Press Release
March 10, 2014

Transcript of Headstart interview

Transcript of Headstart interview with Sen. Francis Guevara Escudero (FGE)
Anchor: Karen Davila

DAVILA: Joining us in the studio, Finance Committee Chair, Sen. Chiz Escudero. Welcome to Hot Copy, Sen. Chiz.

FGE: Good morning, Karen. Sa televiewers natin, good morning.

DAVILA: Okay. Is Dennis Cunanan really important to the case?

FGE: Well, in so far as the DoJ is concerned, Karen. I think ginagawa nilang ika nga, pitbull si Dennis Cunanan. S'ya ang pinapasagot ng DoJ sa mga allegations sa counter-affidavit nung tatlong senador. In fact, sa affidavit ni Cunanan himself, kinuote yung mga counter-affidavit nung tatlong senador. Sinagot isa-isa, which I found, well, different, to say the least.

DAVILA: Oo. Given that the DoJ could be using him in this respect, how does this affect the case that his testimony is not the same as Benhur Luy's when it comes to accepting the money?

FGE: Well, it will affect him in the sense that under the Rules of Court, Rule 119, dapat bago ka matanggap bilang state witness, yung testimony mo must be corroborated in its material points by the other evidence.

DAVILA: Your testimony must be corroborated.

FGE: Yes. Kasi requirement yun bago ka ma-discharge as a state witness. Ngayon kung may pagkakabanggan, pagkakabaliktad nung testimonya nila Luy at Cunanan, baka maging problema ni Cunanan later on.

DAVILA: Okay. Let's remind the audience that in Benhur Luy's testimony, he had said that Cunanan accepted 900,000 pesos in cash, put in a brown bag. Is that right? And then Cunanan said his job to release the fund was only ministerial and he did not take any money.

FGE: Actually kaya ko tinanong yun kay Sec. De Lima at kay Cunanan, kas sa affidavit ni Cunanan, babasahin mo, wala s'yang ginawang krimen. Kaya ang tanong ko kay Sec. De Lima, bakit n'yo dinemanda? I was expecting Sec. De Lima to say, 'Well, because Benhur Luy alleged...' Because I saw in his affidavit, paragraph 126. Pero hindi n'ya sinabi yun. That's why I asked Benhur Luy, 'Diba sabi mo, nakatanggap at nakita mo,' even read that portion of his affidavit. And he stood by it. He stood by what he said in his affidavit.

DAVILA: Okay. Now, is there is such a thing as a provisional witness? Because we (inaudible) behind them in the Senate lately. Nung tinanong, what is Ruby Tuason now? Ruby Tuason just has security. Right now she is a provisional witness.

FGE: There's no such thing, Karen.

DAVILA: A, there's no such thing?

FGE: Walang provisional admission sa witness protection program. Walang provisional witness sa batas. Wala ring immune witness sa batas. Wala pa akong nabasang ganun sa anumang desisyon ng Korte o anumang batas na ginawa namin. That's why I asked Sec. De Lima what is this category called provisional admission to the WPP? Dahil ginagastusan natin ng security. Bakit tinatago natin pero hindi pa pala tanggap?

DAVILA: Akusado pa rin.

FGE: Akusado pa rin. Sinampahan pa rin ng kaso. According to Sec. De Lima, that is in practice daw. Pero sabi ko, okay lang yung practice pero walang ni pisong ginagastos. Pero pag gumagastos na ng piso yung gobyerno, dapat may batas na. And I advised her to amend the implementing rules (inaudible) para (inaudible) at patas.

DAVILA: Okay, I'm curious. Before Ruby Tuason and Dennis Cunanan should be admitted as state witnesses, you have to remember, Ruby Tuason has two plunder cases filed against her regarding the 200 billion pesos of the Malampaya fund scam. And then you also have Dennis Cunanan also charged. Here are a few members... I mean, those of the accused wanting to be state witness, ang tanong ng ilan, e kailan ang katapusan nito na lahat ng akusado gustong maging state witness?

FGE: Wag ka nang magulat, Karen. Sabi nga ni Sec. De Lima, hanggang si Napoles daw, umaasa pa s'yang kakanta at magsasalita also she has reservations about accepting her as a state witness. Pero sabi ko nga, anong deal? Bakit magsasalita si Napoles kung wala s'yang makukuhang kapalit? Para sa akin, dapat solid na ang kaso ng DoJ by now. Kasi alalahanin nila, may provision din sa Rules of Court na nagsasabing yung testimonya kailangan to convict. Ibig sabihin ba nun bago pa lumabas si Cunanan hindi sila makaka-convict? If they present Cunanan as a state witness later on, essentially what they will be alleging in the court is, they need his testimony to convict. That means, beforehand, with Benhur Luy alone and documents alone, is not enough to convict. Medyo mahirap naman yatang pag-amin na gawin yun.

DAVILA: Oo. With Ruby Tuason, I'm curious. Were you satisfied with her testimony?

FGE: No. Quite (inaudible), because she forgot a lot of details. And she said some useless details as well. Kung titingnan mo yung affidavit, kino-quote pa n'ya yung affidavit ni Benhur Luy, which I found odd too. Dapat magtestify ka lang opn your personal knowledge. Alam mo in your personal experience. Hindi yung kung anong sinabi ni Benhur Luy sa affidavit n'ya. For example, with reference to the Dasmariñas house, who owns it. I found that odd, to say the least.

DAVILA: Okay. Alright. When it comes to Dennis Cunanan and Ruby Tuason, this is a unique provision wherein, kumbaga nakakataas sila in society. They are more educated. They got more privileges, yet they have had more access. They have more high-powered friends. They seem to know more what they are doing, are they outrunning the Filipino people with their testimonies in the Senate?

FGE: Yes and no. They knew that they had (inaudible) that's why they're doing what they did. But the case of Cunanan is different. Cunanan is unique in a way because he is the only government official and employee who has testified that far about the pork barrel. Wala pang lumalabas na government official and employee tungkol dun. Iba rin s'ya because, you have to remember, unlike Ruby Tuason, unlike Benhur Luy, they are private citizens. Hindi sila sumumpa Karen na ipagtatanggol ang batas. Hindi sila susmumpa na pagsisilbihan ang mamamayan, na gagalangin ang sinabi ng Saligang Batas at kabilang dun, mabuhay ng simple at hindi pagnanakaw.

DAVILA: Which is why perhaps he is not admitting to taking the 900,000, because of his oath. And I think his peers because he is now member of the Jaycees, I heard, or an organization at least.

FGE: I think he was elected Secretary General, (inaudible) DAVILA: Ssomething like that... FGE: ...lately, worldwide, international I think. DAVILA: It would affect the (inaudible) to be admitting this.

FGE: Probabaly, yes, Karen. But at the end of the day even if that is the truth. I am not saying na yun ang totoo. Although, Benhur found really credible when he gave out the details. You have to choose, you cannot get (inaudible) you cannot have the best of both worlds. Pagnanumpa ka at sinabi mo at magsasabi ka ng katotohanan, buong katotohanan dapat yun.

DAVILA: Okay, do you suggest that DoJ take it Cunanan?

FGE: I would suggest DoJ to review what has been done and to rectify and correct what needs to correct. Definitely, they cannot have two witnesses saying two different things.

DAVILA: Where do you think this is going through?

FGE: Only one direction Karen. The lawyers of the respondents, the three senators and the other respondents, will definitely (inaudible) will take advantage of this and they will make the most out of it.

DAVILA: Okay, alright. Any other investigation where Ruby Tuason is going to be invited?

FGE: I think Malampaya yun dahil yun ang mas alam niya. Remember, Malampaya is different. You cannot go to the implementing agencies. The Malampaya fund scam was coursed through local government units which in turn to MOAs and to NGOs.

DAVILA: Alright, is Ruby Tuason offering the P40M to return to the government. It is her personal calculation or what do you believe or kickback? Are you satisfied with that?

FGE: Well, tama ka Karen. Personal calculation niya yun. Para sa akin, okay na rin, pero siyempre, pero sana meron din naman computation ang DoJ. Kung alin ba yung tama. Hindi yung kung ano yung sinubo sa kanila, yun na yun. Let's say compute, magkano ba yun, gaya ng sabi mo, pinakailaman yung pondo, magkano ba yung komisyon mo 2%, 3%, 1%. Let's come up with a computation hindi lang yung sinasabi ng testigo. Yun na lang din.

DAVILA: Senator Chiz, P240M ang Malamapaya funds was delivered to Ruby's house. And then continuously, she's saying and she ended up with that. It's her brother who knows the details. She doens't have any idea where does the P240M went?

FGE: It just so happen that her brother is no longer with her. Yun yung kulang. It is very inconvenient Karen again, like I said kaya hindi ako satisfied sa testimonya at affidavit ni Ruby Tuason. In fact, it even surprised me. I was informed that there was no hold-departure-order.

DAVILA: Okay, alright. When it comes to Senator Jinggoy Estrada, Senator Bong and Senator Enrile. Regular or ordinary citizens have asks me, what happened to them? Do you understand? Of course, you are innocent until proven guilty except you grew up higher standards when it comes to public official. And there is no ethics committee investigation or any kind?

FGE: Well, bago tayo humingi ng ethics investigation Karen. Sabihin muna natin, i-organize ang ethics committee. The ethics committee has not yet been organized, I have stated in the past. With the very least that should be organized. Ethics committee say, hindi namin diringin ito dahil may pending cases pa. O may pending hearing pa sa Senado. The ethics committee can say that hindi by default. We are not doing anything because it has not been composed yet, hindi pa nabubuo.

DAVILA: So, when it comes to Janet Lim Napoles, you are also the first senator to already publicly say take her out of Sta. Rosa and put her on a regular jail set-up. You have a classic point on that.

FGE: Dapat naman talaga. Kasi wala naman talaga tayong napapala. Nagulat nga ako sa sinabi ni Secretary De Lima na umaasa pa raw siya na magsasalita. Wala raw inaalok na hindi daw tinatanggap sa witness protection program. sabi ko nga baka mas madaling makumbinsi sa kanya kung nilagay mo sa regular na kulungan. Kung hindi man, mag salita ka at ibabalik ka namin sa komportable mong kinakalagyan. Pero sa ngayon, wala akong nakikitang dahilan. Kahit yung security Karen. Napaka-OA naman, sinabi ko nga sa hearing talo pa ang Pangulo. Ang alam ko ang Pangulo nagdi-decoy vehicle lang yan sa SONA. Hindi mo alam kung magba-by land ang Pangulo o magcha-chopper because it is only one time in a year na alam mo at definite time kung saan pupunta at anong oras darating ang Pangulo. That is why extra-ordinary preparations are being made.

DAVILA: Every time she goes out...

FGE: Every time she goes out, may decoy convoy. Buong convoy yung decoy, iha-hang (inaudible)

DAVILA: (inaudible) for trip...

FGE: For trip whether she goes to the hospital, to the senate hearing. Nagdadalawang isip nga kaming imbitahan ulit sa senado, kasi gagastos ng ganung kalaki yung gobyerno.

DAVILA: Do really believe that there is a threat to her life?

FGE: I don't get it that much Karen, (inaudible) a big point in life at least.

DAVILA: DOJ, it starts with the DOJ.

FGE: But whether with or without the DOJ, the PNP on its own. Siguro naman pwedeng bawasan ang pagka-OA nila sa security. Hindi naman siguro kailangan ganon. Isang backup lang siguro tama na. Limang pulis, sapat naman na siguro yun. Hindi naman na siguro kailangan 50 o 100. In fact Karen, even in the Senate, I've been pointing it out although it's private. Bakit pati tumetestigo, kawawa naman yung mga NBI agent na nakatayo sa likod nila. Parang OA din naman nasa loob na kayo ng Senado kinakapkapanan lahat ng tao doon,may Senate Sgt. at arms, may security, kailangan pa ba talagang tumayo sila sa likod sa 2-3 hours na nandoon sila. Hindi naman na siguro.

DAVILA: So ang feeling mo talaga, OA na lahat. Kahit sa Senado, OA na.

FGE: OA naman talaga. Kahit naman tignan mo ibang bansa di ba. Sa pagdinig nila, sige pag ine-escortan papunta sa lugar, pero pag andoon na hayaan nyo na. Ang pangit naman tignan na may mga armadong nakapalibot at titingin tingin sa paligid at kawawa naman. Yung mga tuhod nila, hindi naman sila ganon kababata pa. Biro mo 2-3 oras na hearing nakatayo doon.

DAVILA: Nakatayo talaga ano.

FGE: Oo. Hindi naman siguro tama para sa ganon.

DAVILA: Necessary, good point. Now, people may be thinking that the Senate isn't doing anything other than all these hearing, but you are. Being the head of Senate Finance Committee let's start with this, first of all the DOTC, I know that by tomorrow you will be holding a hearing, am I correct? On the budget of DOTC?

FGE: Dalawang hearing ang gagawin bukas pero baka paghiwalayin namin. Yung isa tungkol sa Mactan Airport Bidding. (inaudible) Yung isa tungkol sa (inaudible) capacity ng DOTC. What I mean to say, in a way kung alin ang gagawin namin bukas.

DAVILA: Okay. Alright. Let's discuss this first. Now, the DOTC has, many have said were delayed implementation of major projects. Let's start with (inaudible) there are three railway projects. We have the release of licensed plate for motor vehicle...

FGE: Pati sticker. DAVILA: Pati sticker and the coaches for MRT-3, isa-isa ginamit. Unang una, the three railway projects, nadelay ng 2014. We are ... already of President Aquino's term. The DOTC has been, maybe, I mean it's not a fault of Sec. Abaya all alone. Because ang mangyayari bago lang naman siya, ilan ang nagpalit na DOTC secretary. But what has been a problem bakit three railway projects delayed?

FGE: Yun ang gusto naming alamin precisely, Karen. Baka kasi lumalabas dito ay analysis paralysis. Meaning sa sobrang takot na magkaroon ng isyu ng corruption, sa sobrang takot na baka magkaroon ng batikos, baka kaya napakabagal. Ang problema pa sa DOTC, rail man, highway man, coach man o airport man, ang tagal gawin ng mga yan.

DAVILA: What do you mean ang tagal gawin?

FGE: Hindi talaga matatapos yan in one or two ...

DAVILA: ... coach man...

FGE: ...Even the coaches. Itong recent coaches na inoorder natin, delivery will be on 2017.

DAVILA: Ay ang tagal, that's already (inaudible) of President Aquino.

FGE: This is not off the shelf, hindi parang gamot o tasa o plato na pagbibilhin mo sa department store na nandoon na.

DAVILA: But the DOTC can argue with you and say, this is not our fault, kami yung kinasuhan, kami yung TRO?

FGE: Well, yes Karen. But (inaudible) 2004 undertaking of the DOTC. Nagsimula to before the term of President Aquino. Bakit ngayon lang din...

DAVILA: ...additional coaches.

FGE: Yes. I called MRT Co. for filing a case after it was awarded. Nag notice of bidding na di ba, nag procedure tayo sa bidding. Bakit kung kelan inaward dun lang sila nagpa TRO at nag kaso. And to begin with, we will be looking into MRT Co. itself. MRT Co. we wanted to reprivatize MRT...

DAVILA: Right now ba anong situation ng MRT? Layman's term.

FGE: Yung kumpanya, pag-aari ng MRT Co.

DAVILA: It's private.

FGE: Pero yung kita pag-aari na ng gobyerno through DBP at Landbank.

DAVILA: So how does MRT Co. earn?

FGE: They don't earn from it anymore but they still own the company because the company that sued the government. Kasi wala tayong (inaudible) nung nabili ng gobyerno through DBP and Landbank, economic interest na sinec-curify ng MRT Co. pagpasok nila sa boardroom uupo na kami. Sabi nung board of director, teka may (inaudible) ba kayo. Apparently, (inaudible) ng gobyerno. Ewan ko kung sinadya o kung kahinaan lang o kawalan ng preparasyon.

DAVILA: So how would you reprivatize the MRT, will it benefit?

FGE: They were supposed to buy it again, the government will buy it again and we privatize it under better terms.

DAVILA: Okay maybe have bidding with for example Ramon Ang, Ayala...

FGE: It is clearly the first bidding with the (inaudible) group that time was clearly disadvantageous to the government.

DAVILA: That was a re-privatization already?

FGE: Hindi. Yun ang unang...

DAVILA: Yun ang una. Okay, now the problem with the coaches for example, will we have any coaches delivered during President Aquino's term?

FGE: Yes, minamadali nila. Pero hindi maibibigay lahat. Parang yung EDSA bypass Karen, mag-iinaugurate tayo by section. Hindi mag-iinaugurate at the whole...

DAVILA: ...Oo.

FGE: By section lang ang inauguration.

DAVILA: Okay. Alright. Let's talk about licensed plate for motor vehicle, the stickers. It is the DOTC also?

FGE: Yes.

DAVILA: Okay. Discuss this, how does this affect everyone right now?

FGE: Well obviously lahat ng bumili ng bagong kotse a year to 2 years ago wala pang plaka hanggang ngayon. Nasa na nagparehistro ka ng kotse this year, wala pa ring sticker hanggang ngayon. Ang masakit (inaudible) sa iba't ibang parte ng bansa in some area nanghuhuli dahil wala kang sticker. Utang na loob naman, hindi natin kasalanan na wala tayong sticker. Wala pang sticker na binibigay ang LTO e. Kung kelan pa tayo naging high tech Karen, doon pa nadelay ang plaka. Noon naalala ko ang mga bilanggo at sa bilibid ang gumagawa ng plaka natin. Para may kita sila. Kung kelan naging high tech na dapat na inoorder sa mga kumpanya na nagmamanufacture ng plaka, dun pa nagkaproblema. But the problem is not really on the fault of the bidders or the suppliers. I give you the example, first time nagkaproblema ng bidding ang LTO kasi ang ginawa nila noon, this is during the time of GMA, nirequire nila na yung magbibid as part of the qualifications dapat must have been engage in the supply with licensed plate for at least 30 years.

DAVILA: 30 years? Do we have a company like that?

FGE: Meron pero iisa lang po. Kulang nalang pangalanan nila. So nagkaso yung mga...

DAVILA: Yung ibang suppliers...

FGE: So nag TRO, nadelay. That's one thing na gusto naming tignan sa DOTC.

DAVILA: But this is underhanded, I mean in a way an underhanded way to grant a company...

FGE: ...that is being done even up to now. Kaya ang isang ginawa namin sa Committee on Finance, hiniling namin una, amin na nga ang lahat ng terms of preference ng lahat ng pinapabid ng lahat ng ahensya, amin na nga lahat ng eligibility requirements ng bidder, amin na nga lahat ng technical requirements ninyo.

DAVILA: Yeah.

FGE: Kasi minsan yung computer na ino-order ng isang government agency, iba dun sa technical specifications na in-order nung isang agency. It should be uniform.

DAVILA: Yeah. Oo. Eto yung tanong ko ngayon, taun-taon may mga budget ito? Am I right?

FGE: Yes.

DAVILA: Yung IT project, itong railway project, hindi ba lahat na ito kapag nagpapa, what happened when it does not implemented? Where does the money go?

FGE: Savings?

DAVILA: Savings.

FGE: Received money will be re-aligned. That's what Secretary Abad calls DAP.

DAVILA: Oh, that's hard. That's hard then. Yes.

FGE: Pero Karen, okay pa nga yan e. Unforeseen event na hindi napatupad. In the past, past administrations especially during GMA's time, they would propose project even if at the start, even if they knew they would not implement them. Para lang magkaroon precisely ng savings at lump sum before the end of the year.

DAVILA: Oo. That's worse.

FGE: That's worse.

DAVILA: But then the problem is ito, tanong ko Senator Chiz, it may not be a sexy topic or sensational enough to hit the headlines. When you put a budget for that year, if it's not implemented, it goes to the savings. You try to implement it the next year, you put in a new budget. What's the cause of doing this if somebody has change.

FGE: It is worse, isn't it?

DAVILA: So the project has become more expensive.

FGE: Yes, Ms. Karen. Hindi lang yun, kung lang rin yun maipapatupad this year talaga because of some legal or technical disability, might as well put the money in the physical state somewhere else.

DAVILA: I think.

FGE: Kasi magagawa natin yung iba. Kung hindi man itong kalyeng' to, e di yung isang kalye. Mas mura pa rin yun gawin this year than the next year.

DAVILA: Oo. But you have to do it this year parang ganun.

FGE: That's why we limit the alignments to not later than the, for the first time, we limited the alignment to not later than the second quarter of this year.

DAVILA: Okay.

FGE: Kung magrere-align kayo, second quarter para may chance pa tayo, may six months pa tayo to implement it.

DAVILA: Alright. Were gonna be right back. Actually, believe it or not, the budget is the expertise of Senator Chiz Escudero. I am very surprised for this is my first time I interviewed him. Talking about re-alignment, there is no more pork barrel, wala na daw PDAF as they say, but as Senator think so to put the money in contract that are in a way questionable or could be moral to, I mean through them, given that it could be in an areas or in a sitting where a relative is a running in. Hot copy will be right back with your questions.

(Commercial Break)

DAVILA: Alright. Welcome back to hot copy with the Senate Finance Committee chair Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero. We were talking about the re-alignment of the budget. Senators are allowed to re-align it on the second quarter so that...

FGE: So that government agencies...

DAVILA: Agencies. There are limited re-alignment now, that they can re-align it on the second quarter. Now, you do have senators aligning the budget? Of putting...

FGE: Only one actually, Karen. Yung kumpare ko.

DAVILA: Okay. Tama ba yun?

FGE: Si Senator Estrada lang ang nagre-align ng budget.

DAVILA: Oo. Okay.

FGE: To put funds sa Manila.

DAVILA: Okay. So we go into that. So Senator Estrada proposed to put 300 million?

FGE: P100 million.

DAVILA: P100 million to Manila. But you also have Senator Nancy Binay augmenting the budget of the NHA.

FGE: Yeah.

DAVILA: Which is a supported under the Office of the Vice-president. She has put in P300 million pesos? Now, is there anything wrong with that? I mean, people may say it is going to the national, I mean it is going to the government.

FGE: But ayon kay Erap, bankrupt na raw ang Maynila.

DAVILA: Oo. Is it true?

FGE: Kailangan naman talaga ng pera. And we look into the legality of it. Ligal ang maglagay ng pondo sa isang LGU through what they call ALGU or sa isang local government unit.

DAVILA: Okay.

FGE: That is an item that has been in the budget for the longest time. Hindi naming cri-neate lang ito para ma-accommodate si Senator Estrada.

DAVILA: Oo, oo.

FGE: But it is legal Karen.

DAVILA: What do you call it? ALGU?

FGE: Allocation for Local Government Units.

DAVILA: Okay.

FGE: Kaugnay naman nung kay Senator Nancy Binay, alam mo Karen, dati yung NHA merong calamity fund talaga e. Actually, P 5 million yung calamity fund e ng NHA sa mga nagdaang taon. For 2014, naging zero. Hindi naman siguro tama din yun.

DAVILA: I see.

FGE: The NHA needs to do certain task in connection to the calamity. So it means na hindi na kami nakahanap ng physical state na equivalent to P5 million.

DAVILA: Yeah.

FGE: So we only gave what Senator Nancy composed plan. 300 roughly.

DAVILA: 300 plus?

FGE: Actually yeah, alam ko 200 plus roughly, by the items na tinanggal naging zero. At least may flexibility ang pangulo na i-augment yung item na yun kung kukulangin man. Kesa zero yung allocation, the president's hands will be tied by, the vice-president's hands will be tied.

DAVILA: Oo. Clearly, you have Manila and the NHA conflicting in needing these funds. But is it a conflict in interest or is it immoral at some point or unethical if you have a relative, as far as a sitting senator relative doing that? Could it be something na pinakiusapan lang, let's say si Senator Chiz, sabihin ikaw na lang ang maglaan ng P300 million sa NHA di ka kamag-anak. I mean, I'm curious. Is there anything wrong with it?

FGE: It could have been better Karen but I have not because we followed for the first time in the history of Senate Finance Committee, we attribute. Hindi pwedeng...

DAVILA: We attribute.

FGE: Lagay mo sa pangalan mo Chiz. I mean, kung sinong nag-propose...

DAVILA: Kung kaninong idea.

FGE: Kung kaninong idea yun, i-aatribute namin. For one simple reason, ipagmalaki mo yung ginagawa mo di ba? Nilagyan mo ng pondo yung isang bagay e, nagpagawa ka ng ospital, ng kalye, ipagmalaki mo, ipagsigawan mo wag mong kinakahiya. So may attribution kami, pinakapwede nilang ginawa, pinakiusapan ang ibang senador. Let's say Senator Honasan, Senator Sotto...

DAVILA: oo, sir, tayong dalawa.

FGE: Or siya na lang mismo at aakuin na niya. Hindi pwedeng sabihin sa aking na uy idea ko to pero ikaw na ang umako.

DAVILA: Walang ganun.

FGE: Walang ganun. We made it clear during one of the caucuses of the Senate na kung gusto mong tanggalin ang PDAF mo, panindigan mo kaysa magdada at magsasabing 'bakit di mo na lang binigay sa amin?' Yung gustong gumamit ng PDAF nila by realigning it, panindigan niyo rin.

DAVILA: I'm curious, where did you realign your PDAF?

FGE: We acted it to remove. Dinelete sa budget.

DAVILA: Dinelete sa budget?

FGE: Yes.

DAVILA: So the other PDAFs, it has to be in the budget ahead?

FGE: It has to be in the budget ahead, line item at tsaka identified, Karen.

DAVILA: Okay, if you asked your PDAF to be deleted, that would have been P240 million...

FGE: Only P200 million.

DAVILA: P200 million, what did you suggest na pondohan during the budget? Not from your PDAF?

FGE: Me?

DAVILA: I mean did you put the money in Bicol?

FGE: Ang attribution namin, no. I mean that would be legal but that would leave a bad taste sa malalaking ppndo na ganyan. So, no. Proposed namin would be the UP with P1 billion fund, among others the PGH...

DAVILA: So you proposed this?

FGE: Yes.

DAVILA: P1 billion fund for UP...

FGE: PGH.

DAVILA: A year?

FGE: For 2014.

DAVILA: Okay.

FGE: P100 million calamity rehabilitation fund for typhoon and other calamity-devastated areas.

DAVILA: Yeah but former Sen. Panfilo Lacson says that frankly speaking it is going a little slow.

FGE: I'm saying it is going a little slow too.

DAVILA: He said there's nothing to show for it yet.

FGE: Ang inaasahan ko ipapatawag namin si Senator Lacson at the end of the first quarter this year precisely to ask him, where are we now?

DAVILA: Where are we now?

FGE: Kasi kung hindi natin magagamit ang pondo para dun, ngayon pa lang e sabihin niya na. Baka may iba pa tayong pwedeng paggamitan. As I've said earlier, mas murang gawin na ngayon yung mga bagay-bagay kaysa next year pa.

DAVILA: Okay, questions from Twitter for you. "With the evidence, testimonies and affidavits of the witnesses, are you convinced that the accused senators are guilty?" Or at least involved in anomalies. Wag kang mag-no comment.

FGE: Mahirap naman din yun, kayo naman. Suffice it to say that mabigat yung akusasyon, may dapat ipaliwanag sila at maliwanag din na may dapat silang sagutin. Hindi maaaring balewalain lang, wag pansinin at sabihing pulitika lang ito.

DAVILA: But do you believe when Senator Jinggoy said "Hindi ko alam yan, wala akong alam diyan kung saan dineliver. Wala akong tinanggap. " Do you believe that completely?

FGE: No. The only problem with that kind of defense Karen is...

DAVILA: Yung walang-wala.

FGE: Yung totoo, hindi ko alam, may P200 million kai kada taon e. Hindi naman pwedeng may ibang gumamit nun pero hindi ko alam. So ang tatanungin pala dapat , kung finorge ang pirma niyo sa P200 million PDAF, nasaan ang totoong pinirmahan ninyo? Nasaan ang totoong project na prinoposed ninyo? Wala kayong kinalaman diyan e. Alangan namang may gumamit na iba na hindi niyo nalaman o naamoy.

DAVILA: Very good. That's a very good point. "Why stick on the security of Napoles, would it be more costly if something happened to her?"

FGE: Costly in what sense? Wala akong nakikitang rason para maging costly siya if you are talking about it momentarily. If not momentarily, wala naman tayong nawawalang testimonya o impormasyon dahil hindi naman po siya nagsasalita. And to begin with, again, ilan ba ang ina-allow na security ng PNP sa mayor, governor o senador?

DAVILA: Ilan ba?

FGE: Alam ko dalawa.

DAVILA: May security ka ba?

FGE: Wala. Wala kaming kinuhang pulis, wala kaming kinuhang sundalo, Kasi ngayon wala pa namang binabaril na senador sa totoo lang. Sa kasaysayan ng bansa, si dating Senador Benigno Aquino, ex-senator na siya nun.

DAVILA: "Is it possible to ask Napoles to pay for the cost the government every time she leaves her cell?"

FGE: That is possible, Karen. The problem is we don't have rules for it. Kunyari ako, government employee ako, honest ako, ang tanging kotse ko lang service ko na inassign sa akin ng gobyerno. On the way yung eskwelahan na pinagtatrabahuhan ng asawa ko, tanong, pwede ko ba siyang isabay? Pag sinabay ko siya at makita yung red plate vehicle...

DAVILA: Huli na nga yun e.

FGE: ...dumadaan sa eskwelahan, bawal. There are no rules and procedures (inaudible) in government officials can actually pay its way too. Kasi parang hindi naman maka-Pilipino na sabay kayong aalis ng bahay pro mag-di-dyip yung anak mo pero ikaw naka-aircon pa.

DAVILA: That's a good point. On the way na naman e.

FGE: Hindi ba, nanggaling kayo pareho sa Makati, pabalik kayo ng Maynila ah ng ng Quezon City, gustong dumaan sa mall ng asawa mo, pag nakita yung RC sa mall na naka-park, yun na naman. But there must be a way that you can declare it, and pay for it. Ang Amerika may ganyan Karen, kaya si Ambassador Kenny noon tinanong ko . Sabi ko, darating yung asawa ko. Talaga? Susunduin nya sa airport? Hindi. Bakit? Babayaran ko pa yun. Besides, if I pick her up at the airport, buong security detail will go with me. Yung bullet-proof van ng security, I'll have to pay for it. So pinasundo ko na lang.

DAVILA: So there are ways?

FGE: We don't have it here right now.

DAVILA: Okay, we don't have enough time but I wanna ask you on a lighter note. 2016, will you run for vice president?

FGE: To begin with, there's no such thing as assured. Walang siguradong bagay pagdating sa eleksyon. I subscribe to Senator Miriam's view. Everything in a point in time is (inaudible). Lahat ng nagplaplano ngayon, nagaannounce, yung mga nag-aambisyon ngayon, hayaan mong sila na lang.

DAVILA: What do you think of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano. He announced it on, I think, ANC mornings with Pinky that he wants to be president of the country and he already has researched and studied.

FGE: He has every right to do that. I think almost all politicians want to be president. Kahit barangay captain. They all want to. ang pagkakaiba lang is you announce and you plan and do something about it. Ibig sabihin, may panggastos ka. Hindi naman lahat may ganun.

DAVILA: Okay. If you do run for the vice presidency, will you be running independent or with a party? Given your situation today.

FGE: Let me put it this way. I don't plan to join a political party for quite some time. If ever I do run, pwede ka namang i-adopt o ampunin ng anumang partido.

DAVILA: Okay. Now, you and Vice President Binay, are you okay?

FGE: Okay in the sense of what?

DAVILA: Okay in the sense of....

FGE: We haven't been talking. For quite some time, we saw each other and talked. I think last time we talked, 2012.

DAVILA: Yeah, but would you be open with Binay since he's creating his own party?

FGE: He hasn't made any offer. I haven't made any declaration that I am open. Para ka namang nagaaply Karen. Para ka namang nagvovolunteer. I do not want to give that impression.

DAVILA: But right now, there is no formidable opponent for Binay? Do you think someone will come?

FGE: The only reason Karen that is the case is nobody has actually announced.

DAVILA: Yung outright. Yung ganun.

FGE: Definitely. Vice President Binay is the front-runner dahil sya unang nag-announce. Sya yung logical dahil vice na sya. But people really haven't made up their minds on 2016. Matagal pa kasi.

DAVILA: Alright. Rumors that it is Secretary Mar Roxas and you? That you are the tandem. That President Aquino already has spoken to you about it and Secretary Roxas and that you are the tandem for 2016?

FGE: There have been no talks. I am being very honest. Walang kumakausap sa akin. Walang ganung usapan. Hindi namin napapagusapan ni Secretary Roxas, even if he is running for president. These are all rumors.

DAVILA: But are you and Secretary Roxas on good terms?

FGE: We have been seeing each other more often than Vice President Binay because of the social gathering but really not on a personal level, unlike before.

DAVILA: Okay, last question. Are you getting married before 2016.

FGE: Sinagot ko na yun di ba? PInaghahandaan na bago mag-2016 kaso yung 2016, yun muna. DAVILA: Wait, you are really preparing to get married?

FGE: I would want to. Again...

DAVILA: Napakaswerte ni Heart. So you want to get married before 2016? But is Heart ready? Have you proposed?

FGE: Not yet. I have not proposed. Not yet. But of course, we talked about it that we would want to get there at some point in time. But the actual process of proposing, planning, getting married and everything, wala pa.

DAVILA: Wala pa. But then, it’s very rare that a politician such as yourself with this kind of numbers in the survey would be more excited about the wedding than planning for 2016.

FGE: It’s not odd Karen. At the end of the day, family is important. My family should be higher than any political ambition because your stint in politics would end at some point in your life. Titigil at titigil yan. Pero yung pamilya, it doesn’t stop in 2016. DAVILA: And you believe Heart is it?

FGE: We don’t to intend to enter a relationship without thinking that. Yes, of course.

DAVILA: Alright. Senator Chiz Escudero, that’s it for today. I’m Karen Davila. Replay of this interview is 6PM tonight. So it looks like you can half expect a wedding for Senator Chiz before 2016, at the very least. Have a good day everyone.

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