Press Release
October 5, 2012

Transcript of interview of Sen. Alan Cayetano

October 5, 2012

Press Briefing

Senate Minority Leader files Certificate of Candidacy for re-election

Topics Discussed (chronological):

- Dynamics within the coalition

- Timing of filing of candidacy - Teachers' Day

- Political Dynasties

- Cybercrime Law needs to be amended and libel decriminalized

- A champion, rather than a critique, of Comelec

- Appointment of Grace Padaca as Comelec Commissioner

- UNA vs LP-NP coalition: distinguishing personalities and principles

- Arrest warrant for Former President Arroyo

Reporter:

Sabi po ni former Senator Jamby Madrigal na komportable daw siya tumakbo with you. Ano pong masasabi niyo na sinabi niya na wala naman pong problema sa kanya na magkasama kayong tumakbo?

Sen. Alan Peter S. Cayetano (ASC):

As I said before, this election was never about personalities, it should really be about vision, about platform. Hindi ka naman tumatakbo bilang presidente o gobernador. This is a collegial body, meaning whether you like the person you're going to be with or not, they will be elected so you have no choice but to work with them.

Kaya 'nung aming proclamation, ilang taon kami ni Sen. Jamby na hindi nagkita, kaya 'nung tinanong ako "How do I feel about running with some people whom you've had heated debates before?" I said that in the case of former Senator Jamby Madrigal, discomfort. But I also said that former Senator Mar Roxas and Senator Villar, when they first saw each other experienced discomfort but are now working together and now regularly see each other for the coalition, that's what I will set as personal guidelines in dealing with the same situation.

So when I went into the holding room, I shook hands with everyone and I went straight to her and I said hello. The discomfort dissipated a bit. Magiging hipokrito ako kung sasabihin kong hindi ko iniisip 'yung mga maaring debate at maiinit na diskusyon sa loob ng Senado katulad noong nangyari bago ng eleksyon.

But then that's the essence of democracy. Look at what's happening with the Anti-Cybercrime law. Dahil siguro masyadong magkakasundo ang mga senador at kulang din sa debate, may mga nakalampas. Minsan mas maganda ang may mainit na debate as long as 'yung prinsipyo naman ang nilalaban.

Nawawala naman 'yung discomfort ngayon. But more than that, I agree with what the candidates of UNA said. Let's distinguish between the candidates of the LP-NP-Akbayan-NPC coalition and the UNA. I think our obligation in the next few days and the coming months is to show the difference between the two and what their platforms really are.

And that's one of the things I said as the NP secretary-general to the LP secretary-general. It's not enough that we joined forces. Because if the reason why we joined forces was only to be reelected, this will be a TraPo coalition.

But the President has given us guidelines, both officially and unofficially. Meaning when we were inside, we discussed some things. One of the things I brought up was the automation - for the gains of the Comelec in 2010 to be continued and for all the needs of the Comelec to be attended to ensure the smooth flow of this election.

Reporter: Why did you just file today on the last day?

I also just filed today because this is very symbolic for us. I know there are lots of issues about dynasties, about family members in Congress. But if you remember, we as a family didn't start like that. I started as a councilor of Taguig 20 years ago in 1992. Today, being World Teachers' Day I remember my grandmother who was a public school teacher in Pateros Elementary School. My grandfather on the other hand was a mechanic. My mom was also a teacher.

Today is very symbolic for us. All the newspapers are saying that political dynasties remove access to public office or the chance to level the playing field. But two generations ago, someone like us - the Cayetanos - would not even win as councilors. Because at that time, public school teachers and mechanics had no way to be public officials.

Pagpasok ko, sinasabi ko na iba ang feeling ko. Kung maalala ninyo noong 2007, grabe ang labanan ng administrasyon at oposisyon at may sabi-sabi na 'di papayag si FG na manalo ako. But despite that, through God's grace and the media, I was able to break through.

The media is the great equalizer. So for those who are saying that there is no equal access, that is not true. Marami pang lugar na lamang na lamang ang mayaman, maraming lugar na lamang na lamang ang may hawak ng government resources. But that's the same all over the world. So the great equalizer now is media.

Now, we have two kinds of media. There is the traditional tri-media and the social media. That's why it's so important that the Cybercrime Law be amended so that it will equalize the playing field in the elections.

Pero kung magiging takot ang mga tao kung i-c-criticize nila ang public official then magiging less democratic ang election na ito.

Reporter: Pero sir sa issue ng political dynasty, ano ang masasabi niyo?

ASC:

Cliche man pero gaya ng sinasabi nila, "Don't look at the trees, look at the forest." Hindi naman pinag-uusapan dito kung dynasty o hindi. Ang tignan niyo 'yung individual. May vision ba siya or short-sighted siya. Siya ba ay magnanakaw o siya ba ay for good governance? Siya ba ay tumatakbo para magsilbi or para pagsilbihan?

Ibig sabihin kahit wala siyang kamag-anak sa gobyerno, kung siya naman ay magnanakaw, short-sighted at kaya siya tumatakbo ay para pagsilbihan, huwag niyo siyang iboto.

Pero kahit magkapatid sila o mag-asawa, kung lahat naman sila ay maganda ang vision, lahat sila ay para sa good governance at gusto manilbihan then i-consider ninyo.

Hindi naman package deal ito. Sa Pilipinas, bawal nga ang tinatawag natin na "block voting". Kung apat ang mag-kamag-anak na tumatakbo at lahat sila ay magaling at lahat sila the best choice, then iboto silang lahat. Kung hindi, huwag.

Doon ko nasasabi na may equal opportunity. Maraming nagsabi noong 2007 na kahit anong gawin ko ay di ako mananalo. Pero sa awa ng Diyos at sa tulong ninyo sa media, lahat ng issues lumabas. I'm the first candidate who won with a national nuisance candidate running against me.

But because of the media, the people found out that there was something going on like that and they put down my name as Alan. However, without the media, people would have written Cayetano and that wouldn't have counted as a vote for me.

For me, it's good to bring up the issue of dynasties but we should dissect it very carefully. Ang pinag-uusapan dito ay hindi kung sino ang kamag-anak kundi nakakabuti ba sila sa bansa.

Reporter: Sir, bakit po ulit kayo ngayong araw nagfile?

ASC:

Today is World Teachers' Day, among other reasons. During the past four days, the coalition has been trying to work out certain areas. Of course you know that I live in Taguig so I also gave my support to the local candidates.

Reporter: Ano ang comment niyo sa issue ngayon ng Cybercrime?

ASC:

Dalawa ang issue dito. I've already stated that as one of those who didn't vote for it, I will file a bill to amend it on Monday. Tandaan po natin na 'di lamang ito issue ng online libel sa Cybercrime. Ang issue dito ay 'yung libel law itself.

Ako ay nakikiusap sa mga aktibista natin, sa mga netizens natin na ipaglaban natin 'di lamang ang pag-amend ng Cybercrime Law, kung hindi pati ang libel mismo. Hinahamon ko ang mga networks, radyo, diyaryo, TV na i-boycott niyo ang mga pulitiko na ayaw i-amend ang batas at tanggalin na ang libel sa list of penal laws natin.

Pwede mo namang kasuhan ng civil case kapag may sinabing masama. Pero sa ngayon, sa mga probinsya at rural areas, kapag ang isang mamamahayag ay binira ang isang public official kahit totoo, minsan kahit Friday night ay inaaresto siya para lang hindi makapag-bail. Nangyayari pa rin ito - harassment.

Ako, nakikita ko na gamitin natin itong Cybercrime Law for two reforms: (1) tanggalin na sa penal code natin ang libel at (2) 'yung proseso kung paano ipinapasa ang isang batas sa Senado. Maybe that's also the problem. Kasi bakit nakasingit itong clause na ito bagamat maraming senador na pinagkakatiwalaan ng mamamayan? Maraming nagulat din dito.

Si Senator Chiz at si Sen. Pia nagpahayag na at humingi ng paumanhin sa boto nila. Dalawa ang proposal ko: una, magkaroon ng real-time tweeting ang Secretariat ng Senado. Ibig sabihin, habang may dini-discuss, at kung ano man ang i-amend, bukod sa live streaming, i-tweet nila para nakikita ng lahat, kahit na sa Luzon, Visayas, at Mindanao, pati 'yung mga OFWs sa ibang bansa, kung ano ang mga nangyayari sa Senado at nang maka-react sila agad. Ang live streaming kasi maganda, pero paano ka magre-react?

Number two, sa lahat ng mga modern countries, tripartite ang partnership ng government at private sector. Sa atin, parang private sector lang ang government. Kaya ine-encourage ko ang mga lawschools na magkaroon ng memorandum of agreement sa House of Representatives at sa Senate na 'yung mga bills na ita-tackle at ang agenda ay ipapadala din nang advance sa mga lawschool natin, para ang mga law center nila ay magamit para tingnan nang maaga kung may problema.

Hindi na bale kasi kung ito talaga ang gusto ng Senado at napag-usapan nang husto, o kaya 'yung reaction ng tao ay na-involve. Pero makikita ninyo dito sa Cybercrime Law, nagkagulatan. It is also because the period of amendments was crafted that way that even if you give us advance copy of the bill, 'yung amendment mo real-time ginagawa. Unfair pa din sa tao kung sasabihin na bakit hindi sila nanood o bakit hindi binanatayan ang bill. Kasi malay ba nila na may tatayo at may isisingit sa bill na iyon, hindi ba?

We should move towards empowering the people and the democracy in passing our laws. And I think Facebook, Twitter, and of course, the traditional media would play a great part. The Senate will have to do its part to let go of some of its powers. Huwag tayong masyadong jealous sa kapangyarihan na sasabihin natin na senador tayo at walang pakialam ang tao. Baligtad 'yon. Dapat, Senado tayo ng tao.

Reporter: You're known as a hard critic of the Comelec.

ASC:

Let me clarify that. I'd like to be known as the champion of Comelec rather than its harshest critic. I am critical of certain members of the Comelec, including Chairman Brillantes. And this is issue-based. For example, right now, NPO ang magpi-print ng ballots, hindi private company. At noong ininspect ng Oversight Committee on Automated Election ang area, nakakalat lang ang mga rolyo ng papel.

Number two, dati and transmission from the PCOS machines goes to three places: the municipal or city level, Comelec, and the KBP. After asking Chairman Brillantes, tinatanggal nila ang sa KBP. Ibig sabihin, kung ano ang makukuha ninyo sa media at sa political parties ay kung ano ang galing sa Comelec. And I explained to him na kahit na tama ang resulta, that will be suspect.

Pangatlo, ang magde-deliver ng balota ngayon ay mga taga-Comelec. Sabi ng iba, wala ba talaga akong tiwala o tinitira ko ba talaga ang Comelec. No. I'm protecting them. Kasi kapag taga-Comelec ang nag-deliver sa treasurer, tapos NPO ang nag-print, at may allegation na may dineliver na sobrang balota, kawawa nanaman ang mga taga-Comelec, sila nanaman ang mapagbibintangan. At additional trabaho lang ito sa kanila.

Actually, one of the things that I'm advocating ay ang itaas ang sweldo nila. Kung tingnan mo ang salary grade ng mga taga-Comelec, mababang-mababa ang mga ito compared sa ibang opisina.

I accept that some people think I'm a critic of Comelec. But it's actually just some people. I've always stated on the record that at least 85% ng mga taga-Comelec ay mabubuting tao and they're doing our country such a service. They're sacrificing a lot working there. But there is some 15%, lalo at the top level, na bad eggs kumbaga.

Magkakaroon ba ng "Hello Garci", o ng nuisance candidate na Peter Cayetano noong 2007 kung walang pumoprotekta sa kanila?

I'm just making sure na kung ano man ang gains ng Comelec under Chairman Melo noong 2010, madagdagan pa ngayon.

'Yung iba sinisisi ako kung bakit binring-up ko ang cottages ng mga Commissioners. 'Yung iba nagpapasalamat sa akin kasi kapag daw ang mga ordinaryong taga-Comelec ang pumunta doon, walang mapag-stayan nang maayos.

I think by now alam ng mga Commissioners na ang nagbibigay ng impormasyon sa atin tungkol sa Comelec ay taga-Comelec din. I'd like to be known as one of those fighting for the rank and file of Comelec rather than fighting Comelec. Kasi kailangan naman talaga magkaroon ng tiwala ang tao sa Comelec. Kung hindi, hindi ka na magkakaroon ng tiwala sa eleksyon.

I'm standing here today filing my candidacy dahil may tiwala ako sa Comelec at sa proseso. Pero I will remain critical of some people there and some processes.

Reporter:

Magiging critical din po ba kayo kay newly appointed Comelec Commissioner Padaca?

ASC:

I will tackle that when we get to the CA. In fact, I don't even know what happened sa graft cases niya but I know her through affiliations. And I know that she's a reformist. So I'm hoping that she will bring in the reforms that she fought for in her home province.

Well, Chairman Brillantes is the former lawyer of Pres. Aquino and vice president Binay. At si Chairman Brillantes napakadaming kliyente. Yet the Commission on Appointment allowed him. And I'm critical of that. As a member of the Nacionalista party, I'm the only member, before Sonny Trillantes entered, na nasa oposisyon. Kaya mahirap sa akin na pumasok din sa coalition dahil hindi lang ako ang Nacionalista. Ang ibang Nacionalista, kasama sa majority doon sa Senado. Kami ni Sen. Trillanes nasa minority.

I know former governor Padaca to be someone na hindi tumatanaw ng utang na loob sa nag-appoint sa kanya, kung hindi sa tao na pinaglilingkuran niya. That's precisely why ganoon ang stand niya doon sa kaso niya. Ganyan din sa Supreme Court and other constitutional bodies. There will always be allegations na kung sino ang nag-appoint sa'yo, may utang na loob ka. People like Grace Padaca kasi, grabe ang integrity. But again, let's see what she does. Kasi makikita natin ngayon, halimbawa, the best thing that they can do is to make sure that the transmission from the PCOS machines will also go to the KBP para nababantayan din natin.

Remember, sa Congress at sa Senate, walang pre-proclamation protest. Ibig sabihin, hindi mo pwedeng pigilan. Kaya kailangan mayroon kang sariling server para nababantayan mo ang botohan.

Doon sa dalawa pang Commissioners, we'll be more critical. Kasi ang assignment nila will be on February. So maa-appoint sila, tamang-tama, eleksyon na.

Reporter:

Na-resolve na po ba ang budget ng Comelec sa mga continuing appropriations at sa new appropriations?

ASC:

Our Chairman on the Committee of Finance, Sen. Drilon, is making a legal study on it. But so far, hindi. So far, ang stand pa din ng Senate, pwede lang magdagdag ang Senate kapag may appropriation na. Kapag walang appropriation, hindi nila pwedeng dagdagan.

But these are issues that we cannot allow to bother the preparation for the elections. We should take these and wait until after the elections. But issues pertaining to the automation--machines, who will print, at kung sino ang magdadala, and all of that, kailangan nang ma-resolve.

Reporter: Sabi po ng Kapatiran na rehash daw po ang candidates ngayon especially coming from UNA and the administration coalition.

ASC:

Well, "bago" is not necessarily better. Hindi naman pinag-uusapan kung bago o luma. Hindi pinag-uusapan kung epal o hindi. Hindi pinag-uusapan kung may dynasty o wala. Ang pinag-uusapan ay kung corrupt ba o hindi. Ang pinag-uusapan ay kung may vision ba o wala. Ang pinag-uusapan ay sang-ayon ka ba sa plataporma o hindi.

Once upon a time, I was new too. Ang issue talaga dito is kung ano ang i-c0-contribute mo, ano ang ibibigay mo. You have to understand that Ang Kapatiran needs to equalize for them to get a fair chance. So my advice to them is to go to the media.

Use the opportunities provided by both the traditional and social media. If their platforms are indeed better then why shouldn't they be given a chance?

Reporter: May binanggit kayo kanina na inaayos ng LP-NP coalition. Ano ito?

ASC:

Since the time that we had an agreement in principle between the two parties, there have been local areas that need to work out the details of that coalition. Kasi pagdating na ng filing, nagkaroon na ng pressure. May mga areas na napakainit ng labanan like Cavite, at may areas na napag-usapan kung paano ang tulungan.

Napakahirap para sa kandidato na pumasok sa isang lugar na nag-aaway ang mga coalition members. Pero sa mga areas na ayos, mas madali na ito.

Reporter: So do you consider Cavite a hotspot?

ASC:

It will certainly have an interesting fight. The problem for many of us in the national level is that we are friends with both sides.

Reporter: How do you feel about GMA's current condition given the arrest warrant?

ASC:

Siyempre as a human, naawa ako. But as an advocate of anti-corruption, natutuwa ako dahil medyo malakas itong PCSO case. Kasi 'yung finile ng Comelec at DOJ, nakalusot at nakapagpiyansa dahil sinabing mahina ang kaso.

Uulitin ko ang panawagan ko. Sa buong mundo, kapag organized crime ang kinalaban mo - former President Arroyo's case is similar in a sense that it's organized crime in government - ang susi diyan ay 'yung mga nasa ilalim o 'yung mga ginamit nila para matukoy ang mastermind.

Halimbawa, sa "Hello Garci", habang tayo ay naghihirap dito na mangampanya at nagta-trabaho para sa bayan, si Garci ay nagpapahinga at nagpapalamig doon sa kanyang farm. Ganoon din po 'yung mga gumawa ng Fertilizer Scam, NBN-ZTE, Swine scam. Palipat-lipat lang sila ng department, naghahanap ng raket kasi hindi kinakasuhan.

Ako'y natutuwa kasi dito sa PCSO ay may mga ibang sinama, kasi 'yon ang susi. 'Di ba, kahit sa Mafia, hindi mo mahuhuli 'yung pinakamataas sa mafia kapag hindi mo hinuli 'yung mga nasa gitna na magtuturo sa kanya.

Sana hindi natin sabihin na case closed lang, ang sabihin natin ay case solved. 'Yung quality na nakikita ko na kulang pa sa administrasyon na ito ay 'yung institutionalized mechanism para labanan ang graft and corruption.

May sinabi si Sen. Serge tungkol sa Bridge to Nowhere. Mahigit isang daang bilyon 'yon. He named those people involved who are still in this present administration. That's an example. Ibig sabihin kung walang nag-bring up na senador hindi ito iimbestigahan.

Since nawala ang Truth Commission, walang institution na fact finding na naghuhukay at nag-iimbestiga. Ang nangyayari ay naghihintayan kung may ifa-file na kaso sa DOJ o sa Ombudsman.

Hindi mo masisi ang DOJ at Ombudsman sapagkat trabaho nilang maghintay lang. Pero may grupo na dapat walang ginawa kundi mag-imbestiga. Parang investigative journalism ito. But in this case, institution or mechanism that functions like a special anti-graft and fraud body for our country.

Reporter: May bagong kaso na naman na kinakaharap si GMA, possible pa ba siyang kumandidato?

ASC:

'Yung seeking of public office of the Arroyos is part of their protection scheme. Naniniwala sila na habang nandoon sila ay nasa area of protection sila. That's why she did not only seek reelection but she tried to form a block. She tried to use that block to serve her purposes. That's why the administration was able to garner support.

Basta sa akin, dapat kasuhan ang lahat ng dapat kasuhan. Kung mayroong ibang kailangan ligawan para sa counter-force ay necessary 'yon under our democratic system.

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