Press Release
January 23, 2007

Transcript of Interview with Senator Kiko Pangilinan

Q: Will Third Force be a separate party? Sabi ni Sen. Lacson it will be part of the United Opposition.

A: Unang-una, ang konspeto ditto, nung nakaraang 2 taon, ang nakita natin na ang mga senador ay we crossed partylines on issues at tumugon dun sa pangangailangan ng isang independiente at isang vigilant na Senado. Naging mapagbantay ang Senado. Crossing partylines therefore on issues like, eto nga, Proc 1017, EO464, etc, kasama rin dyan dahil naipasa ang ilang mga certified measures at urgent measures tulad ng Biofuels bill, Automation ng eleksyon, etc. so ang konsepto eh di i-formalize nalang natin yung nagkaroon na ng practice ng pagkakaisa ng Senado, dahil naniniwala tayo na dapat manitiling independent ang Senado at check at balance sa ating Executive department. So yun ang usapin dito. 7 re-electionist senators are now in the thick of discussion, pag-uusap, and are looking at coming together. Now, eh syempre ang isang slate, 12, bukas parin yung 6 or 7, so meron pang 6 o 5 na mga slots na pwede ring pag-usapan ng iba pang mga interesadong tumakbo given yung nasabing pagkakaisa.

Q: The Third Party will not be part of the UNO?

A: We are discussing with representatives from UNO and looking at possibilities so di natin alam kung third . Bukas tayo na magkaroon na lamang ng isang common ticket at unity ticket, dahil kung titingnan naman natin yung komposisyon ng 7, ano yan iba't-ibang kampo yan, nandyan ang NP, nandyan ang LP, nandyan ang PMP, nandyan ang LDP, andyan din ang mga independentsso lumalabas dito, baka maaaring magkaroon ng common ticket ang mga reelectionist senators kasama ang ilan pang mga indibidwal, na ang panawagan ay kinakailangang manatiling independiente at makabuluhan ang Senado. In other words for it to be an effective, and independent, a vigilant and relevant Senate, kinakailangang yung iba't ibang mga panig at pwersa ay magkakaisa.

Who are the additional 5 or 6 that we are looking into na pwedeng isama sa slate?

We are discussing the matter, halimbawa, with respect on LP, andyan si Noynoy Aquino, with respect to NP, nandyan si Alan Peter Cayetano, with respect to PDP, we're looking siguro at sinong kinatawan ng PDP, si Koko. With respect to PMP, reelectionist senator si Senator Estrada but they have to make a decision sa pamilya nila kung sino nga ba ang tatakbo. So these are some of the personalities and then ilang mga paguusap kay Sonia Roco, ng Aksyon, ng NPC. So in other words, marami pang pwedeng mangyari and very fluid pa ang sitwasyon.

Is it gonna be a different slate?

It might be different in that sense or it could be similar personalities. Ang bottomline dito is this. Nakita namin sa pamamagitan n gaming pakikipagtulungan at pakikipagkapit-bisig sa Senado, etong mga reelectionist senators na we were able to move things forward despite our political differences because we had a common cause. It was an independent and vigilant Senate. So gusto lang nating gawin formal yung isang taon at kalahati nanamang realidad na crossing partylines, nagkakaisa ang mga senador dahil may masmalalim at masmalaking pangangailangan n gating ating bansa.

Q:

A: Well that's speculative, for all you know, in the end we might come to some agreement. So intayin nalang natin, marami pang pwedeng mangyari. But offhand, initially, we're here talking as NP, LP LP has 4 senators, meron pong 4 na senator ang Liberal Party, maroon 15 Kongresista, NP 3 yung senatorial candidates and aspirants, at merong magiging 10 congressmen. So between the LP and NP, malawak na rin ang lakad. But we would like to broaden that further to include others who are committed to precisely ang konsepto ng kinakailangang manatiling independiente ang Senado bilang isang institusyon. Kailangang manatiling makabuluhan, relevant ang Senado at kinakailangang manatiling tumutugon din sa usapin ng legislation.

Q: So magkaiba po kayo ng concept ni Lacson? Sabi ni Sen Lacson the 3rd force will be part of UNO slate. While you are talking about a possibility that it is separate?

A: No I'm not saying na its possible that its separate, im saying that things are too fluid to

Q: So you are open?

A: We are looking at the broadest coalition of individuals, groups, parties that will be committed to ensuring the Senate will remain an independent and vigilant institution. So whoever is committed to ensuring that the Senate remains independent as an institution and vigilant, and will be a check and a balance to the executive department and other branches of the government, we are willing to talk to them.

Q: So sinong kasama si Sen Lacson or Angara?

A: Eh kung pareho naman silang committed dun sa minumungkahi, we will have to set aside our differences and come together just like we have set aside our differences in the past. Usapin nga ng EO 464, 1017, CPR, Con-ass, kahit na anong partido yan, kahit na Erap camp o NP o LP, nagkaisa dun sa usapin ng pagtutol sa Con-ass, pagtutol sa EO 464, pagsuporta saBiofuels, pagsuporta sa automation ng ating halalan. So sabi ko nga eh, nariyan na yung samahan, nariyan na yung pagkakaisa, dapat ituluy-tuloy na natin dahil nakikita natin masmabuti para sa ating bansa. Ito ang ating punto de vista.

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