Sen. Bam on China, Sen. De Lima, distracted driving and IPU visit
(Transcript of media interview)

On China and PH's Foreign Policy

That's why we filed last September ang isang resolution kung saan hinahanap natin yung totoong detalye ng independent foreign policy ng administrasyon. We think it's important na malaman ito ng taumbayan pagdating sa aid, pagdating sa loans, pagdating sa national security natin. It seems marami pong mga pangyayari na hindi malinaw sa taong bayan at lagi tayong nagugulat. So we wanted to have that opportunity dito po sa Senado, magkaharap yung iba't ibang mga ahensiya. Pagkaharap po, maybe we can even invite the other embassies to clarify and to clear up ano ba talaga yung mga detalye ng mga gawain po ng ating administrasyon. I think, hopefully the Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs maybe, I'm not even sure kung sino yung magiging bagong chairman ng Committee on Foreign Affairs but we hope that within the next few weeks, matuloy po yung hearing na yun. Malinaw po natin ano ba talaga yung independent foreign policy ng ating administrasyon.

Ang pinakamahalaga siguro malaman natin yung detalye. Kahit kasi yung pagturn down ng aid mula sa ibang mga bansa, sabi may conditions pero hindi rin malinaw kung ano yung conditions na iyon. We might as well have the representatives of these countries here to explain to us what these conditions are. Itong threat of war na sinabi ni President Duterte na nanggaling kay President Xi Jinping, gusto ko rin linawin yun kasi hindi po yun pangkaraniwan. I think we need to also be consistent with our foreign policy. Meron tayong hihindian kasi ayaw natin 'yung hirit sa atin na regarding human rights pero yung iba tatanggapin natin kahit may threat ng giyera. Parang hindi talaga siyang consistent and I think it's important that malaman ng taong bayan ano nga ba talaga yung foreign policy natin. Alam niyo po, itong foreign policy, that will affect our jobs, it will affect so many things in our country, our national security, ang sovereignty ng ating bansa. Hindi po ito maliit na bagay. Let's just be transparent. Alamin natin ano nga ba talaga yung mga plano vis-a-vis the country, vis-a-vis this region at kung ano talaga yung tatahakin nating landas dito po sa ating independent foreign policy.

It's definitely troublesome. I mean kung tutuusin, klaro naman na merong mga teritoryo ang ating bansa na kinuha na ng China and we need to be able to be very clear about our policy regarding those areas and those territories, especially kung these areas are being militarized. Nakakabahala. Alam niyo po sa Zambales, if you go 6 hours by speedboat from Zambales, makikita mo na yung base ng China. So kailangan natin linawin yan. Personally, I would like to see a better relationship with all of these countries. Hindi lang sa China, kung hindi sa lahat ng mga bansa. Wala namang rason na makipag-away tayo sa ibang mga bansa. Ang Pinoy, we're in all of these countries. Meron tayong mga kababayan in all of these countries and we owe it to them to have good relations with all of these other countries. Kaya mahalaga na maging malinaw yung ating foreign policy.

On Sen. Cayetano's statement regarding foreign policy

That's good if that's the truth, then that's good. But I think it's still important na maging malinaw tayo sa ating foreign policy. Ang hinihingi natin ay clarity and transparency. Iyon yung hinihingi natin na kapag may isang bansa, may perception na may ginagawang masama sa atin, we refuse aid. Pero yung isang bansa na klaro naman na meron talagang ginagawang hindi maganda sa ating bansa, meron tayong parallel approach. So hindi siya consistent at palagay ko kailangan tayo maging consistent at maging transparent, malaman ng taong bayan, ano ba talaga ang mga gawain natin bilang isang bansa, bilang isang part ng community of nations.

On Sen. Leila de Lima's call to allow her to vote on important legislations

We're supportive of that after all, senador pa rin siya. So we're hoping that she can be allowed to vote sa mga mahahalagang mga batas na padating, especially pagdating sa death penalty at iba pang mga parating na mga bills to be deliberated on.

I think it will be up to the Senate and the courts. So I'm not exactly sure kung ano yung procedure doon. But we're hoping that she'll be allowed to vote.

To be frank, di pa namin napag-uusapan with the others. Pareho, pag the other senators will allow a fellow senator to also vote on this important issues.

Tignan natin kung ano yung magiging desisyon ng mga tao. Again, it's not really up to her, it's not really up to the minority, it's up to the majority and up to the courts. I don't think may problema naman sa pag request nito. Again, after all, she is innocent in the minority. Isa pa rin naman siyang senador. We'll see kung ano yung magiging reaksyon ng korte.

On IPU Visit

We're a member of the IPU as well at syempre pag may mga bisita tayo dito, di mo naman makokontrol kung ano yung gusto nilang i-raise na mga issue. I think it's important na mag harap harap yung mga fellow legislators, mapagusapan yung mga issues na mahalaga. I'm sure mapaguusapan din itong refusal of aid after all many of them I think came from the European Union.

On distracted driving

Well alam mo at the end of the day ang mga batas ng mga to, ginawa yan para sa safety ng taong bayan. Maybe initially may mga difficulties yun but eventually I hope matututo rin tayo na sumunod sa patakaran ng batas. On the other hand, kailangan maging reasonable rin iyong ating authorities but right now, I think for the safety of our people, mahalaga na sumunod tayo sa batas.

Yung kahit anong batas na bago naman, syempre may adjustment period talaga yan. Let's give it a chance to be implemented properly. At the same time, we call on the different officials na maging reasonable din dun sa kanilang pag-implement ng batas.

Q. Is rosary distracting?

Personally I don't find it distracting but again, depende yan sa batas, depende yan sa IRR.

On getting arms from other countries

Honestly, yung kinakailangan nating foreign policy, yung kaibigan tayo ng lahat. I think that's something most of you would prefer. Na wala tayong inaaway and we're able to get the best from all of these other countries. Kasi part tayo ng mundo eh. We're part of a community of nations. Let's build bridges, let's not build walls. Bakit tayo kailangan mangaway. Getting arms or getting these items from other sources, I find nothing wrong with that. In fact, kung mas gumanda pa nga yung trade natin sa lahat ng mga bansa sa mundo, di mas gaganda pa ekonomiya natin, mas magiging malusog pa yung ekonomiya natin at yung mga trabaho sa ating bansa. Yung pinakatanong lang talaga is, dapat klaro tayo sa position natin pagadating sa ating sovereignty, sa ating teritoryo at yung pakikitungo natin sa ibang mga bansa. Dapat clear tayo at transparent sa ating mga kababayan.