Press Release
July 30, 2018

Transcript of Ambush Interview with Senate President Vicente Sotto III

Q: What can you say about the drop in the satisfaction rating of the Senate in the latest Social Weather Stations survey?

SPVS: Perhaps at the time the survey was done the Senate was in the debate stage, in the interpellation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law. A lot of people were awaiting that, medyo natagalan sa amin, and there were other pending matters in the Senate na hindi kaagad naakysunan sapagkat mahaba ang mga debate at marami pang mga tanong. So siguro natapat sa mga panahon na iyon, hindi naman nakapagtatakang mag- 'roller coaster' ang mga survey eh, minsan umaakyat yan minsan bumababa yan,

Q: Pero sir the standing of the Senate remains to be 'good'.

SPVS: Yes, and we hope that the trust and confidence of our countrymen will be better in the months to come as far as the Senate is concerned.

Q: Sir ano po ang gagawin niyo para po tumaas po ang rating ng Senate?

SPVS: Basta gagawin namin ang trabaho naming ng mabuti, sipagan namin, mas marami kaming maaksyunan na batas na kailangan, hindi lang yung bills namin, pati yung mga bills na nanggagaling sa House of Representatives maaksyunan agad naming sapagkat ito ito yung mga local bills naapektuhan mga local districts lang or local government units lang, minsan hindi kaagad naaksyunan.

That's why, that is the reason why we are planning na in case magipit ang oras namin because of the very short period of time allotted to us before the period of filing of certificate of candidacy and before the campaign period, we are contemplating on calling a session on every Thursday morning. Pero ang agreement na nareach sa all-senators caucus namin, kapag kinailangan na. Hindi naman sila hindi pumapayag ano pero kapag kailangan na.

Q: When would you know na kailangan na?

SPVS: Kapag yung mga local bills nakakadistract na from the national bills ng Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays then we will confine all local bills on Thursdays.

Q: Is it possible na nadrag po ang Senate on the issues surrounding the House?

SPVS: Not really, hindi naman siguro kasi alam ng mga kababayan natin ang difference naming dalawa eh.

Q: Would the Senate be transparent to release the results of the random drug testing, at least the numbers of those who tested positive?

SPVS: Yes, we will be very transparent about it. That is the reason we are being transparent in the procedures. If you notice you are allowed, sa toilet lang kayo hindi pinayagan. Pero yung mga employees, pag dadalhin sa comfort room, mayroong tiga Department of Health at mayroong tiga Senate na nag-babantay.

Q: Sir mandatory ba yung drug testing sa senators? Do you encourage them.

SPVS: No voluntary yan. It would be good if the senators would also join.

Q: Sir nakausap mo po ba sila regarding that?

SPVS: Hindi eh. I was more or less concentrated on the Senate employees.

Q: Sir regarding doon sa P5000 additional groceries and transport allowance sa Senate employees, ano po ang nagtrigger doon?

SPVS: Medyo matagal-tagal na rin na panahon yung mga members ng union ng Senado, hindi maiwasan dahil sa pagtaas ng presyo, ng inflation, matagal na nila hinihingi yan. Mas malaki ang hinihingi nila actually kaya lang chineck pa muna yan namin at ng Senate Committee on Accounts ni Senator Panfilo Lacson kung ano ang kaya, ano ang pwede talaga ibigay.

Q: Sir do you also call upon other agencies and the private sector to give additional allowances due to inflation?

SPVS: Aba, lalo na ang mga tiga-media dapat mabigyan.

Q: Sir naka-factor din ba ang TRAIN Law doon, kaya niyo po binigay iyang allowance, dahil sa pagtaas ng products?

SPVS: Hindi naman directly siguro dahil tumatataas ang mga presyo hindi natin maiwasan na tulungan yung mga empleyado natin dahil napakabigat ng trabaho nila na ginagawa dito.

Q: Pero sir yung reason ng paghingi po ng union, yung pagtaas po ng presyo?

SPVS: Not exactly. Nakadagdag na lang yun, matagal na nilang hinihingi ito, wala pang TRAIN hinihingi na nila yun.

Q: So sir P15,000 na a month yung kanilang allowance?

SPVS: Oo.

Q: Limited to the rank and file lang po diba? Paano po yung matataas ang position?

SPVS: Yes. Yung matataas, iniisip ko kung paano babawasan......joke lang.

Q: Sir yung kay Ben Tulfo po yung hindi nila pagsoli ng P60 million, is it time for the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to step in, total may resolution naman?

SPVS: If there is a resolution, we leave it to the chairman of the Senate committee, on which committee it was referred to. Nasa kanilang kamay na nila yun. The ball is with them.

Q: Sir ano po yung masasabi niyo sa refusal nnila Ben Tulfo to return the P60 million?

SPVS: You know the reason I have a delay in my answer kasi iniisip kong mabuti kung paano ang sistema sa broadcast eh kapag may pinadalang bayad na naibayad na or nagamit na. I do not know the reason of Mr. Tulfo eh kung bakit hindi pwedeng isoli. The question to be asked is bakit nailabas na ba nila? Kung nailabas na nila nabayaran na sila bale eh talagang wala silang isosoli pero kung hindi pa, then there must be other reasons, then that is when the committee will step in kasi even if we do not conduct a hearing to that effect, this will all come out during the time when we will be taking up the budget of the Department of Tourism and the body in charge of broadcast, the PTV-4. Sa budget ng PTV-4, at sa budget ng Department of Tourism doon pwede nating makuha lahat ng answers na yan.

Q: But sir the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee can step in on the issue.

SPVS: Pwede rin. If there is already a resolution filed to that effect then it is already in the hands - or the ball is already in the hands of - the chair of the committee on whose committee it was referred to.

Q: Pero sir kailangan po ba ng prodding kasi ilang buwan na rin po yung existing resolution na pending without any action.

SPVS: I will talk to the chairman and find out what is brewing in the committee.

News Latest News Feed