Excerpts from Kapihan sa Senado with Sen. Vicente Sotto III

On highlights on the last part of Turno en contra

It will focus on some other issues like population control and the statistics involved, the so-called economic impact of population control and the RH bill and economic issues like funding, in and out of the RH bill.

Pero mga explosive (issues) binanggit ko sa una hindi naman tinackle. Naging hatchet job instead of the answering the explosive points that I have raised like the revelation of a group na napakalaking halaga ang tinatanggap ng mga grupo ng nagtutulak nitong RH bill natin. Karamihan nang mga grupong ito ay nage-endorse or gumagawa ng abortion. Hindi nila sinasagot 'yung questions ko.

The reason why I am not discouraged despite all the criticism is that, unang-una, alam ko binaback-up ako ng karpinterong hudyo kaya matibay ang panindigan ko diyan. Alam ko na 'yon ang gusto niya. Pangalawa, 'yung paninindigan ko, sa tingin ko ay nasa tama. At ilang beses na 'yan, in my past, in my political life, na 'yung mga cause na pinaglalaban ko, handa ko ilaban 'yung buhay ko. So, may paninindigan ako at alam ko nasa tamang lugar ito at sa tingin ko ay ikatutuwa ito ng Diyos, talagang ilalaban ko ito.

On groups behind criticisms against him

Definitely there are groups, professional fault-finders na talagang walang ginagawa 'yan kung hindi nakaupo hapon at gabi nasa harap ng computer at ang target naman nila ay RH bill. Pag pro-RH bill tira sila, pag anti-RH babanatan nila. Ganun ang mga strategy nun. Unfortunately, hindi pa napipirmahan ng Presidente 'yung Cybercrime Bill. Pwede na sana silang tanungin doon sa kanilang pagmumura at doon sa sinasabi nilang hindi maganda at imbento ng salita. Once the Cybercrime Bill will be enacted into law, they will be accountable for what they say or write.

On plagiarism

Ang pagkakaalam po namin, ang plagiarism applies to literary work. Kaya kung tutuusin, from left field galing yung bato ng plagiarism doon sa speech ko. As a matter of fact, parang ligaw 'yung blogger. Ang akala kabaliktaran 'yung sinasabi ko dun sa pag gamit doon daw sa blog niya. Hindi niya alam mas matibay nga 'yun stand ko kaysa stand niya. Pareho 'yung stand pero ang pagkaintindi niya ay kontra. To constitute plagiarism, two elements mas be satisfied. Copying and making it appear as your own. Usually, nangyayari yan sa mga poem, libro, ect. Dapat iattribute mo na galing sa source at hindi sa iyo. 'Yung speech ko, mayroon ako ng blanket disclaimer, na mayroon akong general attribution kung tutuusin, nga sinabi ko anti-mano na hindi galing sa akin mga laman na ito kundi galing sa mga experto sa science, sa medico, sa batas. Something to that effect. Everytime, I delivered the speech, I said that, in fact I said it twice. Kasi nga sa dami-daming mga research namin, not only in the internet but mga contribution galing sa iba't iba parte ng mundo, contribution galing sa atin bansa, sa dami n'yan hindi na talaga namin ipipinpoint kung kanino galing ang yun kanino. Kaya nga huwag sila masisisi mga staff ko. The buck stops with me. Ako ng deliver, ako nagsabi. Kaya nga mayroon ako general attribution, mayroon akong disclaimer kaagad nakalagay doon. Ang problema, ang nakarating ay draft sa mga media at ang draft ng nakarating sa internet nila ay 'yong draft ng speech ng staff ko at hindi 'yun speech ko so wala doon 'yung disclaimer, wala din 'yong general attribution. Kaya akala nila parang nagdudunung-dunugan ako. Kung icompara sa mga pinagaralan nila, wala ako pinagaralan. Nandoon na nga ako so bakit ako magdudunung-dunugan?

On the apology of his chief of staff

Ang intindi ko doon ay para nalang matahimik ka. Something to that effect. Pero hindi 'yong mahalaga mas mahalaga 'yong ginawa ko kahapon, which is, "Strike it off the record." May rules ang Senate na certain number of days, hindi ko matandaan 'yong exact but I think seven session days, na puwede mong baguhin 'yong journal o puwede mong baguhin 'yong sinasabi mo sa journal. So, 'yung motion, which was approved and carried out by the Chamber, automatically removes that portion na sinabi ko para wala na silang reklamo. Para matigil na lang 'yung issue at pag bibintang na lang nila sa pag kopya. Kaya lang ipipilit pa nila 'yan. Sigurado mag hanap na naman ng mga ibang pamamaraan 'yan para sirain ang credibility ko. They cannot answer the points I have raised against contraceptives, the points I have raised about the international funding, that it is being used by certain groups or organizations to promote the RH bills, they cannot answer these. So kailangan humrap sila ng pansira sa akin para huwag maniwala sa akin ang mga senador, congressmen or kababayan natin.

I think we have the numbers to amend the RH bill. That is as far as I can go.

Q: 'Yun ang gusto niyong amendments, sir?

Sotto: Yes, the issue on contraceptives, abortion, population control and funding.

Q: Sir, isa rin sa gusto niyo ay baguhin 'yung pangalan nung batas?

Sotto: Oo. Ang Pangulo na nga ng Pilipinas ang gusto magbago ng pangalan ng batas.

On the Cybercrime Bill

First of all, penal laws are not retroactive. Pangalawa, wala naman akong intensyon na ganun. Mananagot naman sila. Sabi ko nga kahapon di ba, 'Pag dumating ang takdang panahon na kinuha sila ni Lord, sila ang mananagot sa paninira nila doon hindi dito.' Kaya wala silang maririnig na paninira sa akin.

On the reaction of the social media regarding the Anti-blogging Law

'Yun ang pinagtatakahan ko. Dito lalakas yung sinasabi ko na nagiimbento sila at wala silang ginawa kundi umatake lang. Wala akong sinabing ganun sa speech ko. In my entire speech, I did not say anything about that. They're putting words into my mouth. I've been through worse. Hindi ko dinadamdam ito. As long as I feel that the Jewish carpenter is backing me up, I will fight it just the way I fought the drug lords and the issue of dangerous drugs. I will not be surprised if some of the attacks against me are funded by drug syndicates. Basta makakita sila ng pagkakataon, babalikan nila ako.

Q: Sir, what's next after the grand finale of your Turno en contra?

Sotto: If there are no other members of the Senate who wish to speak and there are no interpellations on the speeches, then we would go to the period of amendments. We would first go to the period of committee amendments and we will leave it up to Senator Pia and Senator Miriam if there are any committee amendments that they put forth. After that, we would probably review the committee amendments and go to the individual amendments before we even think of approving it on second reading.

Q: Pagdating sa individual amendments, mga ilan ang gusto niyong amendments dun sa RH bill?

Sotto: Hihintayin ko muna yung individual amendments ng mga kasama natin. Pararausin nalang muna naming siguro, kami nina Senate President, we will allow the individual amendments before we see if our proposed amendments are already contained then or not.

Q: Is it possible na pagbigyan yung amendments tapos pagdating sa bicam ibalik yung original contents ng RH bill?

Sotto: yes, that is possible. That has happened before. It will face rough sailing in the Senate if it comes back in a different form after the bicam. This is a single bill unlike the budget, nababago na sa bicam pero pagdating sa floor di na nagagalaw kasi masyadong mabusisi.

Q: Sir, may nangyari na ba na 'yung bicam report di na-approve sa plenary?

Sotto: Oo meron na. I think it was during the 10th or 11th Congress. Merong bicam report na binotohan namin na ibalik totally to second reading.

Q: Pagkatapos ng bicam, it does not return to the Senate as it left during the third reading, rejected yun?

Sotto: Malamang. Siguradong di papaya 'yung mga nagpasok ng amendments nila tapos mawawala sa bicam. Majority of the members of the Senate will not agree.

On the Nueva Camarines issue

I have to agree with you. As a matter of fact, mas masakit ang ulo ko sa Camsur bill kaysa sa RH bill. 'Yung Camsur, nasa committee on Local Government. Ang secondary committee is Constitutional Amendments. Ang talagang pamamaraan sa senadong nasusunod 'yung primary committee and mag-rereport ng bill. In this case, natagalan 'yung primary committee sapagkat tumawag pa ng public hearing sa Camarines Sur. Wala kaming gitgitan pagdating sa timetable nung committee chairman because the Senate is anchored on the committee work. We cannot force the committee on Local Government to fastbreak the committee report. Unfortunately, there are members of the House of Representatives that are eagerly hoping and lobbying that the Camsur bill be approved right away. They are worried of the possibility that the bill will not be approved before the deadline for the filing of Certificates of Candidacy for the 2013 elections. Some of the local leaders in Camarines Sur are looking at the possibility that the two provinces will be in effect before October 1. Ang secondary committee ang naglabas ng committee report. The rule in the Senate is that if the secondary committee releases a committee report ahead of the primary committee, it is referred to the committee on Rules for proper disposition. Meron akong natanggap na sulat from the chair of the committee on Local Government na hintayin 'yung report nila at meron silang tinatapos. I find it a very reasonable request on the part of the committee on Local Gvoernment that is why I am constrained not to act on the secondary committee report until the primary committee informs me what their actions will be. Sabi ni Sen. Marcos, pipilitin niyang tapusin agad. Yun naman ang status sa kasalukuyan.

Q: Is it true na dalawang kongresista ang nagpapacalendar na sa inyo ng report ng secondary committee?

Sotto: They requested that we take it up right away. Kung tutuusin allowed 'yun. There is also a rule in the Senate that allows discharge. Pag hindi kumikilos ang committee dun sa bill na assigned sa kanya and there are five signatures from the members of the Senate, you may discharge the bill and bring it to plenary. Remember what happened to the case of the ARMM elections postponement. Ang committee report ng committee on local government was to adverse. Therefore, the Committee on Rules will have to support the adverse reports and refer it to the Archives. Once it is archived, five signatures of the members of the Senate may bring it back into the Floor. Ganoon 'yung parang discharge na sinasabi. So, we brought it back. 'Yun ang ini-sponsoran ni Senator Drilon.

On the primary and secondary committees giving different recommendations

We will have to tackle the report of the primary committee on the Floor. Hindi sa balewala, if we have to tackle both then it is an issue that we have to resolve in the Committee on Rules. Probably, that is what's going to happen kapag magkaiba pero ang alam ko hindi magkaiba. 'Yung committee amendments kasi na gustong gawin ng Committee on Local Government, papasok pa kapag nasa Floor na.

On NEDA studies against the division of Camarines Sur

Mayroon ngang ganoon. Mayroon silang sinasabi na bababa ang kategorya ng dalawang probinsya from a first class province kapag nahati which is being contested naman by the other side. The problem is that this is a local bill. So, nag-emanate ito sa Kongreso at itong hawak ng Committee on Local Government ay galing sa Kongreso.

On other cases where a local bill became very controversial

Mayroon din. As a matter of fact, when I recall, noong hinati namin ang Isabela, ako ang chairman ng Committee on Local Government during that time. We approved the creation of Isabela del Norte and Isabela del Sur. It was very controversial because there were people against it. I think a bishop in Isabela was against it. There were protests against it but the congressmen during that time were hell-bent on passing it. Dumating sa Senado, I have to act on it because it's a local bill and then we passed it. Pagdating ng plebesito, natalo. Iba kapag dating sa plebiscite, iba 'yung thinking ng mga congressmen. Ayaw pala ng mga tao. May mga ibang leaders na ayaw.

On having enough time to pass the Camarines Sur Bill

May time para ipasa namin. Pero whether may time para sa plebiscite para ito ay maging effective by October 1, it's very difficult to say at this point.

On his reaction on a witness saying that Rolito Go was seen playing in the casino when he was allegedly kidnapped

Lalong nagiging masalimuot ang issue na 'yan. Mayroong mga nagtetestigo na ang kwento nila, na-kidnap talaga. Ngayon naman may nagtetestigo to the contrary. It will all boil down to the credibility of the witnesses sa palagay ko. Dapat dito managot na ang Bureau of Corrections kung paano nila i-reresolve ang mga ganitong issues. Hopefully, the DOJ will be on top of this situation. Doon nga sa hearing ng budget kahapon, makikita natin na mukhang ina-admit nila pati 'yung kidnapping, kidnapping ng mga kamag-anak, at kung anu-ano pang nangyayari doon. Talagang nangyayari pero in this case of Rolito Go, napakaluwag ng ating prison sapagkat nakita mo ang report, 41 ang nakawala from January to July. Aba'y may malaki tayong problema kapag ganoon. Dapat nga ni-isa walang makaka-escape. Masyadong maluwag.

Itong panahon na ito eksakto because of the budget. Pag-uusapan natin even on the Floor 'yung budget ng Department of Justice, Bureau of Corrections, Bureau of Immigration, lahat ng 'yan.

On the possible replacement for DILG Secretary Robredo

Sila naman lahat qualified. Syempre mayroon tayong napupusuan sa sarili natin but it all boils down to how the President thinks. Kung sino ang piliin ng Pangulo, mas mabuting siya na talaga at wala tayong pakialam at rekomendasyon pa kahit kaninong tao or departamento or Kongreso or branch of government because kapag pumalpak, wala kang pananagutan. Kapag bumuti naman, ganoon din. It all boils down to the prerogative of the President. Iwan na natin sa kanya ang desisyon. Alam niya kung sino ang makakapag-deliver ng mabuting trabaho na naaayon sa kanyang pananaw para sa takbo ng ating bansa.

Kahit sinong ilagay natin diyan, pwedeng gamitin kung magpapagamit. Whether you like it or not, that is a political position.

On the division of Camarines Sur

We're talking here of members of the House of Representatives who are eagerly pushing for it and awaiting the Senate's approval of the bill. The Senate Rules, the democratic process, the Senate process of allowing the committee to do its job and to do its work. We cannot impose pero gusto naming madali na rin, mapag-usapan sa Floor ito. Kung ayaw natin, i-reject natin. Ganun ang gusto namin ni Senate President pero hindi namin masabi. Hindi naming magawa. Hindi naming ma-pwersa ang aming mga kasama na gawin 'yun kasi ang mga committee chairmen, mayroon silang sariling liberty to run their committees how they like them to be run. Ipit kami. Mga opisyal pa naman kami.

Dapat pagbigyan ko 'yung committee chairman ko. Dapat I have to side with the members of the Senate but mayroon din tayong dapat pagbiyan na mga kasama natin sa Kongreso at kaibigan natin kaya ko nasabi 'yun na ang hirap ng sitwasyon namin.

Nakikita namin 'yung problema nila kaya kami nape-pressure. Kung wala silang deadline na hinahabol, pag-usapan natin ito six weeks from now.

Q: Is it possible sir, na sa may guest sa caucus ng mga senators?

Sotto: Nangyayari naman yun every now and then. Unless it is confidential in nature ang pag-uusapan, hindi dapat pero kung pareho nung nangyari na gusto lang magpaliwanag, ipatawag lang natin. Hindi naman talaga pinaattend. It wasn't a formal thing.

Q: Yung exchange that happened on the floor Tuesday afternoon, hindi pa ba preview yun nung tumayo si Sen. Joker and Drilon na i-question?

Sotto: I agree. It is likely to happen. The period of interpellation will be very difficult to handle as majority leader. I know for a fact na medyo mabigat ang mga interpellations niyan. I have been informed that at least three senators want to interpellate the committee report.

Q: Meron bang nagreact na senator nun sa caucus?

Sotto: Wala. During that time, wala. After two to three days, narinig ko nalang na may displeasure. There was a displeasure from the member of the Senate na bakit inentertain yung congressman. Si Senator Trillanes sabi niya he was displeased with the entry of Congressman Villafuerte in the caucus.

Q: Aside from Trillanes?

Sotto: Wala naming nagsabing iba. Meron tayong tinatawag na parliamentary courtesy. As a matter of fact, even on the Senate floor, a congressman may sit even in plenary and vice versa. As a matter of fact, past legislators are also allowed. It is a tradition.

On the tax evasion case filed against former CJ Corona

Probably, that is the result of the information that was gathered during the impeachment. But I could react for or against the actions taken.

Q: Pwede ba magamit yung mga evidence presented during the impeachment trial?

Sotto: Aalamin ko nga. Magandang tanong 'yan. Di ko kayang sagutin 'yan. Di ko alam with the impeachment if it needs a resolution or report for the Senate to allow. Whether it is necessary or not, baka pwede na nilang gamitin yung information that they gathered. As a matter of fact, baka nga pwede kasi sa kanila galing 'yung information gathered by the Impeachment court. Saka they are public documents.

On the issue on Plagiarism

Kaya ko ginamit yung tula ni Joey de Leon kasi hindi masamang kumopya kung ang tinutularan mo ay mabuti. For example, yung kagandahang asal at trabaho ni Sec. Robredo, hindi ba dapat kopyahin? Ngayon, ang kokopyahin mo ay 'yung kasamaan ng ugali ng mga tao, yun ang masama. Parang minamasama nila totally ang pangongopya. Depende sa klase ng pangongopya. Wag na pinalalabas na masama ka agad intentionally kasi kung hihigpitan natin katulad nung sa mga blog at websites, pag may nilagay akong comment, inimbento ko yung comment at may gumamit at hindi nag-attribute, pinapalabas nilang masama. Pano mo 'yun ikukumpara let's say sa mga kantang ginawa namin? Papano ngayon yan pag kinopya mo yung 'Balat kayo' at hindi mo sinabing ako ang composer? Ganun ba 'yung pananaw nila?