Press Release
June 15, 2017

SEN. VILLANUEVA's TRANSCRIPT OF AMBUSH INTERVIEW ON MISSING JIL MEMBER IN LONDON, SSB TAX & ANTI-FAKE NEWS BILL

ON THE MISSING PINAY JIL MEMBER AFTER THE LONDON FIRE

Senator Joel Villanueva: Until now we are having a hard time looking for her whereabouts. We have already informed our embassy, and hopefully makatulong ito, tayo, in finding Nanay Ligaya Moore.

I don't know how old she is but most likely around 60 years old. I was informed na siya lang magisa ang nakatira doon.

She is a JIL (Jesus Is Lord) member. Actually, yung JIL Church is adjacent to the building. I was informed lang na doon siya nakatira and up to this time, more than 24 hours na, wala pa ring balita. We are still praying and we are very hopeful na she's safe.

I was just informed that she is missing, so the members of the Church reached out and asked for help.

Ang appeal natin ay kung maaari tayong makahingi ng tulong sa ating mga kababayan. We are also in coordination with the embassy. Kanina rin about 2 in the morning we tried calling yung isang Filipina nurse sa hospital kung saan dinadala yung mga patiens, mga victims, wala pa rin tayong nakukuhang balita tungkol sa whereabouts ni Nanay Ligaya.

ON SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGES TAX

Nakita naman natin yung effects nito. Ang ironic dito ay yung kinukuhanang calories ng mga mahihirap ay bad calories. Hindi din natin dapat i-tolerate 'yon na hindi na natin sila i-educate na mali iyong ganoong klaseng diet.

Every can of soda is equivalent to 10 spoons of sugar, ang recommendation is only one (1) teaspoon per day.

Ang key dito ay tanggalin natin ang maling notion na affordable sa mga mahihirap yung unhealthy food, unhealthy drinks at 'yon ang dahilan kung bakit gusto nating patawan ng excise tax.

Pabor din ako sa unitary tax kasi nga yung two tiered, other than mahirap yung administration, mahirap i-distinguish kung ano yung imported, ano yung hindi. In addition, yung treaties na we signed, for example yung WTO-GATT, baka magkaroon tayo ng problema diyan kasi yung protectionist measure ng commodity kailangan rin nating iwasan 'yan. So, I will not go with the version of the House na two-tiered.

Kailangan balansehin natin mahirap i-explain sa taumbayan. For example, yung binabanggit kanina na isang litro ng cola being sold at 20 pesos, will become 30 pesos, 50% increase, mediyo mabigat. Ang importante para sa akin ay makita ng taumbayan na mayroon silang alternative at mayroon silang choice na hindi kumuha ng affordable, unhealthy drinks.

Yung isa sa mga tanong ko ay kung ano yung effects ng consumption ng sugar sa classes. Sino ba talaga ang maaapektuhan? Ano ang epekto sa E class? Ano yung effects nito sa labor force? And again, yung health issues dito mediyo mabigat.

Q: Yung sinasabi niyong balansehin ibig sabihin iyong 10 pesos per liter dapat pababain?

SJV: I don't have problems with 10 pesos. I have problems with imported sugar. If you look at our sugar industry, it's not so much active. Why? Because we are importing from Thailand. Kanina tinatanong nga yung tungkol sa labor force, wala naman tayong na po-produce na jobs dito dahil ang natutulungan pa nga natin ay ang ibang bansa gaya ng Thailand.

ON PROPOSED MEASURE PENALIZING PERSONS WHO CREATE, SPREAD FAKE NEWS

Tinitignan natin yung ibang batas sa ibang bansa, for example, yung Germany, meron na ring proposed measure penalizing ang pag spread ng fake news. At mabigat yung penalties nila, as high as 50 million euros doon sa mga (social media) sites.

I think ang bottomline nito is we should not tolerate malicious intention of anyone, even social media sites, na magpakalat ng fake news na ang intention is manakot, manindak at manira ng kahit sinuman.

I don't want to single out anyone or any sector of the society. Ang importante dito ay mayroon tayong batas to ensure na yung mabibiktima rin ay mapoprotektahan natin. Paano ba natin masasabi na ikaw ay biktima lang when you yourself as a reporter, for instance, will get a news, there is no way to find out to double check kasi you feel na, siya na yung public official eh. Will you be part of the measure na kailangan i-penalize? I don't think so. Dapat protektado rin (ang reporter).

Q: When will you file?

SJV: I will be filing in the next couple of days. I have a draft already. On the penalties, it would be 100,000 to 5 million pesos. We want stiffer penalties for public officials because public office is a public trust. Yung operative word dito is "malicious intent". I think panawagan na rin sa ating publiko na kailangan maging aware tayo what is fake news. Yung peke, huwag naman natin i-share. Gusto natin hindi lang individuals kundi pati outlets should be responsible. Ang gusto natin iparating na mensahe ay 'yong salitang "accountability".

Q: Imprisonment?

SJV: Mayroon din. Up to six years. Again, we have yet to finalize. That's what we are looking into. Panawagan din, nabanggit ninyo yung public officials, napaka-irresponsible kasi for public officials na magsalita on something na tinitignan palang na totally wala pang verification, it has to stop.

Q: Kay Secretary Aguirre?

SJV: I think he should apologize.

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