Press Release
February 22, 2017

Transcript : Recto on Constitutional amendments and Lascañas

Re: Withdrawal of resolution on constitutional amendments

Sen. Recto (RGR): But I know that the purpose today is more political. So I don't want to be a part of that, that's why I withdrew my resolution.

Q: What is the number of that Reso?

RGR: Joint Resolution No. 2 (note: we corrected what he said), if I am not mistaken. More on economic and certain social provisions.

Q: Meaning, sir, you see that there is a railroading in the lower house?

RGR: No--we know that the position of the President's party is to amend it for political purposes, particularly Federalism. And I think that will do more harm than good. Dagdag burokrasya, dagdag buwis, dagdag red tape, and if we're growing by 7-10% today, 7% real growth, 10% nominally, by doing that, we might destroy the economy.

Q: So sir, you're only willing to amend only for economic changes?

RGR: Only economic changes, if at all. But since that is not the plan, I will withdraw.

Q: Sir, you're totally opposing federalism?

RGR: I totally oppose federalism. I think we can do it better by just amending the Local Government Code.

Q: What are the economic provisions you're amending?

RGR: At this point in time, I'm not proposing any amendments to the Constitution.

Q: Sir, factor din ba sa pag-oppose nyo sa Cha-Cha yung authoritarian tendencies ng presidente?

RGR: No, wala naman. It's possible, if you amend the provisions calling for martial law, but I've not heard that naman from the president. So it has nothing to do with that--so far. What I'm hearing is that they are really pushing for Federalism and I think that will be very harmful to the country.

Q: May fear ba kayo, sir, na galawin yung provision na 'yan sa martial law?

RGR: Posible. Once you open it up, you can amend anything.

Q: So malaki ang posibilidad na i-amend nila yung sa martial law.

RGR: Hindi ko alam. But that's a possibility.

Re: Hearing on Lascañas testimony

Q: Sir, may attempt daw to stop the hearing for Lascañas?

RGR: From what I know, we had a gentleman's agreement yesterday. A vote was taken in a caucus, at nanalo yung mga gusto na ipagpatuloy yung hearing. At least allow him to speak, allow him to perjure himself.

Q: Binding ba yun, sir? Na sa caucus yung botohan?

RGR: Eh bakit pa tayo nagco-caucus? Ang mahalaga may word of honor dito sa Senado. Iyon ang pinakamalaking asset ng politiko--supposed to be--the word of honor. Pero nagkasunduan kahapon, there was a democratic process, may botohan.

Q: So sir, hindi na yun babawiin sa session mamaya?

RGR: Palagay ko, hindi naman dapat bawiin dahil may kasunduan, there is a gentleman's and gentle lady's agreement.

Q: So sir, kung ano yung nangyari sa botohan sa caucus, yun na rin yung botohan sa--

RGR: Oo. Remember ah, hindi naman tayo dapat matakot. Ako, sa ngayon, hindi ako naniniwala sa mga convicted drug lords, hindi rin ako naniniwala kay Matobato, hindi rin ako naniniwala kay Lascañas. Sa ngayon ha, naniniwala ako sa sinasabi sa akin halimbawa ni Senator de Lima, na wala siyang kinalaman diyan. Naniniwala din ako sa pangulo, na wala siyang kinalaman diyan. So hindi tayo dapat matakot diyan. Pakinggan natin. Hindi naman kinakailangan na napakahabang, ilang pagdinig eh. Pwedeng isang hearing lang 'yan, di naman kelangan na araw-araw mag-dinig tayo dyan.

Q: Anong implication sir, kung hindi nyo pinakinggan dito si Lascañas?

RGR: I will not speculate on anything. Ang sinasabi ko lang from what I know there is a gentleman's agreement, may demokrasya tayo. Nagbotohan din kami, part of our caucus. And remember there will be many issues in the future that we will discuss here in caucus to come into agreement, so mahalaga yung word of honor.

At remember, isa pa. Kami, tatlo lang kami sa minority. Tatlo lang kami. Alam naman ninyo hindi din ako mahilig sa mga pagdinig na ganyan. My job is on the policy side. Pero majority ang sumama para magkaroon ng pagdinig, yung tatlo naging sampu so sundan natin yun, hindi rin naman namin kasalanan na nag-abstain yung iba di ba?

Q: Sir, regarding dun sa word of honor nyo sa caucus dapat igalang nila for future.

RGR: Like I said, our biggest asset is our word of honor.

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