then, you’d be creating, two sets of monster. So sa ‘tin dinto meron tayong nilalatag na programa and sa ‘kin while yung sinasabi ko, yung peace and order, hindi naman precondition, we can do it simultaneously. ang sinasabi lang dito ay yung investor confidence kase whether foreign or domestic makikita lang nila if the country is running towards right direction, pag nakikita naten that things are into play, the dynamic of the whole program is in play, pwede na silang mag-invest and dun na magsisimula na yung job generation. Now I’ll have to mention, yung minention ko kaninang about job generation tsaka yung pagtulong sa abject poor, ang saken ang long term solution naman, still education. Kailangan nateng i-empower ang next set of Filipinos – the younger generation of Filipinos. Kailangan equipped sila so that they can be competitive.
JN: Senator, before we ask you follow-up question about the campaign. If I could ask you, you’ve been on both side of law enforcement, when you were in the Navy. ‘Yung nangyari sa Kidapawan, who would you have handled it? If you were the DILG Secretary then already, how would you have handled it?
AT: This is after the fact na nagputukan na?
JN: Yes. Well, on the day, April 1, when there was a barricade.
AT: Well, kailangan nito ay mediation. Unang-una kase pagdating do’n, pagnakita mo na – kailangan kase, in fact, ako, ‘no, I’ll be going to Kidapawan within the next few days para alamin kung talaga ang nangyari. Kase ganito ‘yan ano; we’ll have to be wary of propaganda. Kailangan nating huwag magpadala sa mga initial reports kase normally, hindi pa accurate ‘yung picture. So sa ‘kin, I would be more deliberate, titignan ko kung ano talaga ang nangyari dito. What motivated the farmers to rally and what triggered naman sa mga pulis kung bakit sila nagpaputok, so kailangan nating malaman yun. At pag nalaman nating iyon sa investigation, kunwari nagkasala ‘yung pulis, then kailangan maparusahan yung may sala, so that’s how it is, but for now, hindi talaga natin… hindi pa pwede tayong magbigay ng statements because we’ll be basing our reaction on reports na may or may not be accurate.
KS: We’ll just follow up a question from Facebook. You already mentioned that your focus on a grassroots campaign, I remember that in the past elections you managed to win despite not having a lot of advertisements – television advertisements – unlike the other candidates, in fact, I think you were the one with the least spending when it comes into TV ads, but the vp races are quite different, I mean there’s only one winner, so far so how difficult is it and have you been thinking of investing more on media advertisements for example.
AT: Okay. The grassroots approach is being resorted to because we don’t have any choice, we don’t have much money to go around with so, we’re just making do with what we have. I agree the VP race is much more complex. I’m not going to say it is more difficult because the campaign back in 2007 was the most difficult one. Nakakulong talaga ako noon, but, we’ve seen things happen in elections before, gano’n yun eh. Yung campaign politics natin dito, it goes in waves eh. Minsan ang flavor of the month ito, next ito na, so you’ll just hope na ikaw yung next na wave.
JN: Sir, the only official vice presidentiable debate is coming up. It’s on Sunday, April 10, at UST. So if the first two debates are indication, we’re looking up millions of people tuning in. That will be the break out moment perhaps for you or for maybe another candidate, how do you see the april 10 debate?
AT: I believe this is again – I agree this is a break out moment for me in particular because dahil wala nga akong gano’ng ads. Ang estimate nga namin ngayon, When we started the campaign we had around 25 to 30 percent who are aware na tatakbo ako. Then through our grassroots campaign up to this moment, mga nasa 70 to 75 percent pa lang. So we really need to inform the other 25-30% na I’m running for vice president. Marami ang alam, I’m running for the senate again. So ganon yung nangyari dito, mayroong disparity sa levels of information ng mamamayan natin. Even dito sa National Capital Region, some people are busy working hard day and night, day in and day out rather. Hindi nila alam what’s happening in national politics until it’s there. So yun na yun. Malaking bagay ito for a candidate like me.
JN: So before we move on to our second round, we’ll start again with questions from the crowd, maybe some reactions already from the people watching us. From Twitter, Alberto Danao says, “Senator Trillanes is the lone senator who sided with the retirees during the indexation on the SSL for… and there’s this somebody who said, “You’re the only advocate to stop K-12.” We move on now to the second round of questions. I would like to start with something I read on Twitter. It was a direct response to a question I posed but it has to do with the Binay issue. When someone found that you are going to be our first guest in INQ & A, that person ask on Twitter, “Do you know where Ebeng Baloloy and Gerry Limlingan are?”
AT: Binigyan kami ng information of their whereabouts but we couldn’t move dahil kailangan kase muna mafile ang case eh. Dahil ang naghahanap lang ngayon is yung…
JN: They’re in the Philippines?
AT: May information na nandirito, may information na sa South East Asia, so may iba’t-ibang levels of confidence kami sa mga action agents na nagbibigay kaya pinupursue lahat nung leads.
JN: We’ll have a chance to follow-up on that, Senator, question from Kukay Libayan, “Mapipigilan pa po kaya ang K-12? Salamat po sa pagsuporta ninyo sa pagpapatigil nito kaso talo tayo sa SC.”
AT: Hindi po tayo natalo sa SC. Yung TRO lang hindi binigay, pero yung merits ng case hindi pa nadedecide’an, so dalawa pa ang pwedeng mangyari para masuspinde ito. Unang-una, eventually kung ang Supreme Court magdecide na i-suspend ito, so masususpend siya, and kung yung incoming president sabihing isuspend ito kasi nga kung magkakagulo na itong June. Masususpend ito, so yung mangyari would be yung nakatapos nang Grade 10, pwede na silang pumasok sa kolehiyo, mag-entrance exam sila. So late na ang opening ng classes. August pwede nang mag-open ‘yung klase or kung inclined sila sa technical vocational, pwede silang pumasok. Sa akin, yun ang aking proposal. Imbes na ubusin mo ang two years mo sa haphazard na traning sa technical vocational o wala namang laboratory ngayon sa mga public schools, pag-aralin na lang natin sila dun sa mga established schools na for vocational. Pati yan sa Tesda, bigay ka ng grants and scholarships, ganon din sa kolehiyo. Yung mga gustong magkolehiyo, papasukin natin, kase, alam niyo hindi prepared talaga ang public schools system natin, so right now, I’ll have to say na etong si Senator Grace Poe, I’m in the process of convincing her to stop the K-12, kung sakaling manalo siya bilang president. So kung mangyayari yan, makakagradutae na yung mga grade 10.
JN: Senator, we are being watched now by several thousand people on Facebook. I’d like to greet them, good evening. Senator pasensiya na, this is part of the wisdom of the crowd, I have question from Candice Diaz on Twitter, “Aside from being a good-looking VP candidate, how else would you describe yourself in terms of personality and characteristics?”
AT: I can say – well, unang-una, salamat. I’m flattered. But I’m just your average Juan dela Cruz. I grew up in middle class family and napasok ako sa pagsusundalo sa PMA. Doon pa sa PMA, walang ano po doon, walang economic classes, walang hierarchy doon. We’re just one, kahit yung mga anak mga mayaman, kahit anak ng magsasaka, isa kami dun, ano. And eventually, nagsilbi tayo sa bayan, so I really don’t know how to describe myself except that I’m here on a mission, I’m serving my country and I would want to serve my country further as your vice president.
JN: Senator, before we ask follow-up questions about Binay, about K-12, and so on and about your “good-looking guy” and your personality, we have other questions from the crowd.
KS: We also have questions from our followers in chat apps, we have Armay of Line asking, “What is the first thing you would do and advocate once you win the upcoming elections?” It’s the same question of those asking on Twitter as well.
AT: As I mentioned earlier, should I win as vice president, I want to be appointed as the DILG secretary, because I think ang pinakamalaking problema natin would be yung peace and order peace and order ng ating bansa. Grabe na nangyari ngayon, yung proliferation ng illegal drugs at ito yung nafi-feed dun sa mga petty crimes even heinous crimes, so kailangan natin tong masugpo, so I believe mayroon akong kakayan na icurve ang criminality na sag anon ay umunlad ang ating bansa.
JN: Senator, if you would allow me to ask a follow-up question about the Binay issue, in your view, how is he doing now? 35 days before the election he’s placing sometimes third in the polls. How is he doing and do you feel certain responsibility for where he is now?
AT: Sa akin, hindi naman ako, masamang tao to wish the worse of anybody. Sa akin ho kase dito, I just believe na hindi siya karapat-dapat na maging pangulo ng ating bansa. Na kailangan siyang ipakilala. Even kung nangyari ‘yon thru the investigations then maganda yon. At least, namulat tayo, before pa nakaupo yan sa pwesto. Kase kung nakaupo yan sa pwesto talagang pahihirapan po niya ang kababayan natin. Kase nakita na po natin yun. So sa akin I thinkl it was my immoral obligation also aside from the fact that it was my mandate as a senator na talagang i-expose siya at ipakilala ang tunay na pagkatao niya.
JN: Senator, I cannot pinpoint a specific person who said this but I’ve seen this sentiment online. What if the residual popularity of Vice President Binay and his machinery, basing all the way to Malacañang, he wins the elections? And your grassroots campaign wins so you become his vice president. Can you walk us through that scenario? Have you thought about that scenario?
AT: Well, kung ganyan po ang mandating ibibigay ng taong bayan, eh, rerespetuhin natin. Pero ako po-
JN: You will not be the DILG Secretary.
AT: Definitely not, I won’t even request it. Ang gagawin ko po, I’ll be the watchdog. Kase I am 100% sure, hindi magbabago si Vice President Binay. For the past 30 years, talagang nagnanakaw siya. At what would make us think na babaguhin niya ang estilong iyon pag nakaupo na siya. At ang hawak niya tatlong trillion na budget o kaban na bayan. So magbabantay na ako para hindi na tayo maisahan.
READ: Trillanes vows to serve as watchdog to Binay presidency
JN: Senator, follow-up naman dun sa K-12. Earlier you said, it’s incumbent on us to equip ourselves, to be educated as possible. And yet at the same time, you are saying “Let’s not add two years to the course.” Parang may contradiction po dito.
AT: Actually, wala po akong contradiction. Ang sinasabi ko lang, kung gusto mong magdagdag ng two years, patapusin mo na ng four years ng high school, then kung gusto nila ng technical vocational, de doon na sa equipped na klase na nandidiyan na yung mga trainors, andidiyan na yung mga equipments. Magbigay na lang tayo ng grants and scholarship. Ngayon yung mga gustong makolehiyo at maraming gustong magkolehiyo, bigyan natin sila ng student loan, yung mga hindi naman kagalingan. Yung kagalingan, bigyan natin sila ng scholarship at tsaka grant. We’re still equipping them, pero kase itong two years na ito, it’s going to be a waste. Nakita ko na walang preparation ang ground. Ngayon sabihin natin, theoretically, in a perfect world, probably, yes, ‘no. Pero hindi po eh. The situation right now, it’s not perfect, it’s not ideal.
Pag pumunta tayo sa mga public schools walang dinagdag na classrooms; yung mga bata dun pa rin sa mga corridor nagkaklase; yung mga teachers mababa rin ang sweldo; yung libro pinaghahatian for five students; yung kanilang instructional manual. Nung panahon po naten, 10 years po tayo eh, Sir John, 10 years tayo but, we don’t feel inadequate, ‘di ba? So why impose it in this new generation na I believe na mas magaling sila eh. So, we have to recreate that classroom environment that is conducive to learning. In that way, talagang babalik yung quality of education. And ang proof natin dito is the fact na, in demand ang mga OFWs natin all over the world, kahit na 10 years system tayo. That’s proof enough that it works, ‘di ba? So why tinker with the system? At ang isang critical factor dito, most of the parents I talked to, yung mga nasa public schools, sinasabi nila, “hindi na namin kayang magpaaral ng dagdag ng dalawang taon pa.” So papalabasin na lang nila ang mga anak nila. So we will be creating, a generation of high school drop-outs na magiging problema ng ating problema later on.
KS: Senator, I will just go back to the issue about the Vice President. Do you think your crusade against Binay is helping your candidacy? Are you seeing positive reactions from your new followers, for example, who want you to be vice president because that is your stand?
AT: In the first place, hindi naman ito ginawa – yung pagpapaimbestiga para makatulong sa kampanya, ‘no. Kasi mahirap kumalaban ng isang napakapangyarihang tao, lalo na ito, si Vice President Binay. Nakita niyo naman na talagang ibang klaseng tao ito. And nung panahon na nagfile ako ng investigation, talagang practically siya ay president in waiting eh. Kasi napakataas ng kanyang rating. Lahat nagmamano na sa kanya. Wala na ngang gustong tumakbo sa pagkapresidente noon eh. So ganon ‘yung circumstances noon. And it’s far from the consideration. Now, to answer that, kung mayroong bang epekto nito. I really don’t know. Only time will tell kung magiging factor siya.
KS: Sir, beside the Vice President, you’ve also been vocal against Mayor Duterte. So what would it be like naman if Mayor Duterte wins as president, for example?
AT: Just the same. Magbabantay tayo. Sa ‘kin bibigyan ko siya ng 6 months, I will shut my trap for – sinabi kasi niya 3 to 6 months daw ayusin niya yung kriminalidad, illegal na droga. Ako, tatahimik ako for six months, I will let him move, gawin mo kailangan mong gawin, sige. Pero after six months, maniningil ako.
READ: Trillanes to give Duterte 6 months if they both win
Kase alam niyo binobola lang naman niya ang taong bayan eh. Kase ito, sa totoo lang ah, sa Davao po. Ang Davao ang isa sa pinakamataas sa crime rate. Ito pong mga lumalabas sa social media, propaganda po ‘yan. Pero marami pong nadadala. It’s very unfortunate.
Pero alam niyo, no’ng Oakwood, noong 2003—just to cite an example, sinasabi kaseng safest city daw, ano, one of the safest city in the world, a propaganda. Pero alam niyo noong 2003, isa sa mga prinotesta namin, sumabog po yung Davao International Airport. Ilan po ang namatay do’n, yung Sasa Wharf ng Davao. Hanggang ngayon, tatanungin natin si Mayor Duterte kung sino gumawa no’n, kung nakulong na ba nila ang gumawa no’n. Hindi niya masasabi. Eh, paano mo masasabing safe yon eh may sumasabog every now and then? So yun po.
Nakakatakot po yung mga nadi-deceive na mga tao. And remember, naalala niyo ba no’ng tinatanong siya, kung gusto niyang tumakbo. Sinabi niya on national TV nung deadline nung filing, “Sinabi ko na sa inyong wala akong planong tumakbo kaya lang maraming napipilit sa akin.” Wala siyang plano, gusto lang niya magretire. Yun pala, mayroon palang back door entry na iniisip. Sa akin yung mga ganyang estilo, ganyan din ang gagawin niyan pag nakapwesto na yan. Kung papano tayong paiikutin ganyan na yan. Sana naman yung mga kababayan natin, huwag po tayong magpadala. Mahirap, six years po tayong magdudusa pag ganyan.
JN: Hello, again. We’re sorry for the technical difficulty. I think there are too many people watching us on facebook, our app crashed. We had a very interesting question about Duterte – would like to ask that again, because Senator Trillanes had a very interesting answer.
KS: So the Senator answered a while ago what he would if Binay would win as President, so our follow-up question to that, how about Duterte? He has been vocal against the mayor of Davao City. What would senator Trillanes do, in case he wins vice president and Duterte wins as president?
AT: If Mayor Duterte wins as president, and I would win as vice president. I would step back and let him do his thing. Kase sinasabi niya na, in 3 to 6 months tatapusin niya yung crimes at illegal drugs. Ako, I will get out of his way. Pero alam niyo, I won’t hold my breath dahil alam kong bola ‘yan. Kase yung sa Davao po ngayon, hindi naman po paraiso ang Davao. I agree, ang Davao, ano ‘yan, kagaya ng Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, magagandang mga syudad, comparatively, pero, may mga krimen po diyan.
In fact, base on the statistics, 4th highest crime rate ang Davao City, so kung itong si Mayor Duterte, hawak niya ‘tong Davao eh, for 30 years, hindi niya natapos yung krimen sa Davao City. So what would make us think na magagawa niya ito in 3 to 6 months. Just to remind na sinasabi nilang safe daw ang Davao. Noong 2003, nung umaklas po kami, meron pong sumabog sa Davao International Airport, ilan po ang namatay diyan. At yung sa Sasa Wharf sa Davao City. Ilan din po ang namatay diyan. So, hanggang ngayon, kung tatanungin si Mayor Duterte, kung tatanungin natin siya, hindi niya msasagot niyan. So ganyan po ang nangyari dito, huwag po tayong magpadeceive. Maraming pong mga nagiinfluence ng mga propaganda going around. Pero sana po ay magresearch sila ng maayos, at mahirap na magkamali tayo at magboto tayo ng isang tao na hindi mo pwedeng bugyan ng kapangyarihan ng presidency.
JN: Senator, we’ll move on now to the 3rd and last round. So again we’ll start with some questions from the crowd, but before we do that, I’d just like to read the reaction from Calvin Penamora, “Nagtaas ng subsistence allowance ng mga sundalo. Salamat, bok.”
Napag-usapan na rin natin si Mayor Duterte, may tanong si Roselle Milan, “Bakit po o ano ang naging rason ninyo para si Senadora Grace Poe ang suportahan ninyo at ng Magdalo?”
AT: Unang-una, sa amin kase, it’s a collective decision. I didn’t vote personally myself, sila ang nagboto, with the understanding na “Sino ba ang pipili ng karamihan?” Yun ang susuportahan ng buong grupo. So ang criteria naming: sino bang may vision? Sino yung may kakayanan? At sino yung maayos ang pagkatao. So, pinagpilhan si Mayor Duterte, si Secretary Roxas at si Senador Grace Poe. Ang napili si Senator Grace Poe. Ngayon, personally, I believe si Senator Grace Poe, she represents change. She suppress face in politics. Hindi pa ‘to jaded. Hindi pa ‘to, alam yung mga kalokohan. So mayroon siyang fresh ideas and fresh inputs, and alam niyo, she has very endearing qualities na pwedeng maka-inspire ng taong bayan. At kailngan natin yan. If we’re going to follow a leader, kailangan, ano siya eh, mayroon siyang ganong inspirational qualities. And I see that in her.
JN: A question from Rhuesil on Line, a chat app. “What is the most important task of a vice president?” aside from staying healthy.
AT: Actually, that what I was going to say, just staying alive and healthy, that’s the most important task. But ang sa ‘tin dito kase, constitutionally, yun lang ang role ng vice president, but traditionally, historically, binibigyan siya ng task depending on the President. So kung bibigyan ka ng isang poder ng presidente, gawin mo ng matapat. Fulfill your mandate. Yun na yun. Yun nga, in my case, I’m hoping, it would be DILG,
JN: Senator, from Matthew Custodio, also online, “What are your views on the nuclear power plant?” I guess on nuclear energy.
AT: Sa ‘kin, in fact, I filed a bill, ng establishing a Nuclear Power Research and Development, so ‘yan yung first step natin. Kailangan nating ma-equip on the ground.Hindi naman pwedeng i-transplant na lang ulit. Ngayon sa ‘tin, itong nasa Bataan Nuclear Power Plant kase, when I was still in the navy, kami ang nag-escort nung commercial vessel na kumuha ng mga uranium rods diyan lahat. So basically, wala ng pwedeng magamit diyan sa BNPP except whole property. So first generation ang technology diyan. So if you’re going to start a new plant, you’ll have to start from scratch. So kaya ito ‘yung finile ko nang Nuclear Rsearch and Development Center. So kailangan nating maequip natin ang mga scientist natin, mga engineers natin para sa gano’n capable tayo. I’m very much open to that.
JN: We have a lot of follow up questions of our own, but, here’s one more question from our audience. Mejo adverse po ‘to, ‘no, Maui Frajinal from Iriga City. “Gusto ko lang malaman bakit kumuha siya ng 55 consultants. Okay lang ba ‘yan? Tapos kapatid pa ang isang consultant. Just asking.”
AT: Unang-una, maliwanag sa COA report na hindi naman siya bawal. In fact, sinabi nga eh. Sabi ni Senate President na kahit more than 100 ‘yan or in my case, kahit 1000 yan, kung hindi yan lumagpas ka sa budget at kung kailangan mo, and for as long as hindi mo binubulsa, there’s nothing wrong with it.
Ang tanong dito, ilan ba dapat ang consultant? Remember as senator covered namin all areas of the government. Buong bansa, kuha namin. In my case, ini-utilize ko ang areas ng consultant. Para nalalaman ko on the ground, what’s happening. Eto naman lumabas sa ‘king output, na kami rin naman yung number 1 sa most productive, so hindi nasayang yung pera ng gubyerno dito.
Alam niyo kase ang idea ng consultant sa private sector, ito yung mga dalubhasa na talaga sa iba’t-ibang field. Dito sa senado, aside dun sa mga dalubhasa, eto rin yung mga, kunwari puno na plantilla positions mo, at magha-hire ka ng iba. Ang lower level pwede mo silang ipasok as consultants, so they can do staff work actually. So nung nagkaroon kami ng investigation sa senate kay Vice Presdient Binay, marami akong pinasok para magsu-surveillance, magkecasing, kukuha ng mga dokumento. So nagamit naman natin kase naexpose naman natin si Vice President Binay.
KS: So we only have a few more minutes before we end our interview with Senator Trillanes. One question from Facebook by Sharon Perez, “What issue against you hurts you the most? And what would you like to clarify for the last time?”
AT: Yung issue siguro nong nakakulong pa ako. Noong ni-raise nila na committed act of corruption, finile ng iba’t-ibang cases na sa ngayon nadismiss kasi naman, ano, they were fabricated. So hindi kami nakasagot nun. Ako hindi ako nakasagot nun. And nasaktan ako dun kasi, nung mga panahon na yun, my child, he died. Hindi ko nga mailabas yung body sa morgue, because I had to pay yung balance sa ospital. So it was most unfair, and yung time na yun, hindi pa ako sanay, sa ganyan no… Up to now, hindi pa ako sanay.
JN: Senator, thank you for being, candid. I have a few follow up questions. So first, dun muna sa Magdalo. Can you describe us this organization? Do you trace you roots all the way back to Aguinaldo? Napanood mo ba yung Heneral Luna?
AT: Well, ganito po ‘no. If you notice when I say the name, I pronounce it “Mag-dalo.” It’s to differentiate it from the Magdalo of Aguinaldo in Cavite. Ito pong aming grupo, ay pinangalan po ng media noong 2003. There were asking us for our name, sinabi namin, “No, we are the armed forces,” kasi ayaw naming hatiin. Pero, for reporting purposes, they had to give us a branding, they gave us that name, and later on tinignan naming sa research na hindi naman pala toxic ang pangalan. Kasi there’s a misconception. Yung Magdalo, sinasabi nila na ang pumatay kay Bonifacio. Hindi po tototo ‘yun. Kasi nung time na pinapatay si Bonifacio, may Republic na. Na-disslove na yung Magdalo at Magdiwang, so Republicanos na sila lahat. So it was the order of the President Aguinaldo to have Bonifacio executed. So, ganon yung naging history, then ngayon, inopen-up namin yun back in 2009, naging ano na siya…Ngayon naging 95 percent civilian na, 600,000 card-bearing members na kami. And we have two party-list congressmen.
JN: What are your bailiwicks? Cavite?
AT: No. 600 chapters po. It is spread all over the country. So may presence po kami sa 78 provinces out of 80 provinces.
JN: A follow-up question about Senator Grace Poe, you were ready to lay down your life for the country as a graduate of PMA and maybe as an officer. I guess the most potent argument against Senator Poe, not that she was natural born, but she became an American citizen, and of course now, she acquired Filipino citizenship. What do you tell soldiers who will ask you, should we lay down our lives who used to be American?
AT: Sa tingin ko, kailangan natin itong ilagay sa context. Nung mga panahon ngayon, nung mga kabataan, decisions were made. At least in the case of Senator Poe na itong pamilya ang importante sa kanila and kailangan ire-raise niya ng maayos ang pamilya niya. Ta’s maayos ang pamilya niya sa US, I believe it’s admirable. And it’s happening now sa ating mga kababayan, so it’s not a sin to pursue what is good for the welfare of your family. Now, pero the fact na, bumalik siya rito na okay na ang pamumuhay nila doon, para ito nga, para magsilbi sa bayan. It’s even more admirable. Kasi karamihan siguro nung – yung iba siguro, talagang doon na lang, kasi yung comforts niya eh, Pero ito, iba eh. So we could at in that context, too.
JN: Related question, senator, yung Oakwood was prompted by perceptions on massive corruption in the AFP. Is that still an issue now? Related to that, the AFP seems to be modernizing, you know we have a lots of new equipment. The Air Force finally has new jet fighters again, after so many years. The real question is, do you think there is cause for soldiers to mutiny or to stage a coup d’etat. Are the conditions the same as with 2003?
AT: Wala na po. I’m trying to make sure na mawala na yan. Kaya nga karamihan ng mga aking tinutulak sa senado ay para matugunan yung mga grievances ng panahon namin para hindi na magkaroon ng grievances ngayon. So yung AP Modernization Law, tayo po ang naging principal author niyan, yung increase ng subsistence allowance, and other bills na magtutulak sa kanilang or mag-upgrade sa kanilang kabuhayan. So ngayon, wala. I hope maging ganon na. But still, habang nandirito ako, I can be a conduit pra mailabas nila yung kanilang mga hinaing. Nari-relay ko rin naman ‘yan directly kay Presidente Aquino, which to be fair to the President, ina-address niya.
JN: Senator, maybe last one or two questions. Senator Gringo Honasan is also a graduate of PMA and has also been involved extraordinary interventions and is also running for vice-president. How well do you know Gringo Honasan?
AT: Apparently, not well enough, pero I totally respect yung mga posisyon niya. Pero iba lang talaga ang aming paniniwala.
JN: Did you ever talk, the two of you, before you filed your certificate of candidacy?
AT: Oo. Magkaibigan kami ni Senator Honasan, despite the political differences. I look up to him as my upper class man and a friend.
JN: Did you try to dissuade him? “Don’t run with Vice President Binay.”
AT: No, no, no. We’re not like that. I respect him too much, not to do that to him. The same goes with me. Ang sa ‘kin, nagkakantsawan kami. So ngitian na lang and we still talk so walang personal dito.
JN: The last question, senator. It has also been a tight race for vice president. So right now, the frontrunner has 25 percent in the latest survey. Nagkukumpol, 22, 23 and so on. Can I ask you, what is your reading on the vice presidential contest? How much will the next president win at the polls? Are you looking at a 30 percent mandate? Is it going to be like Gloria Arroyo in 1998 over 50 percent? Or is it going to be just a plurality?
AT: It’s just a pluraity. Kasi mahirap talagang ma-reach yung 50%. Kami, natatracking kami, internally. And ang number one sa surveys namin, the past two surveys ay si Senator Bongbong Marcos. So ‘yung margin niya over number two, kay Senator Escudero, nag-widen ito. If elections would be held now, it’s Bongbong Marcos who will win. Si Senator Cayetano is on the rise kasi yung advertisement na naka-hitch siya ka Duterte. So tapos in my case, my numbers have been steady, at ito’y nasa 8 to 10 percent. And I attribute that to the lack of exposure and awareness. But, I’m hoping that things will still change and it changed before, so tignan natin within the next few weeks.
JN: Senator, thank you. Let’s end with a few words from you to our audience on Facebook online.
AT: Well, thank you very much, Sir, for this opportunity, to at least articulate my positions on several important issues and I hope to be given more time in the next few weeks, so that by election day, they would get to really know all the different candidates. Good luck to us all.
JN: Thank you very much, Senator Trillanes. And thank you to our audience online, on Facebook, and on various chat apps.
