Press Release
July 2, 2009

Press statement of Senator Loren Legarda

On TIM's 'links' to admin

The conspiracy theories on why Total Information Management (TIM) had wanted to pull out of the joint venture that won the bidding for the Comelec's poll automation project, including the alleged ties of its president to the administration and a business family in the south, are of secondary importance at the moment. The Comelec can file charges later if and when TIM indeed pulls out of the project.

What the Comelec should focus on right now is to determine whether it is legally and logistically feasible for it to take the place of TIM as a partner of Smartmatic in undertaking the poll automation project. Likewise, the Comelec should be ready to continue the bidding process -- not to start a new one -- by allowing the other bidders to complete their deficiencies.

On Virgilio "Hello Garci" Garciliano's reported support for poll automation, the people may not be inclined to take his statements at face value, considering the insidious role he played in the fraud-marred 2004 elections for which he seemed to be getting away with in the absence of an honest-to-goodness effort by government to prosecute him.

On Doble should name names

Vidal Doble should cite specific bombing incidents to back up his claim that government was behind several such bombing attacks. He should do that so the appropriate charges may be filed against those involved. As he admitted being part of a group of soldiers who purportedly did the bombings for the government, he should name names.

Still, Doble's statements call for a deeper investigation of the so-called Oplan August Moon, which the AFP cannot just brush aside as an attempt to sow discord among the ranks of the military. Better let the issue out in the open than to let it simmer and then have it explode like what happened in Honduras, which led to the military ouster of that nation's president.

Some parallels may be drawn on this matter between the Philippines and Honduras, in that their administrations had both been aiming to amend the constitution in apparent efforts to extend their respective terms. Let the lessons of Honduras not be lost on this administration.

On Advertisements

It is not a violation of the election code for a politician, public official or potential candidate to come out with media advertisements so long as they do not directly ask for votes or resort to campaigning for public office outside of the campaign period fixed by law. My radio plugs are consistent with my advocacies for environment protection and enhancement and other public issues intended to educate and inform our public. I do not use public money to fund these advertisements but are donated by friends who agree with my advocacies.

On Cory

I am one of those who constantly pray for the recovery of former President Corazon Aquino. Even while abroad, I make silent prayers for her. Whenever I could I go to church in Geneva or other foreign places to make my prayers there. I consider President Aquino as one deserving of the honor and gratitude of our countrymen for the unselfish and valuable services she has rendered our country. We need her especially in these trying times.

On Guam offer for jobs

Our government should immediately respond favorably for jobs for Filipinos in Guam. There is a large Filipino community in Guam and they are known for their honesty, industry and reliability. In these days when hundreds of Filipinos are losing their jobs because of the financial crisis, as shown by the layoff of workers at Triumph International, our government should explore all means to provide decent jobs for Filipino both here and abroad.

On US Embassy investigating Fil-Am's torture complaint

The government of the United States, through its embassy here, can be expected to look deeper into the complaint of Fil-Am activist Melissa Roxas, alleging she was tortured purportedly by Filipino soldiers during a medical mission in Tarlac.

While Ms. Roxas may be of Filipino decent, she is reportedly an American citizen, thus any crime that may have been committed against her would be the concern of the US. This should also be the stance of our own government when our own citizens find themselves victims of abuses or of crimes abroad.

But even without the US government showing interest in the case, our government must get into the bottom of Ms. Roxas' allegation so justice may be served her, especially since the still unnamed accused are said to be soldiers. The spotty human track record of the administration is the one on the crosshairs here.

On safety of kidnap victims

I was appalled by a report that a local government official had issued a "shoot-to-kill" order to policemen tracking down the kidnappers of a four-year-old boy.

Such an order is not only illegal, but would also put an added risk on the boy's life. The primary concern of authorities dealing with kidnapping cases is to ensure the safety of the victims. We cannot allow a gung-ho attitude to affect efforts to secure the release of kidnap victims like this boy.

On poll automation

The Comelec must do everything in its power to pus through with the poll automation project. After so much effort, time and money have been spent on conducting the bidding for the project, and Comelec fails to push through with the project, people would lose confidence in the Comelec. They would also lose trust in the in the integrity of the 2010 elections. Voters might stay away from the polls and question the results later, resulting in violent demonstrations as what happened in Iran, and immediately after the 2004 elections. If the Smartmatic and TIM differences cannot be reconciled, Comelec must conduct another bidding. Only if everything else fails, can Comelec resume with manual voting. But that would be a political disaster.

On destabilization plan

We do not know who are conducting the bombings or attempted bombings. But it is suspicious that it is being done at the height of a political tension over the cha-cha move in the House and the coming state-of-the-nation address of President Arroyo. Is an excuse being prepared so that these expected rallies can be preempted by invoking a security threat? If this is so, then the government must prepare for resistance from protesters, including workers, students, farmers and the political opposition. There must be no attempt to suppress freedom of speech and assembly during the state-of-the-nation address.

On rumored Palace coup thru 'Operation August Moon'

The rumors appear to be very strong. In these times we cannot just dismiss scenarios being reported all around. We must wait and see and remain vigilant. I appeal to the military to evoke their patriotism and loyalty to the constitution and not allow themselves to be used for political purposes by any group or individual. One thing is sure. Our people will not tolerate another dictatorship. The lesson of the people power revolution of 1986 is still fresh in our people's minds. What also worries is that these speculations are being circulated and promoted by administration sources precisely to create a state of tension for evil purposes.

On GMA's running for congress

She has every right to run for Congress representative at the end of her term. But what worries the people is that the real scheme is for her to win a seat in the House of Representatives so she could run for Prime Minister. This necessitates the amendment of the Constitution to provide a shift from the presidential to the parliamentary system.

More than 66 percent of our people are against a process to amend the Constitution at this time, especially since we are holding presidential and synchronized elections next year. Mrs. Arroyo should now make her intentions to clear in order not to further increase the political tension that is currently gripping our country. It is this tension that is feeding these rumors or reports about destabilization and possible military coups. She must clear the air so people could breathe and concentrate on pressing issues like growing unemployment, the expected recession and the global economic crisis.

On debt swap for environment

The government must follow up on my initiative for developed countries to swap the debt of developing countries for projects enhancing and protecting the environment and climate change adaptation. My proposal which was adopted by the countries attending the Geneva conference on climate change and risk reduction was based on a suggestion made by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The initiative is based on the reality that although advanced industrial countries are responsible for the greatest part of the globe's pollution, it is the developing countries which are the last guilty that are suffering heavier losses from extreme weather conditions like typhoons, tsunamis, hurricanes and the like. We are only seeking justice in this area of global concern.

On NO con-ass for sona

The House of Representatives should not try to convene a constituent assembly during the state-of-the-nation address of President GMA as it could result in a walkout by the Senate and disrupt the proceedings. The House must respect the tradition that on the first day of the regular session the only item in the agenda of the joint session of Congress is the President's SONA. Afterwards, both Houses would adjourn.

Should the House insist on convening the con-ass on that day, there could be violent reactions from the masses of protesters, and bedlam and disorder could result. I appeal to the House to reconsider their resolution convening a constituent assembly in order to sooth the tensions in the country and also allow Congress to concentrate on urgent matters, like the economy and unemployment, the war in Mindanao and the coming elections.

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