With the traffic problem in Metro Manila affecting the country’s economy and productivity, Senator Grace Poe joined INQ&A last August 30 for an hour-long interview.
Poe, who is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order, has been holding hearings on the possibility of giving emergency powers to the Duterte administration to address traffic.
During the exclusive interview, she also talked about the prospects of a Freedom of Information law in Congress, charter change and the war against drugs.
Hosted by INQUIRER.net Editor in Chief John Nery and Chief of Reporters Kristine Sabillo, INQ&A is a weekly interview show broadcast live every Tuesday, 8 to 9 p.m.
It can be viewed and monitored via INQ 990 Television (Digital Terrestrial Television), Radyo Inquirer 990AM, and INQUIRER.net’s Facebook account.
Every week, INQ&A features an important political figure. Today’s guest is Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV.
Below is the full transcript of the interview with Poe.
John Nery, INQUIRER.net Editor in Chief: We have a very important guest tonight. Marami tayong tanong. Marami na rin tayong natanggap na tanong galing sa mga kaibigan natin sa social media. INQ&A is broadcast live on Radyo Inquirer 990. It is also carried live on Facebook as well as on Inquirer.net… as well as on Inquirer Television on digital TV. We are also carried on the various social media platforms. With me is my co-host, Kristine Sabillo, chief of reporters of Inquirer.net
Kristine Sabillo, INQUIRER.net Chief of Reporters: Good evening, John. Thank you for tuning in tonight. Before we start on our questions, we are just gonna introduce her to you. [She is] the only Filipino politician to win 20 million votes in an election. Ladies and gentlemen, Senator Grace Poe.
Senator Grace Poe: Hi good evening, Mr. Nery and to you Kristine.
ON EMERGENCY POWERS AND TRAFFIC
Nery: Today, you suspended the hearings of the committee on public order on the emergency powers issue. What happened?
Poe: Like many of our riding public and also our commuters, I’m also very frustrated. We’re all affected by traffic, nobody’s immune it. On the other hand, I think that a Senate hearing should be an opportunity also for them to be able to give out solutions and it should not be a platform for just rhetoric. So I was saying, ano naman ang pagdidiskusyunan natin. Hinihingi na nga namin sa inyo, what do you need because we will give it to you…For two weeks, for them to be able to submit what they need from the emergency powers and what their proposed projects would be. I thought it was a little long, because considering they should be breathing and living this everyday what the problems are. But then of course we have to be able to give them the chance to put together their plans, so I said if we call them back that will take time away from them actually working second, what will we discuss?
I think what they need to know is the different sectoral concerns. So we’re having technical meetings, but I heard now that Secretary Tugade said that “No, two weeks is too long. Baka next week o bukas ibibigay ko na.” Ay, pwede pala yun. So… pwede naman palang madaliin. So mabuti na rin na sinuspend ko muna para medyo magising rin sila.
READ: Poe hopes Senate will pass Duterte crisis powers before October break
Sabillo: So the suspension was really to pressure them… to come up with the concrete plans?
Poe: It’s not really to pressure them. It’s also to remind them that the Senate is not just a place where you can have free publicity for anything, I mean, there should be some substance to what you talk about. You know a lot of Senators are also being scrutinized for their questions, if there’s really relevance or whatever. But you can’t really have a relevant hearing unless the main substance of it, which is why we need emergency powers is laid out. So sabi ko naman we’re going to give them enough elbow room. We don’t need to have all of the specifics, but at least tell us what you’re big ticket items are. Would you be building more bridges? Have more roads? Where would they be? What type of intermodal system will you have?
Nery: Do you think they have enough time barely 60 days in office? Do you think they have enough time to put together a plan?
Poe: Exactly sir. That’s why we have also been very considerate. Considering they have only been there for a few days, no, maybe a little more than a month. But there should be something now they came up with plans that they said would also be reflective of last administration, what they weren’t able to implement. But the difference is apparently now they have political will to implement it. So if they’re just going to be continuing those plans then I don’t see any reason why there should be a delay in the submission.
Sabillo: Just to be able to share with the audience who might not be following the hearings, how should the emergency powers be visualized? What would it look like? What kind of powers that the Senate or the legislature be able to give to the president?
Poe: One of the things that I told them, please submit to us a draft bill of what you want in the emergency powers at least galing na sa kanila. What would it benefit to have emergency powers? Number one, the right of way acquisitions. There are other that might give the government a hard time, apparently now in the north extension of the north and south extension, the problems are actually public utilities that are owned by the NCGP.
So with the emergency powers maybe the president can fast track acquisition or the location of those power grids. Another thing, you know they said they wanted to open up certain subdivisions, of course with the emergency powers it would be easy, you would have to go through with so many hearings. But more importantly, also the procurement process that you don’t have to go through the very detailed requirements of COA for as long as it’s, for me, FOI compliant. I mean we can take part in scrutinizing this contract beforehand.
You know we don’t need to go through the very stringent and reasonable process, what they want is direct source procurement. Like if they have somebody who they now has a track record for building roads, they may not be the cheapest but they’re the most efficient and they’re the most credible then why not. I’m not for the cheapest as long as they can deliver the best quality. So these are the things that the emergency powers can perhaps address. But again I said I’m not into, you know this would fall back on me if we approve this at the Senate a blanket of emergency powers without a duration, without the parameters, without the oversight — tayo rin ang kakagatin nito kasi sabi ko nga ayaw naman natin na 20 years down the line our children are still paying for the debts to come up with these projects.
Nery: So may nabubuo na bang consensus sa Senado about some of these emergency powers?
Poe: You know that the Senate is, a lot of them are very supportive of the President’s program. I don’t see any reason why this should not pass in the Senate, the soonest possible time reasonably, fastest time. But again it will fall on me as the chairman committee to make sure that we have the safeguards in place. Sa ating mga kababayan sabi nga natin kung padalos-dalos din ang kilos, para lamang masolusyunan agad ang problema maraming mas lumikha ito ng mas malalim pang problema para sa atin. So pinag-iingatan ko. Pero sabi ko nga the bottleneck is not in the Senate, because we’ve been hearing already on this issue, whereas Congress I don’t know which committees it’s been referred to because as you know, in the Senate public services and franchises is one committee. I was just talking to a congressman earlier, and he saying he’s not familiar to where it’s been referred to. Will it be public order? Will it be local government? So they still have to start the hearings and you know you can’t pass a law, which is the Senate, it has to be both houses. And then another thing, the DOT hasn’t submitted a list to us. So, what are we working on, a blank sheet of paper? Are we supposed to be the experts also in the Senate and actually give them the solutions to the traffic? No, we need to be able to listen to our resource persons, but more importantly we need to be able to listen more to those at the helm of this, which is the DOTR.
Nery: But the premise that the government now has that traffic is a crisis. Do you share that?
Poe: Absolutely. You know JICA says P2 billion a day in loses, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Mr. Tugade is right in saying it’s 3 billion. But It’s not that, it’s the quality of time you spend with your family. I’m a mom, it takes me an about an hour and a half to two hours to go home from work everyday, because I live in Quezon City coming from Pasay. But you know, I don’t even have the right to complain as much as other riding public that take public utilities to go home. So talagang this is really a crisis but even in the crisis, even if we go to war we should have a battle plan. We can’t just give blanket authorization because eventually this will all fall on our shoulders.
Nery: Best case scenario, for instance the DOTC comes up with the plans and so on. When’s the earliest and in your counterpart committees in Congress will also do their work. When’s the earliest that an emergency powers can become law?
Poe: My wish is hopefully we can have this before we go in our October break. At least for the Senate, I can’t speak for Congress. I mean also inter-parliamentary courtesy. At the latest perhaps before Christmas. But you know there’s certain suggestions that maybe we can implement even without the emergency powers. This might be a little drastic, they were saying can schools and actually classes by December 12 so that you know Christmas rushes wouldn’t be too much on all of us. Why not right? And starting January, by that time we are already done with our Christmas holiday obligations. So these are the things that perhaps the DOTC can roll out as early as now to address the problem in the coming holidays. But in our case I really want to finish this because even if we pass this already in the Senate, our job remains. I will make sure that we have an oversight committee. In this oversight committee….every single (agreement) that the government will try to get into I want it posted on the website. And, oversight is composed of the Senate and the Congress but will invite as advisers openly those from the private sector that have the expertise: engineer, ex-chief justices that have the credibility, people that will know about the traffic… para when we have the scrutinizing of the contracts hindi mo sasabihin ano bang alam ng mga mamababatas na yan sa kapal ng kalsada o sa gagamitin na steel bars para diyan.
Sabillo: Emergency powers will last for two years, do you think that is enough especially with the infrastructure that they need to construct?
Poe: As long as you already procured what you need you really have to be there all the time until the end of the project, but of course 17th Congress about three years and it can last the duration of the entire 17th Congress. We have several bills, some of them proposed two years I think Sen. Zubiri and then Sen. Drilon. One if them proposed, I’m not sure but anyway I will see how long what is needed there. I’m not worried about the emergency powers bill granted, I think we will put enough safeguards there. What I’m worried is I’ll actually not be able to use and maximize and optimize having the emergency powers to be able to solve the problem.
Nery: Ano pong components sa air traffic condition?
Poe: Yun pa nga eh ano bang parameters ng emergency powers na gusto ninyo. Metro Manila lang be, Metro Cebu, Davao and Cagayan De Oro, air ba, maritime — wala naman masyado sa maritime. But yung air traffic I think that’s part of it, again we are waiting for the DOTr to say ano bang wishlist niyo pwede naman kaming maging Santa Claus dito para ibigay sa inyo ang kailangan ninyo bago mag Pasko.
Sabillo: Senator just a rundown, I remember nga you said during the hearing that there are a lot of issues that can be resolved without emergency powers. What are those and I remember there was this time you even went to a bus terminal and how was that experience for you and what do you think could be done now with the agencies concerned?
Poe: Some people are saying “pupunta-punta yan sa mga ganyan, nagpapakitang gilas lang yan,” well hindi. Our documentation of it we can’t have media there because it’s really for us to show in our hearings because ang pinaka-ayokong sabihin sa akin, “nagsasalita ka tungkol doon nasubukan mo na ba?” So, pumunta ako doon sa terminal na yon and you know you’re right and thank you for asking that question, these things we don’t need emergency powers to be able to throw away the thrash, to clean the bathroom, to install air-conditioning in the waiting area, to instruct the bus operators to leave as soon as their seat are all taken and have to wait for the passengers for it to be standing room, to install lights — these are all the things that can be done without emergency powers, to fix the walkway. But definitely you need emergency powers so that number one when they actually build the permanent bus terminal, it will be an intermodal station, meaning hindi lang mga bus ang daratin doon, pati jeep, taxi, train. Kasi po ang sinasabi nila, may mga ibang nagrereklamo papano yung mga galing sa South, sa Laguna at sa mga magsasaka natin na dala yung mga bayong nila when they get to southwest terminal, they can’t take metro buses. They’re not allowed to bring their [things] inside the bus. So definitely you need jeepneys there or whatever forms that could take it. For us consumers, we are affected by this because the price of the goods will actually increase the transportation problem. They actually have to hire private taxis to be able to bring their goods to the market. So I think that we should have efficient intermodal system and in the long run, will be cheaper. You cannot say “Oy, mga buses mag-relocate na kayo.” Eh nasan ang terminal niyo, wala pa nga kayong terminal sa North. Nabili niyo na ba yung lupa, hindi pa rin. Yung dito sa (Integrated Transport System-South) station will I think begin construction in September. This is a bid won by Ayala and we know we trust in their track record. It will probably a nice terminal, but again shouldn’t you be meeting with bus operators to know exactly how many buses they have to be part in these terminals. The other one I think in the north was awarded to the World. You know they have the track record. They build the SM malls and many others but when I asked the bus operators, they have not met with Megaworld to ask for specifics and what they might need in the structure. So definitely there is a disconnect between the government and the stakeholders, and this is what we are trying to bridge in the Senate.
Nery: So you invited all the stakeholders?
Poe: We did and you know it was kind of like a fiery, because they each have their gripes. But they really need to be listened to. The jeepney operators were complaining because they didn’t have enough signage. And then the government doesn’t really provide the right drop-off points. Talagang magulo talaga po.
ON FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
Nery: Senator, let’s shift to another topic. FOI naman. You mentioned that there’s a need to be filing about contracts for the emergency powers and so on. We have from Facebook, Mas Reslo, ano pong criteria para sa magaling na FOI bill? Dapat po ba may limitasyon ang transparency?
Poe: Ay Reslo salamat sa tanong mo. Ang FOI ay para lahat tayo may kapangyarihan busisiin kung anong nangyari sa gobyerno. Ngayon may limitasyon ba ang FOI? Meron po kahit po doon sa bersyon na nilagdaan natin sa Senado, pagdating po sa criminal investigations ongoing. Kunware may tinutunton na mga suspects, hindi naman pwede sabihin kaagad ng pulis na sila mag-ooperate. Mga bagay na yun sikreto po yun hanggat mahuli, katulad nung sa mga Marwan. Yung mga operations na ganyan. Basit Usman, yung mga ganon. Kasama din po diyan, limitasyon, hindi rin po pwede kasi kapag mga national security interest din ng mga diplomatic relations katulad ng ibang mga pag-uusap tungkol sa relasyon ng Tsina at Pilipinas. Maaaring may pinag-usapan ang ating pangulo kasama ng ambassador. Hindi naman pwedeng isawalat lahat.
Pangatlo, may mga bank secrecy laws din tayo na gusto nating medyo luwagan ng konti pero sa ngayon hindi talaga pwede. At saka yung mga personal na impormasyon na hindi naman kailangan isawalat. Halimbawa, ako bilang isang kawani ng gobyerno kailangan ang aking impormasyon ay nasa publiko. Pero yung impormasyon hindi naman kailangan ilabas din doon para sa kanilang seguredad. So iba po, yun po ang mga mangilan-ngilan.
Pati na rin ang copyright at saka mga trade secrets, hindi naman pwedeng ilabas din diyan yung recipe ng ibang mga alam naman natin ay kanilang intellectual property. So meron pong mga limitasyon pero ayoko lang po kasi dito sa inannounce na FOI sa executive na administrative order ay hindi dapat kasama ang SALN sa sinisikreto kasi ang SALN ng bawat kawani ng gobyerno dapat mabilis na makikita sa ating mga website o kung saan pa man sapagkat itong nagiging basehan kung tama ba ang lifestyle mo sa kinikita mo. Alam niyo kami sa Senado ang kinikita namin, kung ano man iyon, less than P60,000 a month. So ano yung lifestyle mo, okay lang siguro kung ang asawa mo ay may maayos na trabaho sa probadong sector. Okay din siguro kung may inaanak ka na nadeklara mo naman sa state taxes mo nay un, okay lang. Pero para sabihin mo na ang buong pamilya mo ay nakadepende lang sa gobyerno tapos ikaw ay nakatira sa kung saan-saan at yung mga kotse mo ay ganito ganiyan wala naman sa income taxes, sa SALN mo yung mga bagay nay an, eh madali kang mahuhuli for graft. So the president is serious about fighting corruption, the SALN has to be a oublic document easily accessible by the people.
Nery: So that’s one of the concerns that you have with AO. Any other concerns? First of all, the idea that the president issued this order for the executive department.
Poe: Well this sends out a good signal that at least the president at some level is allowing transparency in the government, but with the exceptions I must admit I just have to really scrutinize more than a hundred sixty something exceptions. I guess I’m a little bit dissatisfied. But we can’t blame the president. This is not a law yet. This is just an executive order and what we need to is to institutionalize it so that long after the president is in power, we still have that law and whenever we revise the constitution, as long as it’s already there, even the process of deliberation of the new constitution will still be FOI compliant.
Sabillo: If Congress passes the law, you can counter some of the exceptions from the executive.
Poe: This will take presidents over that because that’s just an executive order whereas it is an action.
Nery: So, where is the FOI bill now in the 17th Congress?
Poe: In the 17th Congress we have yet to have our hearings started. Of course the budget hearings will already begin and then we are also rushing the emergency powers but we guarantee our listeners that since we debated on this quite exhaustively during the last 16th Congress, and my colleagues are quite supportive of it, I think within three hearings we’ll probably just pass this already. So maybe by early January, we have this already on third hearing of the Senate.
Nery: That is fast. What’s the prognosis sa House noon?
Poe: Mahirap po kasi magsalita tungkol sa ganyan eh dahil unang-una may inter-parliamentary courtesy pero nalaman naman natin wala pa sila sa third reading noon, parang second reading wala pa yata eh. Hindi ko alam, basta in short, kami pinasa namin mga three months lang ata sa Senado, eight months when we started in the 16th Congress and I passed it. It was the second bill passed in the Congress, the first is also the barangay SK (Sangguniang Kabataan) election suspension by Sen. Marcos. This was the second bill that was passed in the Senate, and that was kind of really difficult. I remember I was being so tired because I had to debate Sen. Enrile who at the time was how old but he could stand two hours. Three hours debating me, Sen. Miriam Santiago and you know these two institutions in the Senate are longer there. But I’m grateful for the opportunity to have to defend the measure with them, imagine that I don’t think everybody will have the opportunity.
Sabillo: Do you think the AO will encourage the congressmen now to do something about it the FOI?
Poe: Well if they want to be able to show support to the president and the president actually had an open challenge to us “O, tapos na ako. Kayo naman” diba. So siguro naman. Sana yung exemptions na ginawa ng executive order ay hindi naman yun ang gaitin nilang exemptions kasi pagdating sa bicameral, pagdating nila sa Senado, hindi papayagan yun.
ON DEATH PENALTY
Nery: Senator, I have a question here also from Facebook from Renz Aguiam. Will you support death penalty with what is going on right now and with all these big personalities getting involved with illegal drug operations?
Poe: Right now I really think that we need to be very careful in supporting any measure for the death penalty unless we can expect a higher standard of delivering justice to the public. There are five pillars of justice. There’s the community, there’s law enforcement, there’s prosecution, the courts and corrections. In all of those, where’s we’re really lacking in delivering social justice. Alam niyo ang problema kasi pag may death penalty, sino ba ang nakakakuha ng magagaling na abogado? Hindi ba yung mga mayayaman rin? So, malamang yung mga makakalusot diyan yung mga drug lords and drug pushers kasi sila yung mga mga abogado na magagaling. Samantalang ang mga mahihirap, alam naman nating kulang na kulang ang public attorney’s office, hindi makakakuha ng magandang representasyon.
Para sa akin, ayusin natin ang ating mga korte na mabawasan and backlog nila. Bigyan ng mas mataas na sweldo ang hudikatura para hindi sila masaydong naba-bribe ng kung sino. Ayusin natin ang correction facilities natin kasi talagang parang mas masama pa sa death penalty kung nakita mo kung pano sila na mabuhay doon. At saka dito sa war on drugs…nag-aalala ako na baka ang maging probisyon niyan sa batas ay ganito, baka mere possession after a certain amount of drugs will be tantamount to the death penalty. The problem is paano kung may kaaway ang anak mo, lasing na lasing ang anak mo tapos nilagyan ng drugs sa tabi niya, tapos naging non-bailable, tapos naging death penalty. Ganon na lang ba yon?
Kaya para sa atin hanggat nakakasegurado talaga tayo na maayos an gating sistema ng batas, reinforcement at saka ng hudikatura, napakahirap po talaga. Siguro dapat nga linisin muna natin pero tingnan mo nga yon yung extrajudicial killings natin nakakaalarma pero bilang isang nanay kapag sinasabi natin na at least nababawasan natin yung problema ng droga minsan tumitingin na lang tayo sa kabila hindi na natin pinapansin hanggang kayo mabiktima. So, kailangan talaga balansehin din.
ON SENATE DYNAMICS
Sabillo: Senator, just a bit about the Senate dynamics. How were you able to get your chairmanship? Was it something offered to you or something you really asked for?
Poe: Well they ask you for what you prefer. There’s no guarantee that you will get that committee. I initially wanted the committee on education, Senator Bam wanted it and you know I think he is also very capable. I asked for the Senate committee on public services precisely because if you recall Sen. Serge was the one who was in charge of that in the last Congress when Senator Revilla went on leave. So Senator Osmeña assigned me to be the subcommittee chairman in charge of public transport, ground transport. That’s why I’m a little bit familiar with it already and I want to continue what we started.
Nery: Isa pang sayang yan no na nawala sa Senado, si Senator Serge.
Poe: Talagang teacher ko yan eh.
Nery: Nakakagulat rin na in the whole stretch doon pa nag-fade ano.
Poe: Alam niyo dapat imbitahin niyo yan, tanong niyo yung mga issues. May mga theory yan about what happened and I think Osmena’s quite a household being. Yes there are a lot of strong candidates but I also have my doubts about what happened.
Nery: That’s interesting, a follow-up question from Leoden Juan Kabasagan. Senator may tiwala po ba kayo kay General Bato?
Poe: Sa nakikita ko sa kanya meron naman akong tiwala dahil may lakas loob siya. Alam mo marami na kasi kaming nakakausap sa Senado, sa tingin ko naman mas tapat siya sa ikumpara mo sa mga iba na nakausap na namin. Alam niyo marami na akong nakausap.
Nery: Meron ka dating favorite na PNP chief ha.
Poe: Oo nga eh mukha namang teddy bear na mabait, pero mahirap na communicator. Itong si General Bato nasasabi niya kung ano talaga yung programa nila. In fact, para nga siyang madaling makakuha ng sentimyento ng publiko. Sa ngayon pinagkakatiwalaan ko siya, sa tingin ko naman eh sinsero siya sa kanyang mga mandato. Pero minsan na-carried away din. Diba nga may sinabi siya na sunugin niyo yung ano. Pero agad-agad naman ang maganda noon, aminin mo yung pagkakamali mo humingi ka ng tawad. Ginawa naman niya yun so okay naman bigyan natin ng pagkakataon.
Sabillo: Senator how was the Senate now? This morning we had an ambush interview with Senator Pimentel and he said he wanted to make sure that the Senate is not obstructed of the word war within the president and De Lima. What is the effect of that to the other senators like you?
Poe: Tama yung sinabi ng Senate President. A Senate President must really ensure that the Senate body continues with his work and not just distracted. Of course it is the media’s responsibility not to hype a particular issue. And sacrifice the others that are worthy also of public attention. Maybe it’s too premature to say but we have the ethics committee, Senator Sotto’s chairman of that.
Nery: They had their organizational meeting today.
Poe: If there are any complaints on anyone of us we will go through that and that’s there should be a formal and proper discussion for whatever issues are heard against any other senators.
Sabillo: But do you think it’s proper to continue the hearings on the drug related killings?
Poe: Of course that’s part of the mandate of the Senators to be able to have oversight. And it’s really up to the public to judge if that’s being used as forum for personal vendetta or if it’s being used just a propaganda for certain groups. But certainly it’s in the international law that we have to be able to investigate in a timely and fair manner, all extrajudicial killings. That’s part of the human rights.
ON WAR AGAINST DRUGS
Sabillo: So, maybe we can ask related question from social media, from Kevin Hilado. Related to that, do you support the war on drugs and what is your stand on the extrajudicial killings?
Poe: Yes, I do support the war on drugs. In fact when I was running, one of my platforms was really to declare drugs a national security threat so that you include not just the PNP but also the military. But again, in accordance with law. I know some people get too excited but again how do we know like for example itong drug lord na ito pinatay sa isang lugar. Ito ba ay pinatay ng mga vigilante dahil talagang gusto nilang mawala yung drug lord na yan. Totoo, mas makakatulog yung mga nanay sa mga lugar na yun dahil wala na si drug lord pero pwede rin palitan. Number two, hindi kaya pinatay si drug lord dahil may mga involved na pulitiko at pulis na gusto lamang nilang tumahimik yan. Para bang nagbubunot ka ng damo at hindi monabunot ang ugat. Meron pa ring natitira diyan. Tinapyas mo, natanggal si drug lord pero naiwan pa rin yung pulitiko o pulis na ginagawang posible ang mga bagay na yan. Kaya nga parang para sa akin, lahat tayo, galit tayo kay drug lord mamatay na siya, pero kailangan pa rin tuntunin bakit siya namatay, sinong pumatay sa kanya. Kasi nga naman baka meron pa tayong matuklasan na iba pang konektado na mas malala pa ang kasalanan sa bayan kaysa dito sa mga ito.
ON CHARTER CHANGE
Sabillo: How about charter change ma’am, what is your stand on the issue?
Poe: I’ve always been open to it. The constitution is a living document. It should not be stagnant. I said there are certain things we can change in the constitution like the economic provisions. I’m open to it because the number one requirement for inclusive growth is to have opportunities and jobs. But you won’t have that as they say, as President Duterte said, the same oligarchs running the economy. So unless you reply open the economy to foreign ownership not because I’m not nationalistic but because I think we need more investments in the country. Another thing is I’m not for land ownership of foreigners in the Philippines. I think that we should keep it to ourselves. Sabi ko nga baka maging Palestine tayo one day. Nabenta na natin ang lahat ng lupain natin.
Sabillo: You want to keep it as is?
Poe: Right now the ownership on land, unless this is for manufacturing or certain industries that will actually create jobs. But even then I’m not even sure if I will vote.
Nery: Senator before I say my next question, I’d like to say hi to viewers watching us on Facebook live from Hong Kong, Singapore and the United States. Senator, if I could go back to the question of Senate dynamics, nagpaalam ba si Senator Chiz sa inyo before he decided to move to the Senate Minority. Did you have discussions?
Poe: Hindi naman siya kailangang magpaalam sa akin. Hindi ko naman siya hawak sa leeg at hindi rin niya ako hawak. Pero as a friend, nabanggit niya sa akin yan. Senator Chiz wanted a particular committee but I think that he thought that he would might be more relevant and effective being in the minority. I know that Senator Chiz is supportive of the Senate Presidency of Senator Sotto. But I think he’s perfect for the minority because he’s been in the minority in Congress also before. Tatlo na nga sila diba — Sonny Trillanes and Senator Recto’s minority chairman.
Sabillo: Con-Ass or Con-Con?
Poe: Because of the time that they are looking at and also the expense, I think Con-Ass will work as long as there is transparency in the deliberation and also a parallel body of a constitutional commission made up of respected individuals that will serve as the technical adviser for the con ass. You know whatever we decide in Congress anyway will have to go through a plebiscite. It’s not like we have a unilateral decision on that and powers to be able to amend the constitution. Yun nga lang nandiyan na kaya mabuti siguro meron pa ring mga statesmen na mag-aadvise sa amin, the constitutional convention andwe have to be able to come up with the law that will set the criteria for those who will compose the constitutional convention group.
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE MAYBE
Sabillo: So we have a new segment for INQ&A. It’s called the good, the bad and the maybe. So you could answer good idea or bad idea. You could also answer maybe but only once. But if you have spare time you could explain some of the answers that you feel like you need to explain. So we could start. I have 10 topics and you’ll just say if it’s a good idea or a bad idea.
Number one is nuclear energy for electricity.
Poe: Bad idea
Sabillo: Duterte’s Mula sa Masa, Para sa Masa bimonthly tabloid.
Poe: For me, it depends ha. Politically it’s a good idea for him, but I always believe in journalistic freedom so if there’s a monopoly on that I think it’s a bad idea on that aspect. So again, good idea politically for him, but bad idea for the public.
Sabillo: Replacing LRT II with the Bus Rapid System.
Poe: This will have to go with maybe until we see the time and motion and the dynamics and all.
Sabillo: Prison island for drug offenders.
Poe: Good idea.
Sabillo: De Lima resignation.
Poe: Bad idea now without due process.
Sabillo: Uber, Grab and related services.
Poe: Maybe the transport sector would be happy but I think it is a good idea for some. For me it’s quite convenient.
Sabillo: Liza Diño heading the film development council.
Poe: Good idea
Sabillo: Bounty for cops and drug trade
Poe: Good idea
Sabillo: Joma Sison going home to the Philippines
Poe: Good idea
Sabillo: Re-writing text books to feature Martial Law prominently.
Poe: Good idea.
Sabillo: Okay, I guess we’re done in three minutes.
Nery: Any answer that you would like to clarify?
Poe: Some people are being a bit weary of Joma Sison coming back here, but I think that we really have to strengthen our democratic process and to be able to see that also, we welcome also as long as they don’t have any terroristic tendencies and they only engage in intellectual level of discussion, why not? Basta naman the constitution is pretty clear, you’re not insurgent, you’re not doing anything to harm your countrymen. Again, why not.
Nery: Senator can you say hi to our viewers in UAE, Dubai and Bali, Indonesia?
Poe: Hello. Magandang gabi, umaga sa inyong lahat po na pinaglaanan nyo ng oras ang pakikinig ngayon. Magaling talaga ang Inquirer dahil alam nila ang mga issues at una sila sa ating balita. Salamat din sa inyong ambag sa ating bansa kahit malayo kayo. Kayo naman talaga nagpalutang sa ating ekonomiya sa mahabang panahon.
Nery: Senator I have a question with the president. Have you talked to him since he took his oath?
Poe: No, I only talk to him when I conceded. That’s the first and last time since then that we spoke. We don’t really need to speak about anything unless he needs me. I’m always open to help the administration. Their success will spell out success for the public. Therefore, I would like to be supportive.
Nery: Not to put you on the spot but we had Senator Dick Gordon here and we showed him a photo. Senator Gordon visited the President in Malacañang. Sina Senator Migz, Senator Alan. I think this is the group Senator Alan wanted to put together for a coalition. Did yous ee that photo? Did you hear about that meeting?
Poe: I’ve seen the photo. I didn’t hear about the meeting until after. Apparently, they had a tax briefing or a finance briefing. You know Secretary Dominguez was kind enough to give me a one-on-one briefing, together with his team. So it was less political and more work focused. And I appreciated that. There was no need for me to have that briefing but I welcome the opportunity to be able to speak to the President should he need me.
Nery: Senator ang daming laman ng balita and a lot of it is bleak. What are we missing? You are heavily involved. Is there something big that mainstream media is failing to cover or cover properly. Is there anything we should be giving more attention to.
Poe: That’s a really good question. But I think with the popularity of the president now, there’s really a lot of things the media can do to balance the situation and present to the public what’s going on.
For example, I think you should go down really to the barangay level and check those who are given notices to. Go to the barangay and check…because of their supposed relations to those connected to drugs. I think that we need to be careful because there’s also this issue on this honor student in Pangasinan. According to the barangay she was cleared from being involved in drugs and then later found killed. I think we should really look into that.
We should also make sure we have that…really educate the people on federalism. With a really popular champion on federalism, we could also add an additional burden to the bureaucracy and (have) dynastic tendencies in different regions. We need to show things like that.
Nery: What is your own view on federalism
Poe: I think you should give the regions more autonomy and more potential capability, give them a bigger share of the IRA (Internal Revenue Allotment). There to be an actual federal state, I am quite unclear about this. First of all, we have not upheld what is in the constitution that there should be no dynasties. The first compliance we’ll ever have on this anti-dynasty provision in the constitution is the SK reform bill. Kasi bawal na na may kamag-anak ka. I don’t know what degree of consanguinity.
Nery: Mukhang hindi napag-aralan ng administration.
Poe: So we really have to make sure that the anti-dynasty law is upheld…through FOI without those exceptions. Ang natatakot ako ay maging…we’re an archipelago na nga, we are separated by different dialects, by water. And then you have different feudal groups. As it is now when we campaign (we are told), “Ay hawak ni so and so yan.” Eh di lalo na pag nag-federal ka. I know there are some who believe even you are a little known family name in a province you could have a national position in a federal set-up. Not true because look at it now. A lot of the poor in the provinces cannot even run for mayor because it’s the same families who are dominating the political scene in the province.
Nery: In addition to that, here is another question from Ras Reslo: “Paano makakapanghina sa drug lords ang isang mahigpit na anti-dynasty law.
Poe: Eh kasi malinaw naman po na ang nagpapatakbo ng isang probinsya kung isang pamilya lang eh hawak nila lahat — ang pera, ang kapangyarihan, pati na rin ang pulis. At least may balanse kung hindi lang isang pamilya ang namamahala sa munisipalidad eh di syempre may nagbabantay doon. Ayoko naman pagbintangan lahat ng pamilya involved dito pero halimbawa na lang ang ating mag pulis sa bawat presinto, ang maintenance and other operating expenses budget po nila ay isang libo bawat isang buwan bawat pulis. Kasama na po dun kuryente, tubig, panlinis…Kung lima lang ang pulis sa isang town eh di P5,000 lang yung makukuha nila. Sino ngayon ang susuporta sa kanila? Minsan wala silang pang-gasolina sa mobile patrol units nila kasi ubos na ang nakalaan sa kanilang pang-gasolina. Eh di magbibigay si local padrino, kung drug lord man say or jueteng man sya. Say nagbibigay sa pulis ng allowance. Wala man lang sila pampatakbo ng presinto nila. So really we have to look at these allocations and government support to our local enforcers so that they won’t be domianted by the powers-that-be or the dominant families in their provinces.
Sabillo: Senator last question from me before we end. I’m just curious about your promotion of film tourism. How is the bill now? And what is your vision for that.
Poe: We’ve refiled it so it has to go through a committee hearing. Sa sting mga kababayan alam nyo po pag prinomote natin ang sting bans bilang tourist destination para sa mga pelikula, aka lain ninyo yung Bourne Legacy na yun ang lake ng hype doon. Ang pinakita sa Pilipinas hindi naman malaki diba? Tapos sa gitna ng karagatan, di man lang nakita yung shoreline ng Palawan.
You know, the exposure that you can get by having all these films from abroad is tremendous. Yung Lord of the Rings lahat pumunta sa New Zealand. Ilang billion ang nabigyan ng trabaho…na kinalap ng gobyerno dahil sa turismo. Tayo kumikita ng P6 billion a year sa tourists samantalang ang Thailand po nasa P42 billion.
Ang kinikita natin sa ating mga OFW P26 billion…I don’t think we have to send much OFWs abroad anymore. Ladies and gentlemen I don’t think the Philippines is less beautiful than Thailand. I think were kinda more interesting also because we’re hospitable and we speak English.
Nery: So the film tourism bill gives incentives?
Poe: To market the Philippines, give them tax exemptions, incentives when they shoot here. I think London has something like that. Ang mangyayari kasi kunwari sasabihin natin…
Nery: Okay for the next Game of Thrones season that meron silang tropical…
Poe: Na setting ano? Or kahit yung mga sound studio natin dito kung may mas mura. But we’ll say if you feature the beauty of the Philippines, 5 minutes in your movie or 2 minutes — Basta the beauty not the squalor lang — we will give you incentives. But aside from that also it is promoting our local content abroad. You know when there are trade shows abroad, usually Korea would have its own booth, China and other countries. The Philippines we have GMA, ABS, kalat-kalat. So if you have your own local production with really good movies and content, you can’t afford to have a booth. So how do you promote our local content? So the Philippines will need to give money to these directors to attend all of these workshops to be able to learn more.
Nery: Senator, last question from me, what more can we expect from you in the next three years. What legislative priorities do you have in mind?
Poe: Well my dream is always to have, enact a law that will institutionalise a lunch program for all students in all public elementary schools. Libreng pananghalian para sa mga bata. This is very important kasi alam mo the Philippines is one of the youngest populations in the world and this is our advantage. But what type of population will we have if these kids are malnourished, they won’t be able to learn much in school? So for us to be competitive we have to (invest) in our youth and that begins with proper nutrition.
Ano ba naman yung P40 billion a year. I know it’s a lot of money but if you’re really feeding the children properly…Alam mo some people are saying na alam mo hung bata kami may gatas sa school, may nutribun. Lumaki naman sila ng matino. Bakit kung kelan yumaman ang bans nation wall tayong programang ganito. So yun ang isa. of course the FOI we wanted to pass. Another is the first 100 days in a child’s life. Dapat nasa sinapupunan pa lang bigyan ng sapat na suporta at pagkain. Kasi yung brain nya. So kailangan matalino talaga ang mga Pilipino para makapag-kompetensya tayo sa bang bansa.
Nery: This has been a very instructive discussion. Thank you very much Senator Grace Poe for making time for us.
Sabillo: Thank you to everyone watching us on Facebook and Youtube. To learn who our next guess would be follow us on social media on Twitter.
Nery: Alright. This has been INQ&A. Thank you and good night.
