Transcript press briefing with Sen. JV Ejercito

Q: Hearing kahapon, magko-committee report ka na...hospital bed capacity?

SJVE- siguro right after yesterday's hearing, we touched on the overcapacity of government hospitals, since most of the congressmen were there to present their respective house bills, we will just adopt them para mas mapabilis and hopefully we can already start the ball rolling and address the problem of overcapacity and inadequate hospital facilities and rooms. So, hopefully, ang kailangan dito estimate is about P228 billion para lang ma-lower yung bed to population ratio na as of the moment is 1:1000. Hopefully we can bring it down to 1:800 that would be ideal already for the country. So in order for us do that, we need about P228 billion. Masyadong malaki yun, I know, but if we can program it in such a way na hanggang matapos yung admnistrasyon ni Pangulong Duterte by 2022, siguro kakayanin we will budget about P40 (billion) to P50 billion per year for the hospital improvement, expansion and enhancement.

Q: ...Issue ng mga congressmen aside from beds, yung doctors, equipments?

SJVE- that's why I asked them to submit to the committee so that we can already plan it together with the DOH, with the committee on Finance sa Senate, likewise the DBM on how we will be able to program kasi pag nag-increase ka ng bed capacity or expansion ng hospital, it doesn't mean it doesn't mean infrastructure needs lang, you need equipment, you need personal services ito yung medyo mabigat-bigat na ito ay isasama na lang natin sa MOOE. Pero yung capital outlay na medyo malaki P228 billon, yan po ang immediate need natin so in the next four budget up to 2022 we will already try to include about 40 to 50 billion every year para yung 228 kumbaga ma-divide na ito four or five years. So at least, hopefully we can address the problem because sa aking pagiikot sa halo lahat ng ospital na nabisita ko, almost ano, halos lahat pare-pareho ang problema. Yung bed sharing sometimes 200, pag nag-epidemic pa may 300 percent occupancy ang mga government hospitals so maybe you see people in the corridors, you see people in the aisles, minsan nasa gymnasium na kino-conver na nila into wards. So, hopefully these are the things that we don't want to see anymore after 2022. That is what the committee on health in the Senate wold want to give focus on, yung hospital facilities improvement and expansion.

Q: Ang target nyo sa bed is 1:800, ang doctors ano ang ita-target nyo?

SJVE- depende kung nasa 100 beds, we need about, may kaakibat na ano yan standards kung mag-level 1, level 2, level 3. So it depends. Siguro kung level 1 lang, you just need a basic services pero pag nasa level 3 na kasi, may iba kasing hospital iko-convert from just an ordinary hospital to medical center then we could need specialists already. So yun medyo mabigat-bigat yun that you would need about probably, 30 to50 doctors extra kung talagang mag-level 3 na tayo. Pero dun sa mga level 2 level 1, siguro mga 10 probably 20 to 30 every time we move...doctors. Pero pag medical center na, tertiary level, level 3, yun medyo marami-rami yun medyo mabigat yun we would need specialists already every department.

Q: On dengvaxia...committee report?

SJVE- well, hopefully we can wind up already sana ito na yung last hearing so that we can already prepare the blue ribbon report, they can already prepare the committee report para charges should be filed already on those who will be found guilty in the hasty procurement of the Dengvaxia vaccine. But more than that we also want to hear update sa UP_PGH and likewise, last but not the least, I have...PAO Chief Percida Acosta already agreed to appear in the last hearing because I already told her (inaudible)...sabi ko naman it would be helpful for us before we wrap up the committee report yung sa inyong side, the victims because they are the ones mandated by law to defend the victims. Nagkaliwanagan na kami na kaya naming siya pinapatawag we want naman na bago naming i-wrap up yung committee and wrap up the investigation na marinig naman yung side ng victims and what the PAO intends to do also.

Q: May gusto kayong isama sa report..?

SJVE- well siguro yun na lang ang lumalabas talaga based on the four or five hearing that we have, it's a, the conclusion is already clear, the procurement really was done hastily. Hindi siya yung regular, it did not go to the regular time. If you look at the timeline, basing on the timeline that was reviewed again and again by Senator Gordon, dun makikita kasi yung, that the procement proceeded with unprecedented speed. Hopefully we can already recommend after we wrap up in last hearing sana makapag-warp up and recommend already the filing of charges/those who will be found guilty by the committee on who were responsible for the hasty procurement.

Q: Third party medical expert...gusto sya ng DOH pero ayaw ng PAO?

SJVE- well, yun ang ina-appeal ko sa PAO that in case we file later on the appropriate charges probably in the international court Sanofi all those responsible, kailangan magkaisa sana yung government agencies kaya since may reasons naman yung PAO at sinabi naman sa kin ni PAO chief her reasons, then parang hindi na sila...yung trust issue. So the recommendation to come with a third party na forensic pathologists would be welcomed. At least walang bias, walang trust issues, so that would be most welcome.

?????

SJVE- well, its her call but that was our appeal siguro we just hear her out sa kanyang pag-appear dito kung ano talaga ang rason kung bakit ayaw nilang makipagcoordinate with the health agencies and other academic institutions. Siguro maganda sa kanila marinig dahil that's why also we wanted her to shed light kaya nga natin siya iniimbita ano yung rason kung bakit ayaw niya. Probably she has her own reason pero ang tingin ko talaga dito trust issues mukhang baka, tingin ko dito baka ano mayroong nakaraan na, parang mayroon na silang past disagreement already probably in one of their investigations, so baka ganun.

Q: What about sanofi, can the Senate compel them to take a more active participation kasi parang its government agencie ang nagaaway-away?

SJVE- well yun na nga eh. Actually we have appealed to them, at least buti nga binayaran na nila nireimburse na nila yung unused vials, but we also appeal, ang worry ko talaga dito ay yung the future of the 830,000 which we have to monitor just imagine the manpower, cost of operation just to monitor the 830,000 that would entail a lot of funding. And I think Sanofi has to do their part or do their share. It's their responsibility so I was hoping that they would also put up an indemnity fund kung sakaling mayroon mang mamatay o magkasakit na talagang would be proven na talagang because of Dengvaxia, dapat sagot talaga nla yun.

Q: Parang may dalawa na namng namatay...?

SJVE- yun na nga. So they really have...Sanofi has to do their part and it's their responsibility because ang sabi nga ni Sec. Duque they are guilty of mental dishonesty, kumbaga mayroon silang hindi na disclosed. But on the other hand mayroon din namang kasalanan sa atin dito hindi pa tapos yung phase 3 of the clinical trial eh nagbakuna na kaagad eh. Sabi rin ng formulary executive council dapat 30,000 lang siguro para at least limited number it would be easier number to monitor and kung magkaroon nga ng problema madaling gawan ng paraan pero itong 830,000 is really a problem.

Q: Sir you have been passionate about the logistical needs ng defense department and there is this report na kinansel yung chopper deal... what is your take on this?

SJVE- I think the DND or the president is right in this decision... hindi naman siguro tayo bibili ng chopper at sasabihin nila kung paano natin ito gagamitin. The country, the republic or the government has to protect itself not only external but also internal threats and the purchase of choppers at any given time may standard yan and if I am not mistaken we need to have about 40 to 50 running choppers at any given time to protect our whole territory, for the operations of the armed forces and now the PNP at least magkakaroon na rin we need that for internal and external... more for internal security. Siguro naman yung Canada they should have understood the government has to protect itself from internal threats as well.

Q: Sir on that issue, you think yung government should not buy from countries na nagbebenta with strings attached?

SJVE- Well siguro oo kasi... kaya lang ako medyo particular kasi we have already touched that during the investigation for the purchase of refurbished helicopters ...ang sa akin lang I hope the AFP would still be able to source reliable choppers ano kasi nagyayari dun meron na mga kinuhang mga choppers noon. May mga maling purchase eh like yung Polish helicopters na medyo old platform na... eh yun bago yun those were bought brand new by the armed forces pero kung baga hindi siya commonly used in the country... kaya hindi masyado like yung spare parts would be a problem and yung technology. Yun nga wala pang kalaban pero bumagsak na eh, out of the eight brand new anim na lang ang naiiwan. So, I have always wanted that the armed forces would maximize the meager funds that we have and buy the best resources...the best equipment and hardware. In this case yung Bell 412 sana, because we were able to stop the purchase of the UH-1 Vietnam veteran helicopters before, Bell 412 na kasi ang binibili sana eh that was a very good and very reliable helicopter ang hindi ko lang maintindihan bakit yung Canada, the Canadian government had to interfere on the Philippine government wants to use. Hindi naman pwedeng sabihin na pang rescue mission nyo lang pang transport lang yan. Hindi nyo pa pwedeng gamitin pang anti-insurgency...hindi naman pwede yun. That is already matter of internal security... So they should respect the Philippine government, especially the armed forces and the department of national defense in their operations against internal threats.

Q: Sir yung sa Ombudsman po, do you think there was malice on the part of the Ombudsman by not disclosing or making public yung dismissal ng case ni President Duterte considering na yung big personality.... Yung plunder it was dismissed na pala pero wala man lamang tayong narinig?

SJVE- especially it concerns the Chief Executive of the land... that should have been news so since its good news probably for the President ay mukhang... I don't know what the reason of the Ombudsman is for not even making it known to the public... kasi dapat news yan eh. Anything about the President should be of national concern...

Q: Sir yung sa Benham Rise issue sir, do you think kailangan mag file ng protest ang DFA ksai tahimik sila ngayon sir...

SJVE- Well, personally I think we should because it's our sworn duty to protect and fight for our sovereignty and to protect our territorial integrity. What China has been doing is they are already bullying the Philippine government. Of course, admittedly they are a superpower... we cannot match them in terms of military might talagang hindi natin kakayanin ang Chiina super power. We have about ten new supersonic jet fighters they have about four to five thousand... we have about probably 40 to 50 navy ships they have probably about 1000 to 2000 so we cannot match them in terms of military but we have to exhaust all diplomatic means possible legal and diplomatic means to fight for our territories and our sovereignty. Sabi nga ni Senator Lacson are we this helpless minsan nakaka ano na rin its frustrating and minsan nakagagalit kasi masyado na tayong binubully...

Q: So, obviously hindi research lang ang intension ng China sir parang gusto na nilang angkinin..?

SJVE- well, the mere fact they have already given Chinese named portions in the Benham Rise ano they have given Chinese name that already a sign that they want to infringe on our territory... may balak talaga silang kunin din sa atin ito so bakit nila papangalanan ng Chinese names yun?

Q: So big mistake po yun na binigyan sila ng permit to conduct research doon sa Benham Rise?

SJVE- OO nung umpisa I have to admit na medyo apprehensive talaga ako by giving them the permit and that after a few weeks ni-recall na ni president yun ano... na hindi na pwedeng mag research and ibang bansa that should be only for Filipino Citizens and Filipino entities...