Press Release
July 18, 2017

WIN TRANSCRIPT AMBUSH INTERVIEW | MARTIAL LAW EXTENSTION and BBL| SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES

[START RECORDING]

Q: The President is asking 60-day extension of martial law, what will be our terms regarding this?

SEN WIN: I haven't read yet the formal communication, however, nabanggit sa amin ni SP na this Saturday ay magkakaroon ng joint session so timing na bukas ay meron rin executive conference at pupunta dito ang Security Cluster to brief us regarding the situation in Mindanao and in Marawi. What is very clear yesterday in the dinner with the President is the terrorism threat dito sa bansa natin at in-explain nya na ang pagdami at potential na pagkalat nitong terorismo sa Mindanao at baka rin umabot pa sa ibang parte ng ating bansa. The President is clear that terrorism is here in our country now.

Q: Sir, sinabi daw po ni Spokesperson Abella na the President has asked martial law extension until December 31?

SEN WIN: Walang nabanggit si SP yesterday. We talked to the SP and this Saturday ay may joint session without really elaborating the details but tomorrow will be a whole session with the Security Cluster as well as the members of the Senate.

Q: Ano po yong mood kahapon sa dinner? How did the President asked for an extension?

SEN WIN: Actually, hindi niya naman sinabing extension in that dinner. It was more on explanation on terrorism about the Marawi incident at ano ang mga updates regarding that matter. In fact, ang exact words nya is "nandito ako para kausapin kayo upang malaman ninyo kung ano ang mga nangyayari doon." So wala akong narinig na request for extension but I think that was discussed siguro behind the scenes that's why SP requested to reserve this on Saturday.

Q: Given na nabanggit na po kahapon ang situation ni President, tingin niyo po ba ma-e-extend ang martial law until December 31?

SEN WIN: I would like to reserve my answer until tomorrow. Tomorrow will be a much clearer picture, and detailed. Yesterday, the President discussed many things: 1.) Terrorism 2.) Connection of terrorism to drugs; for a very long time, diyan nagtitipon ng pera ang mga sindikato para sa terorismo so he laid down the story on how drugs is connected to terrorism and also to the bandits in Mindanao, itong mga Maute at Abu Sayyaf. We also discussed briefly ang mga events, tax collection like ang nakolektang taxes sa Mighty cigarettes, and also problem in the procurement act. But basically, what was emphasized, diniin niya talaga ang terorismo at ang potential na pagkalat nito sa bansa natin.

Q: The martial law that he was asking to extend, malinaw naman na Mindanao lang po?

SEN WIN: Para sa akin, malinaw because the discussion yesterday was really Mindanao but the details will be discussed tomorrow, doon natin malalaman kung hanggang saan whether Western Mindanao lang ba o buong Mindanao ulit ang ire-request.

Q: May sinasabi si Senator Sotto na 60 days daw ang supposedly extension, pero yan hindi nasabi sa inyo?

SEN WIN: Hindi nasabi yan. Hindi rin yan lumabas kahapon sa speech ni President.

Q: So may ibang usapan with the leadership sa Senate kahapon with the President?

SEN WIN: Hindi naman. I think the point person kahapon was si SP and si Majority Floor. Siguro sila muna ang kinausap at ika-cascade na lang sa amin ang information. It was also mentioned sa amin na bukas importante ang meeting in the SP's office so doon kami talga mag-uusap.

Q: Doon ang briefing Sir?

SEN WIN: Alam ko doon, pero definitely here in the Senate.

Q: What time po Sir?

SEN WIN: Morning yun eh. Maghapon.

Q: Aside from you Sir, the SP and the Majority Leader, who else attended?

SEN WIN: Ang alam ko nasa table naming si Sen. Villanueva, Sen. Angara, Sen. Ejercito, Sen. Poe. I saw Senator Legarda, of course si SP and the Majority Leader kasi nahiwalay ang table natin eh.

Q: Lahat Sir ay majority no? Minority members po meron po ba?

SEN WIN: I saw some minority members from Congress, si Cong. Atienza if I'm not mistaken is a member of the minority.

Q: Sir yung sinasabi niya na terrorism problem sa bansa, nagpasabi ba siya ng possibility na i-extend sa ibang lugar.

SEN WIN: Hindi naman, hindi niya na-mention yun. The discussion revolved around the evolution of the Maute group from drugs to terrorism and ang vulnerability ng Mindanao kasi nga maraming lusutan ang Mindanao at pwedeng kumalat sa ibang lugar. Ito ang mga napag-usapan, very broad terms that's why bukas ay detalyeng pag-uusap ang mangyayari.

Q: Parang legit naman Sir ang terrorism angle, sa tingin nyo ba mahabang pag-uusap ang mangyayari?

SEN WIN: Definitely legit yun because we've seen ang pag-raise ng flag at ang mga style ng kanilang combat, style ng kanilang propaganda, definitely ang daming similarities. Ako personally, I saw some of the propaganda, it's exactly the same as ISIS in the Middle East, in Iraq, and in Syria so there is definitely a connection to establish that. There is a connection between the Maute and ISIS in the Middle East.

Q: Clarification lang Sir, after the President finished his explanation, the atmosphere was majority of those who attended the meeting were supportive?

SEN WIN: It was very hard to determine kung supportive talaga ang lahat, wala naman Q & A eh, but I think yung mga pumunta doon ang mga Decision-makers in the house and the Senators. I think the objective really is to talk to the Decision-makers para pag nagkaroon ng extension at least narining natin deretso sa Pangulo bakit kakailanganin ng extension, this is where the terrorism angle was explained by the President.

Q: BBL, humihingi ng suporta sa Kongreso? The promise to establish a MORO country diba yun yung naging problema last congress?

SEN WIN: we don't know the definition of the MORO country it can be a description or emphasis. Presidente natin mahilig sa ganitong lenguahe at extreme emphasis but then again, yung napagusapan kahapon will be transmitted here, I understand madaming bago dito sa BBL so we will have to review it.

Q: yung sa Marawi meron ba siyang sinabing mga probinsyang affected?

SEN. WIN: wala, actually larger Mindanao yung na-mention. He didn't go to specific what areas or location but for larger Mindanao.

Q: Sir for tomorrow sila Año ulit to? Sila Drilon? Same people?

SEN. WIN: Yes, the security cluster of that group I think the same people.

Q: Sir yung process lang on Saturday since special session hiwalay muna kayo or joint session na kayo agad?

SEN. WIN: Alam ko joint session na agad eh. It will be a joint session na ng lahat ng pupunta doon. I understand yesterday kay SP na doon na lahat magkikita-kita so I don't know if may changes pa tomorrow pero doon na kami magkikita-kita. Tomorrow will be crucial, I think doon na rin paguusapan kung doon na or sabay-sabay at mapaguusapan na rin siguro yung flow. Definitely were talking about 300 plus individuals so madami-dami yung magsasalita diyan.

Q: Sir may botohan ba?

SEN. WIN: yes, may botohan--

Q: Joint yan sir no?

SEN. WIN: Yes, yes-- Senate is not a major personality kasi outvoted kami. Ito yung particular case na marginalized ang Senado because of sheer numbers.

Q: 9am yung briefing bukas?

SEN. WIN: ang alam ko 9am.

Q: Saan ang briefing sir?

SEN. WIN: Ang alam ko dito but baka rin sa room ni SP--

Q: Diba sa lounge diba, parang yung last time?

SEN. WIN: alam ko lunch, sa lounge yung security briefing before.

Q: So 9am sir, kung sino yung last time dito sila rin?

SEN. WIN: Yes, Security cluster to eh so I guess kasama dito si Año, PNP, National Security Advisor, COS and Esperon--

Q: So kasama na minority diyan?

SEN. WIN: Of course--

Q: So di na po kasama si ES?

SEN. WIN: Last time hindi kasama si ES -- last time wala din si Bato. Ang importante naman dito si National Security Advisor and Chief DND and Chief of Staff, these are three very critical personalities.

Q: Sir, aside form Marawi may other places ba na nabanggit ang pangulo na in danger in spreading terrorism?

SEN. WIN: He didn't say anything in particular but definitely mentioned that Mindanao being one large area there's a big possibility that it will spread. Ang borders dun is Tagusan.

Q: So sir if ever there is an extension it's the entire Mindanao?

SEN. WIN: I think a status quo is most likely, pero pwede din mag reduce--

Q: pero not to extend in Visayas?--

SEN. WIN: No I don't think na maie-extend pa yan. Siguro status quo is the most likely case.

Q: Retain kung anong meron ngayon. Are you going to prepare a sponsorship speech?

SEN. WIN: Pinag-iispan ko kahapon, maybe I should prepare a sponsorship speech, tinitignan ko lang yung angulo na pwede ma-emphasis.

Q: Sir yung sa BBL po ano yung exact na sinabi in asking for support?

SEN. WIN: Actually yung BBL in passing lang niya sinabi basically he emphasized that BBL is one solution to appease the MOROS, MILF, MNLF and other groups. It's actually a legislation that can bring stability in the area. As to the details, wala naman siyang sinabi, that's something that will be thoroughly discussed dito na sa Congress.

Q: Kelan daw su-submit?

SEN. WIN: Napirmahan na kahapon eh. so I'm sure su-submit na yan. I think magpapakalat na ng copies dito para mapag-aralan na yan dito.

Q: Wala pa kasi kami copya pero sa tingin niyo, ano ang dapat i-discuss doon?

SEN. WIN: top of mind ko diyan pulis, military, COA, the ports. Ito yung top of mind ko . ito yung powers na should remain in state this is actually a power that can balanace yung autonomy ng area.

Q: Sir na-mention po ba yung tax reform bill pati budget?

SEN. WIN: Hindi niya na-mention yun actually hinihintay ko nga eh. In a nutshell ang na-mention niya is terrorism, drugs, a little bit of BBL, procurement act na-mention niya yan many times, that's it. Marami pa but yun yung mga major topics.

[END OF RECORDING]

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