Press Release
September 6, 2012

TRANSCRIPT: KAPIHAN SA SENADO WITH SEN. JINGGOY ESTRADA

On the House of Representatives passage of Kasambahay Bill

SJEE: After 10 years, hindi pa yata ako senador, this was a bill of former Sen. Kit Tatad. He was the one who first proposed this Kasambahay Bill and when I became the Chairman of the Committee on Labor, I filed this particular bill and was approved on the 13th, 14th and 15th Congress. It was pending in the House for several congresses. Finally, last night, I heard over the news that the Kasambahay Bill has already been approved on third and final reading at the House of Representatives.

SJEE: I have already manifested on the Floor several months ago, the members of the Bicameral Conference Committee. Wala pang schedule ng bicam. 'Yung House of Representatives, they have to manifest on the Floor 'yung mga members ng kanilang Bicam.

SJEE: We have around 2 million kasambahays all over the country and I think all of them will benefit from this bill. Lahat ng mga kasambahay dito sa Metro Manila will earn at least P2,500.00 dun sa Senate version. Tapos dun sa mga probinsya, sa 1st and 2nd class municipalities, P2,000.00. Dun sa mga 4th, 5th, 6th class municipalities sa provinces, P1,500.00 each. Dun sa Kasambahay ang mga drivers hindi kasama kasi iba 'yung category nila. All household helpers' working agreement shall be covered by a written employment contract. The minimum wage for NCR doon sa bill ng House is P3,000.00 a month. Other chartered cities and 1st class municipalities will be at least P2,000.00 from the previous P650.00 doon sa Labor Code of 1974. And at least P1,500.00 for 3rd, 4th and 5th class municipalities. A 13th month pay is also included as a new benefit. Hindi namin pinagbabawal kung mas mataas ang monthly salary ng kasambahay. Pwede ring mas mataas. Kumporme na sa pag-uusap ng amo at kasambahay. A provision grants kasambahay membership in PhilHealth, SSS, Pag-ibig and Employees' Compensation Commission wherein the premiums are paid for by their employers. Lahat ng mga gagastusin ay sasagutin ng kanilang mga employers. A new section was also added to promote their human rights and their rights to work which guarantees them the right to form association for their mutual benefits and protection, elimination of all forms of force and compulsory labor, elimination of all kinds of human trafficking, elimination of discrimination, and respect of employment and occupation. It mandates local government units to conduct a registration of employers and household helpers for the purpose of monitoring and regulating the employment of the same.

Ano ang naging obstacle kung bakit tumagal nang 10 years?

SJEE: I really cannot speculate bakit tumagal sa House of Representatives 'yan. Actually, I've been lobbying, I've been talking to my counterpart in the House of Representatives, si Cong. Emil Ong, to immediately pass the Kasambahay Bill. Well, it took them too much time. Siguro, marami rin silang ginagawa kaya ngayon lang nila napasa ang Kasambahay Bill. It is also a priority legislation of President Aquino.

May communication na with Cong. Ong para sa schedule ng bicam?

SJEE: Siguro within next week, I will talk to him, and we will schedule right away the Bicam Conference Committee.

Kailan ito mapapakinabangan ng mga katulong? Magiging masaya ba ang December nila?

SJEE: If we finish the Bicam two weeks from now, ibabalik ulit namin sa Plenary sa House and Senate. Then, it will be enrolled, diretso na sa Office of the President for the signature of the President. Hopefully, before the year ends.

On the case of Bonita Baran

SJEE: Unang-una, ang balita ko, noong unang pasok ni Bonita Baran sa kanyang employer na si Analiza Marzan ay P700.00 lang ang tinatanggap niya noong first year na pumasok siya at hindi siya pinapayagang mag day-off. Dito sa Kasambahay Bill, obligado na mayroong isang araw kada linggo ang day off ng mga kasambahay. Of course, 'yung pagmamaltrato, matagal na pinagbabawal ng batas 'yan. Hindi na kailangan ilagay sa Kasambahay Bill.

May in-issue na arrest warrant sa mag-asawa.

SJEE: We have already issued an order of arrest against the couple, Mr. Reynold Marzan and Mrs. Analiza Marzan, but they are nowhere to be found right now. If you remember last hearing, the lawyer appeared in behalf of the couple and the lawyer assured us that they will be attending the committee hearing. Unfortunately, according to the lawyer, she fainted the same morning. Anyway, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court has already issued a warrant of arrest against them for serious illegal detention, no bail recommended and at the same time, the Senate Labor Committee has already issued an order of arrest for not appearing or snubbing the hearings of the Senate.

When is the next hearing?

SJEE: I cannot schedule yet the next hearing since they are nowhere to be found. We will leave it up to the police authorities to look for their whereabouts. Nananawagan ako sa ating mga kapulisan na kung puwede ay hanapin kaagad sila. We already checked with the Bureau of Immigration if they indeed have departed the country but fortunately for us and fortunately for Bonita, wala naman silang record na nakaalis na rito 'yung mag-asawa.

Ano yung mga penalties sa hindi susunod sa batas na ito? May imprisonment po ba or only penalty? Sa mga hindi susunod na mga amo?

SJEE: Hindi. Dito sa Bill na ito, once passed into law pag napirmahan na ni Presidente Aquino, kailangan na nilang sumunod. Kaya naman hindi sumusunod yung mga amo, wala pang batas.

Pero first month pa lang ng kasambahay, dapat yun na ang kanyang salary?

SJEE: Of course. Dito sa Metro Manila, kailangan P3,000.00 na kung maaaprubahan sa Bicam yun.

Yung mga registration ng mga amo at kasambahay, saan?

SJEE: Ire-register sa pagkakaintindi ko sa unang version ko sa 13th Congress, sa barangay maglilista.

Sino po ang magpaparegister? Yung amo o yung kasambahay?

SJEE: Yung amo, responsibilidad ng amo. The Senate Bill version regarding the Kasambahay Bill with regard to the penalty clause, we follow the Labor Code. Yung provision ng penalty clause sa Labor Code, yun ang sinunod namin. Still, we can revise it or amend it during the Bicam conference committee.

Kapag po yung amo hindi sumusunod, kanino po pwedeng magsumbong yung kasambahay?

SJEE: Sa husgado.

Pwede silang mag-file ng case?

SJEE: Yes, kasi may written contract yan. Any time the kasambahay can file a case against their amo.

Sino ang mag-iimplement nito sir? Department of Labor and Employment?

SJEE: Oo. Kailangan natin bigyan ng dignidad itong ating mga kasambahay, kasi right now, kung mapapansin ninyo, hindi na katulong ang tawag natin, hindi na atsay, hindi tsimay. Ngayon binigyan natin ng dignidad, tinawag nating kasambahay.

Magkano daw ang sweldo ng inyong kasambahay?

SJEE: Hindi pare-pareho, pero definitely not below P3,000.00.

Yung thirteenth month pay, kapag pumasa yun sa Bicam, applicable na ba yun?

SJEE: Oo. Siguro, sa mga iba ipro-prorate. Kasi kunyari, October ka lang pumasok.

So iko-compute lang for three months, October, November, December?

SJEE: Oo. Hindi naman pu-pwede yun.

Although syempre below na sa minimum wage, mata-tax din sila?

SJEE: Wala naman siguro.

Exempted ang mga below minimum wage, walang tax?

SJEE: Wala. Hindi naman papatawan ng buwis itong ating mga kasambahay, dahil maliit na nga itong tinatanggap nila, P3,000.00.

Sa SSS, ano ang tawag ng magiging contribution nila? Voluntary? Yung P300 ba ito?

SJEE: Walang counterpart yung kasambahay, ang magbabayad solely ay yung employer.

Mababawas ba yun sa basic pay?

SJEE: No. Sagot talaga ng employer. Walang sasagutin ang kasambahay.

Kahit anong category pwede? Voluntary or self-employed?

SJEE: Basta it's very clear in the Senate Bill and I think in the House Bill, the provision granting the kasambahays the social benefits, like the PhilHealth, SSS, and Pag-Ibig shall be borne by the employers. Very, very clear yun. Tsaka dati, yung merong provision na meron silang working hours from 8-5, tinanggal namin yun, halimbawa ako, pag umuwi ako ng madaling araw, eh kung hindi na ako buksan ng kasambahay, di hindi ako makakapasok sa bahay ko.

May malaki bang difference yung House at Senate versions?

SJEE: I haven't seen the House version; but I heard that it is totally different from the Senate Bill so I have requested the chairman, si Congressman Ong, to make the Senate Bill as the basis for the Bicam conference committee.

Paano po yung mga under-age na kasambahay?

SJEE: Walang naka-stipulate dito sa Senate Bill version but we can discuss it in the Bicam conference Committee. Maraming naka-employ na mga minors sa ating bansa. Pati sa abroad, sa mga OFWs, marami, pero dito sa Senate Bill, I understand that we will not encourage kasambahays 15 and below to work.

On heated debate on RH bill

SJEE: The Majority Floor Leader, Sen. Sotto, is very emotional about this RH bill. Siyempre ayaw nila mapapasa 'yan so he delivered a turno-en-contra speech against the bill. Kaso nga, iba na lumalabas sa press, ang ina-anguluhan nila ay itong plagiarism issue.

Yung nangyaring exchange between Sen. Pia and Sen. Enrile. Do we expect more of that?

SJEE: Actually by tradition, if a senator delivers a privilege speech any senator can interpellate either the next day or the next week. So, nobody can stop a senator from interpellating because that is his or her right and privilege to do so.. I hope not, we are called honourable people here. We have to respect the decisions of our colleagues.

On his stand on the RH bill

SJEE: Nasa gitna pa ako; pero ang balita ko ang bilang ngayon ay sa 10-10, Three undecided. Kasama ako sa three.

On whether the turno-en-contra had convinced him to join their anti-RH group.

SJEE: I have to read it all over again, including the amendments. Some senators will still amend the provisions of the RH bill.

How did you arrive with the 10-10?

SJEE: At the Senate Lounge yesterday, we were discussing kung ano na ang bilang. I was just quiet in one corner, listening to the discussion of the other senators. It was not a meeting. We never held a caucus on the RH bill. I was not the one who made the count, I just heard it from one of my colleagues. I will not mention who that senator is. Basta sinabi nita 10-10.

Kailan iyon?

SJEE: Yesterday.

On whether the two other undecided senators are re-electionists.

SJEE: Yes. May difference ba kung re-electionist? Kasi ako, I kept quiet all throughout the debates of the RH bill. I never interpellated, I was not active during the period of interpelattion. So they cannot read my mind.

On the stand/personality of the senator who counted the 10-10 votes.

SJEE: The senator is anti-RH.

On the alleged plagiarism issue. SJEE: I think it is up to Sen. Sotto to investigate. It is internal on their part. I have no business meddling the affairs of other senators.

On whether other anti-RH senators tried to convince him to join their stand.

SJEE: No, in fairness to them, the Senate President, even the Majority Floor Leader never tried to convince me to vote against the RH bill. We are free to vote whatever we want to. Tatapusin ko muna 'yung period of amendments.

On whether interest groups had approached him regarding the RH bill.

SJEE: Yes, maraming organizations but not senators. Both from anti-RH and pro-RH groups. There are some from the religious sector talking to me and there are some from other organizations who favor the RH bill.

On the possibility that the 10-10 vote will create an impasse on the RH bill.

SJEE: I don't think that is a possibility. Lahat 'yan boboto, imposibleng hindi, for or against the bill.

On 2013 senatorial elections. On Sen. Chiz's status on the UNA party.

SJEE: We had a meeting yesterday sa UNA leadership, we did not discuss the inclusion of Sen. Escudero. But Sen. Escudero naman is a sure winner, whether he decides to run under the Liberal Party or the UNA.

May pending offer ba kay Chiz to join UNA?

SJEE: Yes, kasangga naman si Sen. Escudero. He is a friend of VP Binay, he is a friend of former President Estrada, he is a friend of the Senate President, he is acceptable to run under the PMP or PDP. Right now we have 10 official candidates running under the UNA banner.

Bakit sabi po niya depende po sa party (sa LP at sa UNA) yung magiging decision?

SJEE: I think he has to decide whether to run for the Liberal Party or under the UNA banner but we will accept, of course, Chiz is acceptable to run under UNA.

Sir paano po pag gusto niya to run under both parties? Hindi po ba yaw niyo ng common candidates?

SJEE: We will have to discuss that. A perfect example is Grace Poe. If Grace decides to run under the Liberal Party, nobody would believe that President Estrada will not help her, or I will not help her, of course in my own personal capacity I will help her or campaign for her, because of the relationship of his father with my father. Kinakapatid ko yan, kumara ko yan. Most probably, if Ms. Grace Poe will decide to run under the Liberal Party, the UNA might or will adopt her as a common candidate.

Open pa rin kayo to have a common candidate?

SJEE: In the case of Grace. Sino naman ang maniniwala na hindi namin tutulungan si Grace.

Pwede rin maging ganon ang kaso ni Chiz Escudero?

SJEE: Maybe. Idi-discuss muna namin yan sa UNA leadership...Everything is possible. I think the Liberal Party cannot come up with 12 candidates. UNA has only 10, as of now but there are possible candidate who want to run under the UNA banner.

Two weeks from now filing na ng Certificate of Candidacy, ano na ang decision ng UNA dun sa final lineup?

SJEE: I think we will have a meeting before the filing of Certificate of Candidacies.

Bakit mas gusto nila gaya ni Chiz to campaign with UNA rather than the LP?

SJEE: Siguro because of the top endorsers from the UNA si Vice President Binay and former President Joseph Estrada.

Q: Di ba awkard yun na LP is in coalition with NP, but two of its stalwarts like Cong. Jack Enrile and Sen. Loren Legarda?

SJE: I think they already made an arrangement with NPC. Meron na silang internal agreement. Of course, si Jack Enrile, siyempre hindi naman pwedeng pumunta sa Liberal yun, eh yung tatay niya nasa amin. As far as I know, Jackie Ponce Enrile will run under UNA. There is no way for Jackie to run under the LP kahit NPC siya. Even I think Senator Legarda.

Pero dadalhin pa rin sila ng NPC?

SJEE: Yes definitely.

On Sen. Koko Pimentel not running under UNA.

SJEE: That is an internal problem of the PDP-Laban between the Vice President and Senator Pimentel.

Sir, is it possible na 10 lang ang maging Senatorial candidates ng UNA?

SJEE: That might be possible. Again, in the case of Grace, kung siya yung 11th, we will adopt her. And Pang 12 siguro si Senator Chiz.

So you will leave two slots open?

SJEE: Not necessarily. If we can complete the slate, we will complete the slate.

Sir, sila yung naka-line up sa 11th and 12th slot?

SJEE: Not necessarily. But if we cannot complete the slate, we will adopt of course Grace.

Official na yung 10?

SJEE: Yes. Sa pagkakaalam ko si Loren, Senator Honasan, Mitos Magsaysay, Jack Enrile, Gov. Gwen Garcia, (Rep.) JV, Zubiri, Gordon, Maceda, Joey de Venecia.

Bakit napasama sa ticket si Gordon?

SJEE: I think he applied.

And you accepted?

SJEE: Alam mo naman tatay ko, he has a forgiving heart. He applied through Senate President.

On Nancy Binay.

SJEE: Si Nancy, the daughter of the Vice President, is ranking in the surveys actually. I think she is number 12 or 13 but the Vice President is not that keen on letting her run.

Sir, dun sa 10 ninyo, ilan ang pumapasok sa magic 12?

SJEE: Ang alam ko dun sa latest survey, isa lang yung galing sa Liberal. That is including Senator Escudero.

What is your fearless forecast?

SJEE: I cannot speculate because it's too early but I think that majority of the Senators come election day will be coming from UNA.

Naniniwala ba kayo na yung mga re-electionist sure winner na?

SJEE: Yes. Sa aking tingin. Siyempre nasa limelight sila.

Sa mga returning Senators, sino yung malaki yung chance?

SJEE: Senator Gordon. Senator Maceda, maybe. Kasi matagal nang wala si Manong.

On the findings of the review committee on the price of oil. Yung findings ng isang independent oil review committee, wala daw overpricing sa presyo ng langis. Are you convinced? Kasi ang transport sector, hindi sila naniniwala.

SJEE: Unang-una, kailangan siguro nating pag-aralan yan. We have to take into consideration both sides. Siguro we'll have a Senate investigation para malaman kung sino nagsasabi ng totoo.

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