Francis Escudero Podcast Transcript

8/14/2019 Francis Escudero Podcast Transcript

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Francis Escudero, podcast interview transcript, part 1

INQUIRER.net

First Posted 11:36:00 02/26/2007

Editor's Note: What follows is the first part of a preliminary transcriptof the Eleksyon2007 podcast interview with senatorial candidateFrancis Escudero.

Joey Alarilla: Our guest for this podcast is Congressman FrancisEscudero, Escudero is running for Senator under the Genuine

Opposition slate. Good evening, Chiz Escudero.

Francis Escudero : Good evening and it's an honor to be here.

Joey Alarilla: Our first question is from INQUIRER.net editor in chief,JV Rufino.

JV Rufino : Good evening, Congressman.

Francis Escudero : Hi, good evening, JV.

JV Rufino : The Philippines has been chugging along economically, notreally soaring as some of its Southeast Asian neighbors. What do youthink are the three most important problems preventing the Philippinesfrom feeding all its people, sending all its kids to school, and givingthem all the basic needs for a decent life?

Francis Escudero : Hmm. First, insofar as being able to attract enoughbusiness to be able to provide enough jobs to pay for whatever basicneeds they might want to have including education, food, clothing andhousing...

The number one problem insofar as that is concerned is power cost.Electricity simply costs The cost of electricity is too high in ourcountry in order to attract enough investments, to be able to provide


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jobs for our citizens, perhaps enable them to buy whatever it is theywant -- to educate their children. All of the surveys they've conductedeither here or abroad would point to the cost of power as the numberone culprit. Its not even instability. Its not even the unions that we

have here. It's not even the strikes that usually occur. It is power andthat is what we should resolve in so far as attracting business isconcerned.

Secondly, insofar as the economy is concerned, especially spending insocial services including education and health, its a question ofbudgetary prioritization and allocation. Under the Constitution,highest budgetary priority must go and must be given to education;however, they have included some items which you call off-budget

items to the budget.

For example, the internal revenue allotment, and, secondly, debtservicing. These two big ticket items actually have a bigger allocationin our budget than education. And they were able to circumvent thatparticular costly provision by simply saying that these are off-budgetitems -- automatically appropriated and need not pass through thebudgetary process in Congress both in the House and in the Senate.

Third, perhaps, insofar as that particular issue or problem is concernedwould be corruption. The Philippines right now is ranked as one of thehighest, not only in Southeast Asia, not only in East Asia, but also inthe world in so far as the corruption index is concerned.

Transparency International have been logging or ranking thePhilippines at a increasing rate. Compared to other countries, it shouldimprove insofar as [the] battle against corruption is concerned. Forexample, according to the recent data of the Department of Finance,we are losing approximately 200 billion pesos via corruption insofar asthe capital outlay of government is concerned, approximately 70billions of pesos in so far as the MOE and other expenses ofgovernment are concerned and about 180 billion from smuggling.

Total all of these and you could construct x number of schools, xnumber of streets, x number of hospitals and other potential social


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services in government should be able to afford if only we could curb ifnot minimize or totally eradicate corruption.

JV Rufino : As a senator, how are you going to solve these problems?

Francis Escudero : You can only legislate. As a senator, as a member ofcongress, you can only legislate. I'm of the firm belief, na karamihan samga problem natin, hindi na bagong batas ang kailangan. One of mycolleagues in Congress has this anecdote that he always tells us. Whenhe first ran for Congress, he did not file a single bill while he was amember of Congress for three years.

When he was seeking reelection, his constituents asked him, bakit ka

namin iboboto ulit ni isang bill wala kang finile? Mambabatas ka paman din.

Ang sagot n'ya simple lang, pero masakit, sabi nya: Kayo naman, wag'nyo ko hanapan ng batas. Sampung batas lang ang ibinigay sa 'yo ngDiyos di n'yo pa sinusunod. Bakit ko pa dadagdagan? E kungsinusunod natin ang sampung utos ng Diyos sabihin n'yo nga sa akinkung may problema tayo?

Wag na 'yung sampu. Mahirap memoryahin 'yan. 'Di ko rin kabisado.'Yung dalawa na lang. Nung dumating si Hesus, ginawa N'yangdalawa. Respect and love thy Father and your fellow man as much asyourself. Kung mahal mo kapwa mo pagnanakawan mo ba? Dadayainmo ba? Lolokohin mo ba? Sasaktan mo ba? O gagawa ka ng anumangmasama sa kanya?

I'm of the firm belief na hindi bagong batas ang kailangan na solusyonnatin. As a member of the Senate, as a member of Congress, we shouldall promise our people simple things. One, that they will bring theirvoice and their vote in the Senate insofar as issues brought forth beforethe Senate is concerned. And secondly, that we will exercise ourpowers to ensure that all of the laws that have been passed thus far areindeed implemented and followed to the letter by those who aresupposed to implement them and by those who are supposed to followthem.


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Dalawa lang ang gawin natin sa ating bansa. [Kung] sundin ang batasat ipatupad and batas, maraming pagbabago tayong makikita sa atingbansa. The way or the mode I am referring to is the power of Congress

of oversight and to conduct congressional inquiries in order to checkon abuses of the executive.

JV Rufino : But aren't these powers in aid of legislation? Isnt that theprimary focus?

Francis Escudero : Not necessarily. There are two functions ofCongress. One is oversight functions, to ensure that laws we havepassed are indeed followed to the letter; and, number two, if they

cannot follow to the letter, then we should find out what the reason is--if at all, there is a need to amend or pass a corrective piece oflegislation. But if not, it's simply calling the attention of the executivebranch to follow the letter and intent of the law that Congress haspassed previously.

JV Rufino : I see... Our next question has to do with call centers. Mostgraduates of even the top schools, they end up working as call centeragents. Is this something that you would support or would you sort ofpromote entrepreneurship as an alternative way?

Francis Escudero : We should promote local entrepreneurs. We shouldbe able to give them enough incentives insofar as being able to conductand have their own business, concentrating on indigenous talent andlocal talent or local products or local raw materials.

'Yung call center is a temporary phenomenon. Para sa akin, walanamang masama. Pero hindi rin naman tama na in the long term, iyanna lang ang tayaan at asahan natin. Think for example [of] forward-looking countries like Singapore. I do not and cannot see why ourcountry cannot do the same insofar as planning forward is concerned,or being forward-looking is concerned.

Five, ten years ago, yung mga Chinese at Korean nationals at Indiannationals nagpupunta dito para mag-aral ng English. As of today


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inimport na lang nila yung mga English teachers papuntang Korea,papuntang China, papuntang India para turuan yung mga kababayannilang mag Ingles.

We suffered a double whammy insofar as that is concerned. We lostout on what we may call student dollars, yung mga gusto sanangmatuto ng Ingles dito at yung kababayan natin lalayo pa sa kanyangmahal sa buhay at yung kinikita nyang sweldo dun, dun din nyasyempre ginagastos yung bahagi.

We should be able to be forward-looking enough and not simply reactto the current situation. We are in a position, given our placement invarious countries in the world, to be able to predict or somewhat plan

ahead insofar as the career path of our citizenry is concerned.

Another example: Imbes na yung mga ambassador at consul natinnagiging alalay and tour guide ng mga congressman, senador, secretaryo mga asawa nila o anak o kapatid, ang dapat sana nilang gawingtrabaho: Alamin kung ano ang nangyayari at nagaganap sa bansang'yun. Halimbawa, sa aking pagkakaalam sa Dubai, may i-kokonstructna hospital dun o may i- kino-construct na matatapos sa year 2011.

Alam nila kung anung klaseng skilled labor ang kailangan, alam nilakung anong klaseng medical personnel ang kailangan, at alam din nilakung ilan. Bakit hindi natin i-train at alamin natin yung mgapangangailangan at pag napunuan na natin yun, tama na rin.

In Australia, that's how they do things. They look at the career pathand the available professionals in the county. And whenever they findout that the particular career has been filled up, they simplycommunicate with the schools by increasing the quota, meaning yungaverage grade quota requirement for a particular course or limiting thenumber of students that can take that particular course in order toredirect and direct their graduates according to the needs of theircountry or according to the needs of the market.


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Hindi natin ginagawa yun. Wala tayong ginagawang kaugnay perokayang kayang gawin natin yun. I think that is what the governmentshould do.

JV Rufino : Ok, thank you very much.

Thea Alberto : Hi, good evening. I'm Thea Alberto of INQUIRER.net.

Francis Escudero : Hi Thea, good evening.

Thea Alberto : Sir, for this campaign, how much do you intend tospend?

Francis Escudero : It depends on how much money we can raise. Wework on a weekly basis. We plan for one week. And depending on theamount of money that we can raise for the given week, we adjustaccordingly. I was interviewed once [and asked], how much money Ihad in the bank, and that was as truthful as I could get. Of course, theinterviewer did not ask me how much money I had--she asked me howmuch money I had in the bank.

And I said two hundred thousand. I'm of the firm belief in what KevinCostner said in the movie Field of Dreams, if you build it, they willcome. And we have thus far tried to build our campaign, build ournames, build our plans, ambitions and dreams for the country in thehope that the support will come.

But insofar as studies are concerned the administration bets are correct.To be able to run a credible campaign, you need about a 100 million to120 million pesos to run a credible campaign. Kami nangangarapkaming ma-raise yung pondong yun. Pero kung hindi man, we arewilling to adjust accordingly and make the necessary changes withrespect to our secrecy.

Thea Alberto : Sir, when you last ran for a political, for an electivepost, how much did you spend?


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Francis Escudero : By far mura, ni hindi kami umabot sa maximumspending requirement limitation provided for valid for by law. Underthe law you can only spend two pesos for every registered voter. Underthe law, a party can only spend five pesos for every registered voter

cumulative. In Sorsogon, we have approximately a hundred eightythousand registered voters...times three so that's approximately a littleless than one. And we complied with the requirements of the lawinsofar as expenditures in concerned.

Thea Alberto : Sir, given the costs of campaigning and the lack of animmediate impact legislation has on running a country, why run forsenator? Why not mayor or governor or again a representative ofSorsogon?

Francis Escudero : Can't run for rep anymore of Sorsogon--I finishedthree consecutive terms . Another relative of mine is running for a localposition, and the last thing I want would be an Escudero, Escudero,Escudero lineup for local positions.

Thirdly, I don't think this is what I'll be doing for the rest of my life. Iwould want to run for a higher position and find out, and I wouldlucky enough to find out at the age 37, if this is still what I'll be doing.I've had the perspective of my district, insofar as serving government isconcerned. I would want to broaden that perspective, if I will be givena chance.

If I would not be given that trust and chance by our people, then Iguess it's time to move one to other fields insofar as my professionalcareer is concerned. Outside of politics, outside of government whereperhaps life might be easier and happier.

Thea Alberto : Sir, are there friends who have pledged already fordonation?

Francis Escudero : Yes, iyon ang pinakamadaling gawin sa mundo.Mangako. Ang mahirap mangyari ay tuparin and pangako. Friendshave pledged to help, some have actually helped, and we have


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somehow been able to make do these past weeks --this first week of thecampaign.

Thea Alberto : For those who are able to help you, sir, don't you think

you would be beholden to them in the future? And if someday theywould ask for a favor?

Francis Escudero : There's a basic distinction, and I draw the line there.If you asked for help and come knocking at their doors begging, andthey actually helped you, then probably you are correct.

But if you simply sit still and not move and wait for people to offerhelp and volunteer their own help, whether it be financially or in kind.

That is where the distinction lies. Yun, hindi ka nila hawak. 'Yun hindipwede kang hindi tumanggi. At kahit naman sa akin ngayon e.

Even if you look at it from the point of view, from a person that youasked help from, you'd be doing him a service, you would be doing hisor her children a service, you would be doing the country a service, ifyou still did what you thought was right. Instead of simply doing whatthey would want me to do. Even if it was against your conscience, yourbelief system, and your principles.

I've been in politics for nine years. Wala pang nakapilit sa 'king nagumawa ng isang bagay na hindi ko gusto. O hindi ako naniniwala.Marami na ring temptasyon na dumaan pero, nalampasan ko 'yon. Atsana sa mga darating pang taon, malampasan ko pa rin at magkaroonpa rin ako ng matibay na paniniwala at lakas na sabihin pa rin na NOpag NO, at YES pag YES.

Thea Alberto : Sir, another topic. What are your views on politicaldynasties?

Francis Escudero : I am a beneficiary of a political dynasty. And therecan be no doubt with respect to that. My father used to be the memberof the [House], representative of the first district of Sorsogon. He wasappointed secretary of Agriculture in 96. And I ran for the same


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position in the same district in 1998. So you have to take with a grainof salt whatever it is I will be saying.

I'm against political dynasties, for the simple reason that it limits the

voters choice of candidates.

Bakit mo nilimitahan yung pagpipilian nya? Dahil yung dynasty rawnaka set-up na yung pamilya. Kontrolado na nila 'yung boto sa lugar. Idisagree. There have been many dynasties that were defeated inprevious elections.

Naniniwala rin ako kung gusto sa 'yo ng tao, ikaw ang mananalo.Kung ayaw sa 'yo ng tao, hindi ikaw and mananalo. Bakit mo

lilimitahan ang pwedeng pagpilian ng tao kaugnay ng gusto nilangbotohan? Pa'no kung ang pagpipilian mo ay isang sugarol, isangmatanda, isang drug addict at isang sira ulo talaga, at 'yun sunod nachoice nagkataong anak nung dating nakaupo. Pagbabawalan mosilang mamili at sabihing 'yun ang gusto nila? At pupwersahin mosilang pumili dung sa apat o lima na hindi naman talaga nila gusto?

Take for example, the two remaining candidates in the GO slate whohas a -- one has a sister there and one has a father in the Senate rightnow. Para sa 'kin hindi tamang pagbawalan silang tumakbo, but in thesame manner, in the same breath, it is your right, if it in your right andvoter's right to say and decide. Will they still vote for them even if theyhave a father or sister there? Or will they not vote for them anymorebecause they have a father or sister there? It's completely up to thevoter. And it's not for us to decide and dictate upon them whom theywill vote for given the wide choices that should be made available tothem.

Thea Alberto : Pero, sir, don't you think it is ironic that you may notget this from the s-called political dynasty and yet you don't like youknow, the whole thing, the whole picture?

Francis Escudero : No, I benefited from it. Meaning, I'm the product ofa dynasty in our district, in our province perhaps. And I'm against it,but I have not participated in any vote with respect to it. Given the


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conflict of interest that I have, given that I'm a product of a dynasty, Idon't think we should pass the political dynasty law. Simply put.

It gives the image and impression that we don't trust the Filipino voter.

That the Filipino voter cannot decide for himself or for herself what isbest for the country. At the end of the day it's still one person, onevote. Even if he is still the child, wives, children, brother, uncle, of theincumbent. Let the people decide whom they want to serve as themember of congress, mayor, governor or any other elective position.

Francis Escudero, podcast interview transcript, part 2

INQUIRER.netFirst Posted 11:42:00 02/26/2007

Lira Fernandez : Magandang gabi po. Ako po si Lira Fernandez. Nagko-cover ako ng Team Unity.

Francis Escudero : Good luck.

Lira Fernandez : Sir meron pong -- marami siguro hindi alam tong billna 'to, na ikaw ang nag propose. Pero nagsi-circulate sa Yahoo!Groups, and which is about giving more teeth to the Animal WelfareAct. Hindi ka ba natatakot for the loose voters for this bill kasimaraming Filipinos ang dog-eaters?

Francis Escudero : Minana ko 'yang bill na 'yan, na inumpisahan ngtatay ko nung s'ya'y mambabatas pa lang. My father is a veterinarianby profession and he used to be the dean of the College of VeterinaryMedicine in UP. Some changes have to be made and we filed the bill inorder to pass corrective legislation. 'Yung takot na mawawalan ngboto, hindi konsiderasyon sa 'min yun nang ifinile namin 'yun bill.Marami ba? Ay.(Laughs)

Lira Fernandez : Have you pushed for it?

Francis Escudero : Yes, and we have been pushing for it.


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Lira Fernandez : In the next Congress?

Francis Escudero : No, actually, we still have time to finish it when we

resume in June 4.

Lira Fernandez : Ano'ng status nung...?

Francis Escudero : It's approved I think in the House but it is pendingapproval from the Senate. Hopefully if it's approved in the Senate bytomorrow, we still have time to pass it before we go on recess in June4. Because if we don't, it will start again from scratch.

Lira Fernandez : Basically, what does it hold?

Francis Escudero : It simply increases the penalties for cruelty againstanimals, particularly dogs. Because it doesn't seem to have [a] deterrenteffect given the low penalties the previously law had.

Lira Fernandez : How much [is the] amount?

Francis Escudero : I think from from one to six years was the increase,if I'm not mistaken.

Lira Fernandez : Basically, what drives your political ambition?

Francis Escudero : What drives my political ambitions? The desire tobe remembered beyond ones lifetime or after one has long passedaway. 'Di ba may kasabihan sa Ingles: If you can't write a book, mightas well be written about. I can't write a book. I can't sing so I can'tleave a CD behind. I cant act so I can't leave a DVD behind. I can'twrite so I can't leave a book behind.

I would want somehow to be remembered beyond my lifetime forhaving done something good, something right. Something that thepeople actually felt and the only thing I know is serving in governmentas a lawyer or as a professor. Wala pa kaming anak ng misis ko. Wala


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pa 'kong maiiwan na mabuting tao siguro sa mundo para sabihin itoyung pamana ko sa mundo.

Right now, what I have is what I know I can do insofar as my present

position is concerned. And that is my basic driving force insofar asentering politics is concerned, and staying in politics is concerned.

But politics, having said that, is not my end-all and be-all. I don't eatpolitics for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And whenever I sleep, I don'tdream of politics. Hindi pulitika ang hangin na hinihinga ko. Atmaswerte siguro ako, sa edad na 37, nasa crossroads ako paramalaman: Ito pa ba ang gagawin ko o hindi na? Maghahanap ba akong ibang dahilan o rason para maski na papa'no maalala ko

pagkatapos kong pumanaw, o dito na talaga yung lugar para makuhaat makita ko 'yun?

Lira Fernandez : What will make you get out of it?

Francis Escudero : 'Pag sinabi na sa 'kin ng tao na ayaw na nila sa 'kinat matalo ako sa eleksyon. I will not run for any other position afterthat.

Lira Fernandez : After this election?

Francis Escudero : After this election.

Lira Fernandez : And if you win?

Francis Escudero : And I hope it will not happen though.

Lira Fernandez : And what will you be six years after?

Francis Escudero : What will I be six years after? I hope I will still bethe same person. Scruples and principles intact. Very much like what Iam now after nine years in Congress. And I don't know if I will stillseek re-election after that time.

Lira Fernandez : I mean no more political career?


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Francis Escudero : Well it depends. May Senado pa ba pagdating ngpanahong 'yun? Would there be an opening for higher office later on?Any politician really who says that he is not thinking of higher office is

not telling the truth.

Every politician at the back of his mind at least would be thinking:What if? What if? What if? And for as long as reality hasn't slappedhim in the face. I think that possibility remains open insofar aseveryone is concerned.

Lira Fernandez : Is losing one of your worst fears in politics?

Francis Escudero : I don't want to lose. Nobody wants to lose. But I'mnot afraid of it. It's a reality and it's a fact that one has to accept andlive by. But I would consider myself lucky because should that happenat my age right now, 37, I still have the rest of my life to do otherthings.

I think the more painful part is losing when you're already 65, 70 or80. Wala ka ng ibang gagawin pa kung saka sakali. Matapos nun, Iconsider myself blessed. That at age 37, I would be given the privilegeand opportunity to know what to do for the rest of my life henceforthdepending on what the outcome of the election will be.

Lira Fernandez : Sir, would you still recall, how much personal incometax did you pay in the last six years?

Francis Escudero : I honestly don't know. It's my accountant friendwho takes care of it. I think we paid, if I'm not mistaken twohundred plus. Two hundred or three hundred plus thousand, excludingthe withholding tax part.

One of the things we take very good care of is our income tax returnand statement of assets and liabilities. Being in the opposition, wewouldn't want government or the administration to be able to find agap insofar as the things that we should be doing, given the fact that


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we been dishing out criticisms, left and right, to officials in theadministration.

But I assure you, anything we have stated in the ITR and SAL is

exactly what we have, and exactly what we should pay, and is exactlywhat we earned in the past so many years that I have been in office.

Lira Fernandez : Sir, how do you feel about Cesar Montano's joiningTeam Unity?

Francis Escudero : At least may gwapo na 'dun. (laughs) Hindi, it's hisright to run for public office. Nobody should take that right away fromhim. For as long as he complies with qualifications for the office,

meaning he's of age; he's a natural-born Filipino; he is able to read andwrite; he is a resident of the Philippines for two years previous to theelection; and he is a registered voter; I think nobody can say or claimthat he cannot run for this particular post that he is running for.

On the part of the administration, I ask them, is this an admission, thatthey are taking back everything they said against FPJ [actor andpresidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr.-ed] in 04 [the 2004presidential elections-ed]? Or they saying it was only wrong in 04 butit's now right insofar as they're concerned for this particular election in07?

I'm not taking anything away from Mr. Montano. It's his right to run.At the end of the day it's still one person, one vote. Let the peopledecide who they want to serve as senator of the Republic insofar as the12 vacant seats are concerned.

Joel Guinto: Hi sir, I'm Joel. I cover the defense beat.

Francis Escudero : Hi Joel. Good evening.

Joel Guinto: Sir, just an overview, what bills will you prioritize ifyou're elected?


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Francis Escudero : Bills basically institutionalizing first and foremostthe system or theory being adopted by the Gawad Kalinga groupinsofar as reviving and restoring the dignity of every Filipino isconcerned via their programs associated with housing.

Second would be ensuring that quality education is made available toanyone who might want to study not only up to high school but up tothe tertiary or collegiate level.

Third, would be bills that would ensure that the ample and adequateprotection of human rights, and for penalties against those who mightwant or should violate these human rights -- basic human rights of ourpeople.

Fourth would be strengthening the oversight and legislative powers ofCongress as against the executive in order to prevent abuse and inorder to prevent any potential or possibility for corruption that mayoccur in government particularly in the executive branch.

Joel Guinto : How do you increase the oversight powers?

Francis Escudero : The rules of the House. The rules of the Senate forthat particular matter because according to the Constitution, theSenate and the House would be supreme insofar as the rule-makingpowers are concerned and this can be done by each chamberindependently of the other, and such rules would be respected by thecourts given the theory of separation of powers.

Joel Guinto: In Congress, you are always out-voted by the majority,how do you work around it?

Francis Escudero : At the end of the day, in a democracy, it's still themajority that should be followed. Tama man o mali, moral man oimmoral, just or unjust, in a democracy you follow only one rule.What the majority wants, let history decide who was right and whowas wrong.


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Let history decide if at all, if it was indeed a correct decision or vote orif it's a wrong decision or vote. Trabaho ng minority na matalo talagasa botohan. Dahil ang tawag nga sa 'min ay minority. 'Pag nanalokami sa botohan, hindi na minority ang tawag sa 'min, majority na

siguro ang tawag sa 'min.

Having said that in fiscalizing, we don't expect to win a vote. Infiscalizing, we simply expect to clarify certain issues that may beclouded. In fiscalizing, we simply seek to make them accountable forwhatever it is that they have done, or failed to do.

And in fiscalizing we seek to prevent or avoid previous mistakes ormisdeeds committed by officials in government. Even if we lose the

vote, for as long as we get that message across, I think we would havebeen able to perform our duly sworn duties already.

Joel Guinto: Sir, you mentioned human rights. Given the spate ofpolitical killings and journalist killings, how do you intend to stop this?

Francis Escudero : Trabaho ng executive 'yan. May mga commondenominator ang lahat ng mga pagpatay o mga political killings nanagaganap sa ating bansa. Una, palagi naka-motorsiklo 'yungbumabaril. Pangalawa, dalawa palagi sila. Pangatlo, naka-bonnet.Pang-apat, .45 and gamit. Panglima, hindi nalalayo ng isang kilometrosa isang pinakamalapit na kampo ng sundalo o nga pulis. At pang-anim, ni isang suspect, hanggang ngayon, bagaman pitong daanmahigit na ang pinapatay, at sa araw na ito may binaril na naman saaming distrito sa lalawigan ng Sorsogon, 'yung ABC president ngmunisipyo ng Pilar na malapit na kaibigan ko pang si Jun Esplares,hanggang ngayon wala pa rin silang suspect.

Clearly, it is government that is behind these killings and clearly it isgovernment that must do something about it. Matagal nangpinaparusahan sa ilalim ng batas ang pagpatay ng kapwa natin. Hindina kailangan magpasa ka pa ng panibagong batas ng Kongreso napinagbabawal 'yung pagpatay s kapwa. Kailangan lamang ipatupad'yun. Kailangan lamang tiyakin na sinusunod 'yan partikular na ngamga miyembro ng Armed Forces of the Philippines.


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The only thing that Congress can do is to exercise its strengthenedpowers of oversight to ensure that indeed these laws are followed, andofficials who are amiss with respect to their duties and functions would

be held accountable by dismissing them from office, or holding themaccountable by a command responsibility 'nung failure ng peace andorder dun sa lugar nila.

Joel Guinto: What should GMA [President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo]do to stop the killings?

Francis Escudero : Start disciplining members of the military and headsshould start rolling. Si General Palparan halimbawa, maraming

alingawngaw na s'ya ang may kinalaman sa walang humpay napagpatay ng mga miyembro ng makakaliwa or progeisibong grupo,Inimbestigahan ba s'ya? Sinuspinde ba man lang s'ya? Bakit kapagmayor, governor, o kakampi na opposition ang medyo nadapa ornatisod, suspendido agad. Dahil pag kapag kakampi n'ya, kaalyadon'ya, tumutulong sa kanya, kahit preventive suspension man lang aywala.

A chilling effect must be sent to the hierarchy of the Philippine[military]and the PNP [Philippine National Police-ed] insofar as thesepolitical killings are concerned. That government will not stand idly byand watch as our citizens even if they disagree with the government arebeing killed and shot one by one.

Joel Guinto: So, whose head should roll, sir? Does this includeCommander [Hermognes] Esperon [military chief of staff-ed]?

Francis Escudero : Command responsibility. Esperon, yes, should beone. The commanding general insofar as the particular area or field isconcerned would be two. Third would be the respective regionalprovincial police directors who cannot even produce a single suspectinsofar as these killings are concerned.

Joel Guinto: Sir, you also mentioned about improving the educationalsystem. What laws do you intend to pass?


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Francis Escudero : Isa lang siguro. 'Yung budget kada taon, to increaseinstead of decrease the budget for state colleges or universities to beable to enable them rather to offer them services to a wider number

of students in the provinces. Ang nangyayari ngayon for the past 3years, pababa nang pababa ang budget na pino-propose ngadministrasyon ni Pangulong Arroyo sa state colleges and universities.Gusto nilang maging self sustaining ito at ayaw nilang makipag-compete daw and mga eskwelang ito sa mga private schools.

Para sa 'kin, mali 'yun. Dapat makipag-compete ang state colleges anduniversities sa private schools in order to hold them in check. Alamn'yo ba na pag tinataasan ng gobyerno ang sweldo ng mga teachers sa

public school, nag-oobject ang mga private school, sa kadahilanan na,mahihirapan na raw silang makipagsabayan sa gobyerno sa pagbayadng sweldo ng mga titser. E mali naman nga ata 'yun.

I think government, for as long as we can afford it, must be able to setthe bar insofar as salaries are concerned so that the private sectorwould follow. And, number two, government must also be able to setthe bar insofar as the lowered cost of education is concerned. So thatthe private sector would also follow suit. Otherwise, they will simplylose out in the business that they had entered into, insofar as educatingour youth is concerned.

Para sa 'kin 'yun lang ang kailangan gawin ng kanyang pamahalaan. Areverse of what the present administration is doing.

Joel Guinto: Sir, you mentioned about increasing the budget, but do weneed to build more state colleges and universities?

Francis Escudero : I don't think so. For as long as we have one for eachprovince that would be enough. Providing them with adequate moneyin order to maintain their facilities, and expand perhaps their facilitieswould be enough without necessarily enacting via a law, another statecollege and the university in another municipality or city for as long asthere's already one in the province.


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Joel Guinto: Sir, on the issue of taxes, do you think Congress shouldpass more laws?

Francis Escudero : No. Before government can knock at our doors, and

ask for more money via taxes, they must prove two things first.

One, that they have been collecting the best take that they can [from]existing taxes that are being imposed.

Two, that they have been trying to spend our money wisely andprudently but it simply is not enough. Hindi nila pinakita 'yan nungipinasa nila 'yung VAT. Hindi nila pinatunayan sa 'tin 'yan nu'ngpinasa nila 'yang Expanded Value Added Tax. Bakit tayo pumayag na

ganu'n ganu'n na lamang?

Pangatlo, under the Constitution, taxation must always be based onthe taxpayer's ability to pay. Hindi sinunod sa VAT 'yun. Tayong lahattinamaan ng VAT nu'ng ito'y pinasa ng Kongreso, mayaman man omahirap, may trabaho man o wala. We were proposing to them acounter measure. Sabi namin, why don't we pass what we proposed inthe opposition -- an equalization tax. Ano 'yung equalization tax? It'sbasically a tax on cellphones. How would we be taxing cellphones?Again, bearing in mind 'yung taxation must be based on the taxpayer'sability to pay.

Prepaid ka o postpaid?

Joel Guinto: Postpaid in the office

Francis Escudero : How much are you paying per minute? Do you evenknow?

All of the persons I ask if they were postpaid, kung magkano 'yungbinabayaran nila, can't even say how much per minute they're paying.Prepaid itself approximately eight pesos per minute. Postpaiddepending on your plan, it's about four pesos to six pesos per minute.There' s a difference of approximately two to four pesos.


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'Yun 'yung equalization tax na gusto sana naming gawin. 'Yungdifferential na 'yun ibabayad sa gobyerno. So, immediately socialized'yung tax mo. If you're paying four pesos per minute, it means youhave a high income or heavy user ka, kaya mura lang e. So you'll be

paying a price differential of four pesos for every minute of usage ofyour cellphone. So yumayaman ang nagbabayad nun. Kung medyo dika masyado kayamanan, you pay two pesos which will go togovernment.

Ayaw mo ng ganun, ayaw mo mgabayad ng tax, then get prepaid. Andyou will still pay the same amount of eight pesos per minute. Walangmagbabago din. Based on our computation, it is less than theirprojected collections from the VAT by only about four billion pesos.

But socialized pa sana di pa tayo tinamaang lahat. Nakabase pa sausage ng bawat isa hindi yung pati kanin babawasan a ng bibilhin atnoodles babawasan ang bibilhin dahil lamang sa pagtaas ng buwis.

Joel Guinto: Would you seek a repeal of the EVAT [Expanded Value-Added Tax--ed]?

Francis Escudero : Yes, we tried to. We have been trying to, and wewill continue to do so.

Francis Escudero podcast interview transcript, part 3

INQUIRER.netFirst Posted 11:44:00 02/26/2007

Joel Guinto: What your agenda for the military? What do you think itneeds, more budget like what President Arroyo is saying?

Francis Escudero : The military must be re-oriented. We must be ableto provide a staffing pattern for the military, which has not yet beendone in the so many years that it has been in existence. For example,tine-train mo ang sundalo, bibigyan mo ng mataas na sweldo paramaging sundalo. Private man o colonel, o kapitan, o sarhento. Kaya


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lang sa loob ng kampo, 'yung nagbabantay ng kampo, sundalo. Dapatsecurity guard. 'Yung naglilinis ng pinggan sa mess hall, sundalo.Dapat dishwasher.

'Yung naglilinis ng plato sa lamesa dapat waiter, sundalo pa rin. 'Yungtypist sa opisina ng heneral, sundalo. Driver, sundalo. Driver ng asawang heneral, sundalo pa rin. Bodyguard ng mga anak, sundalo pa rin.Messenger sa opisina ng heneral, sundalo pa rin. Ang taas na sweldongbinibigay natin sa sundalo, ang ginagampanang tungkulin, walangkinalaman sa pagiging sundalo.

Mas mura kung mag-apruba na kasi nila--di ko mainthindihan kungbakit di nila ginagawa--ang staffing pattern ng military functions, or

civilian functions must be performed by civilian personnel. Mas muraang sweldo nila kaysa sa sweldo ng sundalo na napakaramingbenepisyo.

One, two, we must re-orient the entire military's needs andrequirements and so far is the modernization is concerned. Sa tinginmay lulusob pa sa Pilipinas o mag-aatake of mag-iinvade sa Pilipinas inthe next five decades, or even 10 decades or 100 years?

Hindi na uso ang lusuban ng bansa ngayon. Ang uso ay ite-take overmo na lang ang ekonomiya ng bansa kung saka-sakali. We can't evendefend the Philippines, which is an archipelago, and I don't understandwhy the Philippines keeps on insisting to buy an F16.

Kahit gaano kagaling ang piloto natin, kung iisa lang naman 'yan, at15 'yung F16 nung kabilang bansa, kukuyugin lang naman 'yung nag-iisang F16 natin. Balewala 'yun e. Tinanong ko sila kung bakit nilagusto 'yan? Sabi nila, tayo na lang ang walang F16. E ano namanngayon? Isang F16 kaya nating bumili ng 13 helikopter. Para sa 'kin,internal security and dapat nating pagtuunan ng pansin. Internal threatang dapat nating tugunan, at hindi external threat. Alam n'yo ba nag-aambisyon pa ang AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines-ed] natin nabumili ng aircraft carrier na maliit daw, at isang submarine. Aanhinnaman natin 'yun, utang na loob.


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We should accept and live with our limitations. We should accept thereare four elements of the state. Sovereignty, territory, government andpeople, the most important among these four should always be people.Hangga't wala pa tayong sapat na pera na gagastusin para sa mga

kababayan natin, wag na muna tayong mag-ambisyon ng kung anuano pa na hindi naman nakalatag para sa pangunahingpangangailangan ng mga kababayan natin.

Joel Guinto: But how do you fight the communist insurgency and theAbu Sayyaf?

Francis Escudero : That's internal security. It's still not externalsecurity.

Joel Guinto : What should the military interest lie in? What hardwareshould you push?

Francis Escudero : Choppers, more personnel in the field, because theywill have a bigger budget to support our soldiers because this will nowentail a less amount of or lesser amounts insofar as salaries areconcerned because we're paying civilian personnel. Ang sweldo ngsundalo ngayon humigit kumulang, labintatlo, labing-apat na libo. Angsweldo ng isang contractual, halimbawa na secretary, is about seven oreight thousand pesos.

For every item that you get, you are able to save approximately fivethousand pesos per month. Malaking bagay 'yan, malakingpagkakaiba 'yan sa operational expenses na pwede mong mabigay samga platoon at sa mga batalion natin sa field. The money is available.If only government will be prudent enough insofar as spending ourmoney is concerned, I think we can easily make do with what we haveinsofar as realizing our ambitions and dreams or even our objectivesfor any given year is concerned.

Joel Guinto: Are you in favor of limiting the scope of the Commissionon Appointments and the promotion of military officers?


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Francis Escudero: Yes. I think it should be re-studied. I think it shouldbe limited, and I think it should be de-politicized.

Joel Guinto: How do you de-politicize the military?

Francis Escudero: By simply limiting its scope. Either to higher officialsonly or one time lang for colonels only. I'm still not convinced insofaras which particular option to take. At one point in time they shouldpass through the Commission on Appointments. But not at each andevery stage after they are promoted to the position of colonel.Masyado naman mahirap na dalawa, tatlong beses sila dadaan do'n.Masyado na tala silang mapo-politicizd, kung saka-sakali.

Nonoy Espina:Magandang gabi congressman, ako si Nonoy Espina.Marami sa nakikinig ngayon sa podcast na 'to ay mga kababayannatin sa ibayong dagat. Du'n naninirahan at du'n nagtatrabaho at 'ikanga mga bagong bayani, sila and they prop the economy up but it'sworse for them, kung [baga] wala ring nagbabago sa kalagayan nila,Ano'ng maaasahan nila sa inyo pag naboto kayo?

Francis Escudero: Una sa lahat, magandang gabi din sa 'yo.Tinatagurian at tinatawag nga nating bayani pero hindi naman bayaniang pagtrato natin sa kanila. Halimbawa, hanggang ngayon, walapang pormal na opisina tayo sa ibang bansa sa pamamagitan man ngembahada o consulado na mangangalaga lamang sa kapakanan atkarapatan nila.

Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit hanggang ngayon hinahayaan parin nila na mga pribadong kumpanya ang pumasok sa mga kontratangmangangalaga sa ating mga kababayan sa ibang bayan sa ibang bansaat hindi ang pamahalaan natin mismo ang pumasok sa mga kontratapara matiyak na pwede natin silang pangalagaan at protektahansaklaw ng bandila ng ating bansa, at hindi 'yung pangaral lamang ngkumpanyang nagrecruit sa kanila.

Bilang senador pinapasa at ipinapanukala namin at ginawa na naminsa Kamara 'yan. Na gobyerno na lamang ang siyang makikipagkasundo sa iba't ibang bansa at 'yung mga pribadong kontrata ay


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dapat masaklaw ng pang-malawakan at bansa-sa-bansang kasunduankaugnay ng pagdadala at pagpapadala at pagha-hire ng mgaempleyado na Pilipino sa ibang bansa.

Pangalawa, matagal ng pinag-uusapan ang isa pang tulong para saating mga kababayan na nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa. Hindi lamangsa pamamagitan ng reaksyon kung saka-sakaling may problema na.Kung hindi sa pamamagitan ng pagkakataon ng aktual na serbisyo ngmga pribadong kumpanyang gumagawa ngayon. Marami sigurongtututol na bakit makikipag-kumpitensya pa ang pamahalaan sa mgapribadong kumpanya.

Halimbawa na nagbibigay ng serbisyong remittance. Halimbawa na

nagbibigay ng serbisyong libreng tawag o mas murang tawag sakanilang mga kamag-anak. Gobyerno ang dapat nagbibigay n'yan sakanila bilang pagkilala sa napakalaki nilang kontribusyon sa atingbansa. May isang bagay lang na hindi natin pwedeng isabatas. Meronisang masamang epekto rin ang pagkakaroon ang OFW sa iba't ibangparte ng mundo.

At 'yan ay pagkakaroon ng mga kamag-anak nilang naninirahan ditona hindi na nagtatrabaho at umaasa na lamang sa padala ng kanilangmga kamag-anak sa ibang bansa. Dapat may kongkretong programaang pamahalaan para sa mga kapamilya ng mga kababayan natingnagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa. Upang sa gayon, hindi masayang angkanila oras at panahon at nakanganga na lamang at naghihintay nalamang ng biyaya mula sa kamag-anak nilang napapakakuba saibayong dagat.

The phenomenon of the OFWs have (sic) made our country aconsumer driven country and an economy that's consumer-driven.Hindi maganda at tama 'yun. Marapat at dapat ma-channel ng tamaang pinapadalang pera ng mga kababayan natin dito para hindilamang gamitin na panggastos sa araw-araw ng pangangailangan,kung hindi magkaroon ng pangmatagalang investment at capital outlayang mga kababayan natin upang pag retire nila ay may pakinabangnaman sila sa kanilang pinaghirapan at pinagpuhunang sweldo saibang bansa.


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Nonoy Espina: Talking of the consumer-driven economy nga,pinagmamayabang natin natural resources natin. We have minerals.We have lots of minerals, yung tinatawag nating renewable energy

sources. Isa sa pinakamalaking resorts in the world. Pero bakit 'dinatin napapakinabangan 'yun?

Francis Escudero: Sinusubukan nang pakinabangan ng gobyernong itosa pamamagitan ng pagbenta niyan sa mga banyaga o dayuhan. Hindiako sang-ayon dun. Alam mo hindi naman natin kailangangpakinabangan lahat ng 'yan ngayon. Sa araw na ito, sa buwan na ito,sa taong ito.Kasama dapat ng responsibilidad natin ang pangalagaanang bahaging 'yan para sa mga salinglahi at sa mga darating pang

henerasyon. Hindi tama na ubusin nating lahat 'yan ngayon at tayomismo ang lumigaya dahil sa mga resources na 'yan.

Dapat bahagi ng programa't plataporma ng anumang pamahalaan anguna, paggamit lamang ng angkop at tamang parte at halaga ng mgaresources na 'yan para sa pangangailangan lamang natin.

At pangalawa, tiyakin ang pagkakaroon ng sapat pang maiiwan parasa mga darating na henerasyon. Ang polisiya ng pamahalaan ay ditama sa aking pananaw patungkol sa paggamit ng resources natin omga likas na yaman na bukod tangi sana sa Pilipinas. Malawak anglupain natin pero hanggang ngayon ang naka-capitalize pa lang natinay humigit kumulang 12 percent.

Marami pa tayong untapped na mga resources na hindi natin magamit-gamit dahil kulang ang puhunan at ang nagiging solusyon ng gobyeno,ibenta na lamang 'yan sa dayuhan. Hindi tama 'yun. Dapat gumawa'tbumuo tayo ng sariling kakayahan gawin 'yan, at hindi natin ipaubayana lamang sa mga dayuhan ang paggawa ng bagay na 'yan.Repatriation and domestic profits na kinikita nila ang mangyayari athindi rin 'yan ikauunlad ng ating bansa sa short, medium, or longterm.

Nonoy Espina: So, sa ngayon pa lang may naiisip ka na bangpanukalang batas para matugunan ang...


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Francis Escudero: Uulitin ko ulit 'yung sinabi ko kanina, hindi bagongbatas ang kailangan. Ipatupad lang natin. Dati nga bawal pumasokang dayuhan sa pag-eexploit ng natural resources natin. Hindi ko

maintindihan bakit sa pamamagitan ng EO, ng AO, ay nabibigyan nilang tsansang pumasok ang mga dayuhang 'yan na nasi-circumvent onaiikutan ang kasalukuyang batas na klaro naman ang pagbabawal.Oversight function ng Senado, ng Kongreso ang dapat gamitin d'yanpara paalala sa mga negosyanteng it at sa pamahalaan, ang probisyonng saligang batas na nagbabawal at nagsasabing bawal 'yan.

Nonoy Espina: Last year, may dalawang major na issues na halosumagaw sa eksena, 'yung Subic Rape Case at yung patuloy nga na

pamamaslang at ang anti-terrorism bill, Anu sa tingin mo ang masmahalaga? Natural sovereignty or International commitment. Humanrights or security?

Francis Escudero: Tao pa rin sa kadulu-duluhan. Gaya ng nasabi ko,apat ang elemento ng isang estado. Pamahalaan, kasarinlan ngsoberenya, teritoryo o lupain, at pang-apat, tao. Timbangin anumangaraw ng Lingo, anumang oras ng araw, anumang araw ng buwan,palagi kong, palagi mas matimbang at mabigat sa akin ang tao.

Timbangin ang kasarinlan at tao, tao pa rin ako. Timbangin gobyerno,teritorya at tao, sa tao pa rin ako. Anumang issue na pagpipilian ngdalawang 'yan, palaging tao ang pipiliin ko. So kung karapatangpangtao, dignidad ng kababayan -natin ang pag-uusapan, palaging masmatimbang sa 'kin 'yan kaysa anumang issue na pwedeng itapat d'yan.

Nonoy Espina: Huling tanong na lang siguro. Coming from Bicol, isasa iyong pinaka-apektado ng insurgency, malamang may ideya kanaman ng ugat nito, paano dapat tugunan 'yan? Tama ba angpagtugon ngayon ng gobyerno sa problema?

Francis Escudero: Ang pagpatay sa mga miyembro ng probisibonggrupo nagsisimpatya daw sa mga makakaaliwang gruponghumahawak ng armas para maisulong ang kanilang paniniwala ay


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hindi tama, walang pinag-kaiba ang gobyerno sa kanila kung gagawinlaman nila 'yan.

Pangalawa, hindi rin tama at hindi rin ako sang-ayon na ubusin na

lamang sila sa pagiging miyembro sa Kongreso sa pamamagitan ngpagiging at pagkakaroon ng mga party-list groups dyan. Ayan na nga'tnakikilahok sa proseso ang bahagi ng dating grupong 'yan, pilit panating tinutulak pabalik sa bundok, imbes na papunta sa sentro atpapasok sa mga prosesong legal na kinikilala ng ating saligang batas.

Pangatlo, hindi rin tama na patayin ng kapwa Filipino ang kapwaFilipino, anuman ang kanyang paniniwala. Para sa akin ang solusyonay iisa lamang, pinag-ibayong pagpapaliwanag at pinag-ibayong

atensyon sa mga lugar na ito sapagkat ang ugat ng anumanginsurhensiya, dito man o sa ibang bansa, ay kahirapan, kawalan ngpag-asa, at kawalan ng katarungan kung saka-sakaling may nang-api omay gumawa ng mali sa kanila.

Tatlong bagay na dapat tugunan ng sinumang pamahalaan nanagnanais na burahin ang insurgency sa kanilang lugar. Hindi sapamamagitan ng baril. Hindi sa pamamagitan ng bala na sosolusyonan'yan. Ang solusyon ay matatagpuan lamang sa tunay at di maikakailana pagbabago at pag-angat ng mga kalidad ng buhay sa mga lugar na'yan, at, pangalawa, pagtiyak ng katarungan ay tunay na magagawadsa kanila, sinuman ang magkasala, sinuman ang naging biktima,simuman ang mabenipisyuhan.

'Yan ay nagawa na sa ibang parte ng Pilipinas, subalit tila nahihirapansilang gawin sa ka-Bikulan, partikular na dahil na siguro sa kawalanng atensyon na binibigay sa ka-Bikulan dahil siguro para sa punto debista ng mga ilang mga pulitiko, kokonti lang daw naman ang botantesa Bicol, kung iyong tutuusin, ang buong rehiyon ng Bicol na binubuong anim na probinsya, mas malaki pa ang Pangasinan at malayong masmalaki pa ang Cebu.

Marahil dahil d'yan, hindi binibigyan ng karampatang atensyon ngmga pulitikong nasa national level, and aming rehiyon sa Bicol.Marahil panahon na rin 'yan at rason 'yan kung bakit nararapat na


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magkaroon ng kinatawan ang Bicol, hindi lamang sa Senado, hindilamang sa Kongreso kung hindi sa iba't ibang antas, level at opisina ngpamahalaan.

Alex Villafania : Good evening, sir. Alex Villafania po, nagcocover pong Infotech sa INQUIRER.net.

Francis Escudero: Magandang gabi din sa iyo, Alex.

Alex Villafania: Sir, what are your thoughts regarding the automationof elections?

Francis Escudero: Hindi solusyon 'yan para magkaroon tayo ng

malinis na halalan. Ang solusyon para magkaroon tayo ng malinis nahalalan ay hindi 'yung paggamit ng computer. Iyon ay pagtiyak nalaganap nating mapaparating ang resulta ng eleksyon sa lalongmadaling panahon, sa pinakamaraming tao. Upang sa gayon, kungmay kagustuhan man o motibo o plano silang dayain o baguhin angresulta, hindi na nila magagawa 'yan.

Our counter proposal insofar as the Automated Election Law isconcerned, was very simple. Buy a digital camera costing about 10,000pesos, buy a printer costing about three to 5,000 pesos, and simplytake a digital image of the election return in every precint and print asmany copies as you can under the e-commerce law, that would beconsidered as an official copy of the return and leave about a hundredcopies in the precints, so that anyone who might want to get a copy ofthe result can easily get one.

Unlike now, there are only about seven or nine copies, I think underthe existing law of the election return. In addition to that, via the Net,napakadaling batuhin ang inpormasyon na 'yan at isang programalang ang kailangan mo para meron kang real-time result ng eleksyon,at the national level. 'Yun ang solusyon para sa akin, para maiwasanang dayaan at para sa lalong madaling pangahon, malaman natin angresulta ng eleksyon. Not this computerized voting scheme beingprovided by the AES.


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Alex Villafania: Sir, what if in a computerized system in the elections,it opens opportunities for Filipinos abroad to vote online?

Francis Escudero: That possibility is already available to them now,

but the question will always be safeguards. The question will alwaysbe: How do you ensure that indeed the vote that we will be countinghere by the Net is the same vote that they cast wherever they may be?

Secondly, there is problem of having a hard copy. There must be ahard copy of the vote that a particular Filipino located anywhere in theworld cast that he gave a particular candidate. Hindi tamang walanghard copy man lang 'yung dahil kung magka-problema o aberya,paano mo pa malalaman kung talagang nanalo nga 'yung pinroklama

o hindi s'ya dapat pinroklama dahil talo naman talaga.

Alex Villafania: Sir, related na naman po sa IT, meron pa ba kayongplano, panukalang batas na isusulong pagdating sa information andcommunications technology sa Pilipinas?

Francis Escudero: Pagpapalawak lang siguro pag update ng ating E-Commerce Law. Upang sa gayon ay magkaroon ng legal nabasehananumang kontratang pinasukan, anumang kasunduang pinasukan sapamamagitan ng Internet. Iyon siguro ang magiging konsentrasyon ko,kasi iyon ang naiintindihan at nalalaman ko bilang abugado at bilangdating teacher na nagtuturo ng abogasiya sa mga kaeskwela ko noonsa UP. Ang konsentrasyon ko ay patungo sa direksyon na 'yan insofaras e-commerce law is concerned.

Alex Villafania: Sir, sa tingin nyo po ba, 'yung sa E-Commerce Act pongayon, medyo kulang pa po 'yung nangyari?

Francis Escudero: Kulang pa 'yon, dahil napakaraming development,napakaraming technological advance sa Internet na hanggag sa ngayonay hindi pa natin lubusang naiintindihan o nakikilala o nakikita 'yunglegal na implikasyon nyan. Siguro konting pagdaloy pa ng taon aboutthree to five years, bago natin mahabol ang kasalukuyangtechnological development; but when that time comes, balik ka na


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naman, mag-aaral ka na naman, maghahabol ka na naman sa bilis ngmaari mong magawa at gawin sa pamamagitan ng Internet.

Alex Villafania: Sir, last question po, regarding po sa mga gay and

lesbian rights. Sir, would you be pushing for legalization of civil unionsbetween gays and lesbians?

Francis Escudero: No, for the simple reason -- not because I disagreewith it -- for the simple reason that I don't think that Filipinos in ourcountry are ready for that at this point in time. It may come in thefuture, it may come at some future date but not at this point in time. Imay be wrong, I may be mistaken but that is how I view it insofar asthe present situation and circumstances is concerned.

Alex Villafania: Citing what factor sir?

Francis Escudero: 'Yung sarili ko. Botante din man ako, Filipino dinaman ako, may mga pinanghahawakan din naman akong paniniwala.Sa aking pananaw at opinyon, hindi pa nakahanda at hindi pa handaang ordinaryong Filipino kabilang na siguro ako dun. At dadalhin ko,'yang boses na 'yan at 'yang opinyon na 'yan sa Senado kung saka-sakali until and unless it has been proven and shown that indeed theFilipino is ready for it already, I'm not willing to support such ameasure.

Francis Escudero: Ang aking pong taos-pusong pasasalamat sapagkakataon at tsansang ito upang sa isang makabagong paraan,mapakinggan ang boses at tinig ng lahat ng mga kumakandidato sapagka senador, administrasyon man o oposisyon.

Nais ko lamang pong ipabatid na sana sa darating na halalan,mabigyan ng pagkakataon at tsansa ang mga nakababatang kandidatomula sa magkabilang panig sa paniniwala't paninindigan na angkabataan sa ngayon, hindi lamang dapat ituring pag-asa. Angkabataan sa ngayon dapat ituring maasahan na ng bayan dahil hindipo kapansanan ang kawalan ng edad at hindi kapansanan din okakulangan ang kawalan ng karanasan.


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JV Rufino: You're welcome congressman Escudero. Good luck in thecampagn.

Francis Escudero : Likewise, thank you.

(clapping)

Documents

Francis Escudero Podcast Transcript