Press Release
June 21, 2018

Kapihan sa Senado - Transcript of interview of Sen. JV EJercito

Sen. JV Ejercito (SJVE) - ... I just came back from Tokyo last night for the benchmarking and study tour, kasama ko, as vice chairman of the committee on finance I was head of delegation of both the LBRMO or the committee on finance of the Senate and likewise the House contigent for the committee on appropriation.

Actually andun pa sila hindi ko na natapos yung course because I had to come back but I have finished 3 days sila hanggang tomorrow pa. It was a good experience on how the Japanese Diet does their budgeting marami ho tayo dapat matutunan in the Japanese Ways and the Japanese system. So that's the purpose why the LBRMO, the committee on appropriations and the Development Acedemy of the Philippines was there so as vice chair ako po ang tumayong head of delegation.

Pnoy will face another case dahil yung Ombudsman finds probable cause para indict siya doon sa usurpation of legislative power over that issue over that issue... some are saying mahina daw yung kaso, some are saying na Pnoy can defend DAP.

SJVE - if I may recall, I was the one who filed that resolution way back in 2013 or 2014 regarding the DAP. And I would always maintain that the re-alignment of the budget outside the GAA is illegal, so I welcome this development na talagang I was proven right after all by filing that resolution to investigate the Disbursement Acceleration Program back in 2013, 2014 pala, that it was really illegal and it's a case of technical malversation kasi nga ho walang... napaka simple ho nyan basta wala ho sa general appropriations act, wala sa National Budget, you cannot use that and parang it has been a habit of secretary Abad and the DBM in the past administration to make use of the savings for different purposes.

If you would recall yung dengvaxia, I have the SARO here yung SARO ng dengvaxia kasabay din po siya nung... P3.5 billion yung sa dengvaxia kasabay ito nung SARO. It was sourced from the MPDF savings yung sa Miscellaneous and Personnel Benefit Fund. Kasama din po dito yung construction of rural health units and barangay health stations, purchase of (di marinig) and equipping the RHUs and urban health centers for PhilHealth. I would still maintain that any appropriation, any use of our funds should have congressional appropriation. Ang ano ko lang dito sa pag-file ni Ombudsman Conchita before she steps down eh mukhang just a slap on the wrist because usurpation is only 6 months imprisonment.

Again I would think that at the very least, itong DAP case as a technical malversation kung hindi man plunder because of the amount but at the very least dapat technical malversation and I think Abad is very much guilty of this.

QUESTION: So, sa tingin nyo mahina talaga yung kasong usurpation of legislative power?

SJVE:- yes, oo six months kung hindi ako nagkakamali six months imprisonment lang yan. So baka mamaya ang maisip ni Ombudsman, kumbaga inunahan po niya yung incoming Ombdsman that kung sakaling ma-arraign si Prersident Noynoy Aquino, si Secretary Abad would be arraigned, they cannot, the new Ombudsman cannot anymore a new case kasi double jeopardy na kasi mas mabigat na kaso hindi na puwedeng mag-file kasi nakapagfile na at na-arraign na po si President Aquino at si Secretary Abad.

QUESTION: During that time nakatanggap ba kayo ng DAP fund?

SJVE:- parang di ko maalala na pero parang that time sa Congress siyempre pag merong ibinigay kung hindi ako nagkakamali parang P10 million I can't remember anymore... pero that time kasi parang sa Congress since baguhan lang naman ako dun siyempre anything that is given to you kung para naman sa distrito mo ito you just accept... kumbaga hindi ko pa alam yung kalakaran dun I'm not yet aware of those things at that time..

QUESTION: So you were not informed na DAP po yun?

SJVE:- hindi ko alam na galing sa DAP yun kung saka-sakali man na nakatanggap ako ng... pero one thing is for sure yung PDAF or DAP, yung sa PDAF at least malinis po ako na hindi po ako nakapaglagay dun sa mas controversial funds na nagamit yung Napoles funds so ito po yung dalawang controversial scams that happened when I was in the 15th Congress in the House of Reprersentatives.

QUESTION: Yung sinasabi nyong technical malversation parang...?

SJVE:- Again, I would reiterate just like dun sa dengvaxia I was never a fan of Pnoy because probably of his style of governance, we were always on the opposite sides of the political fence pero sa tingin ko hindi naman papatulan ni Pnoy yan. Yung integrity niya, yung honesty nya ako I would maintain that. Pero those underlinks, si Secretrary Abad kasi parang naging habit na dengvaxia, sa DAP, among others, na ginagamit ho nila yung savings for other purposes. Again napaka-simple niyan eh, any program there has to have approval of Congress through the general appropriations act pero ang isa pa dito kung sakali mang-gagamit nila yung savings dapat within the same agency. Ang problema dito... yung personnel benefit fund napakalayo po sa dengvaxia at napakalayo niyan kung saka--sakali doon sa pinagamitan for the rural health stations and barangay health stations.

QUESTION: Yung sinasabi nyong technical; malversation not for Pnoy but Secretary Abad? So naging karagdagan siya sa prok barrel, idinagdag siya sa pork barel at that time?

SJVE - yes. Meron kasi kami at that time nung legal pa yung PDAP or pork barrel, we are allocated P70 million per district. So yung P10 million kumbaga nakakuha ako ng... I can't remember now... kung nadagdagan 5 to P10 millions o nadagdag yun on top of the P70 million.

QUESTION: So reward yun for impeaching Corona and passing and for passing some legislative measures...?

SJVE - probably hindi ko na marecall. Pero alam ko may mga hiniling noon na mga measure probably yung six tax, yung impeachment. So so I would think it was used to reward all those members of the majority in Congress that time for their support.

QUESTION: Mentioned nyo marami pa kayong iniimbestigahan sa philhealth, sa DOH, so sa tingin nyo mahaharap pa sa si President Aquino considering yung mga nabubulgar nyo na mga questionable na paggamit ng pondo during his term?

SJVE - I dont know would just like to make it clear, this is not being vindictive hindi tayo gumaganti. But this are public funds and as such it is our right to investigate and at the same time I mentioned earlier that we are already about to pass the universal health care program, we have to make sure that Philhealth remains healthy, yung kanilang finances. So they cannot perform or they will not be able to implement this universal health care program kung ganito ang kanlang status. So the reason why we want to investigate is to prevent an occurrence of what happened in the past kaya ganito-ganito yung pondo ng PhilHealth for example and at the same time we are not a rich country hindi naman tayo mayamang bansa so we want to make sure that the meager funds are spent wisely. Yung atin pong maliit na pondo ay dapat ginugugol ng tama at maayos. Nakakalungkot eh we dengvaxia na P3.5 billion, we hear about itong P8 Billion that was spent on rural health stations and barangay health stations that are not, that were not completed pero ilang bilyon na po ang nadisbursed. Tapos meron pang P10 billion na nawawala... yung pong sa Philhealth. Tapos isasama na natin halimbawa yung sa isang komite ko na we spent P64 billion on the housing for Yolanda, Pablo, Zambonga siege and others P64 BILLION NA ANG OCCUPANCY WALANG PANG 50 PERCENT. So pag pinagsama-sama mo nakakalungkot housing, health, these are basic services na talagang kinakailangan natin lalo na especially for the poor tapos bilyun-bilyon ang nawawala, nilulustay nang hindi tama. So that's the reason why we are investigating so that in the future the meager funds that we have, we will spend it wisely na mas tama mas maayos and more effectively.

QUESTION: May additional ba kayo na nakukuhang dokumento o witnesses na magpapalakas dun sa isyu?

SJVE - we are currently investigating, we are currently collecting more information and data, we are just waiting for the DBM for COA to confirm our suspicion to the allegation regarding the itong sa PhilHealth at DOH so inaantay lang po natin medyo matagal ang response ng DBM I think they are also busy right now preparing the budget kaya po sinasabi ko medyo nadedelay... we are already in the process of collecting more information from DBM and COA to confirm all of these suspicion and allegation

As former mayor of San juan, what can you say about the anti-tambay operations of the PNP do you see some abuses kasi may mga nagsasabi nab aka may maba-vilate na human rights dun sa pagaresto sa mga tambay?

Sjve- I think (di marinig) sa akin naman kasi as mayor alam mo isa sa past time natin makip[agkuwentuhan na mga Pilipino probably one of the strong, one of the reasons na kahit na mahirap tayong bansa eh nhindi tayo tulad sa iba na nagkakaroon ng breakdown, depression kasi malakas yung support system natin ASIDE FROM THE FAMILY, yun pong community at barkada. As mayor kung qwala namang ginagawang masama at peaceful ay hinahayaan naman namin. Malalaman naman ng barangay yan at pulis eh or other authorities kung may hindi kanais-nais na gustong gawin so malalaman mo kaagad. So ang sa akin there are local ordinances like us as far as I can remember we passed that bawal maginuman sa kalye. Kung saka-sakali gusto nyong maginuman dapat nasa loob kayo ng mga compound kasi dun nagsisimula ang kaguluhan din minsan yung mga krimen so pwede naman siguro basta nasa loob ng compound yun po ang ginawa namin sa local. So meron ngang sinasabi in fact yung community kapag ganyan yung bnroekn window theory kapag hindi maayos maraming tambay, nakahubad, parang doon t is conducive for crime. So yan ang naiisip po ni Pangulong Duterte as former mayor na dapat nasa community rin kasi, dapat medyo maganda at ,maayos yung komunidad para hindi siya, it doesn't enclourage crime and other criminals or lawless elements to abound kasi yun nga yung kroken window theory na kung ganun ang itsura ng isang community o isang lugar, its prone to criminals. So probably that's what the President has in mind.

Panawagan na isuspend daw muna dahil kailanghang magkaroon muna ng clear policy o fguidelines dahil magkaroon nga ng pagabuso?

Sjve- well siguro dapat i-clarify ng PNP yung guidelines, dapat mayroon silang guidelines in the first place kasi parang noong nagbigay ng order ang Pangulo agad-agad nilang im;lement without informing the public about the guidelines. So m abno ba ang bawal ano ba ang hindi? King ikaw man ay isang ordinaryong mamamayan o ordinaryong Juan dela Cruz hidni mo rin alam kung what is accepted or not. I would sugge4st that the PNP clarify, come out with guidelines, before the enforcement. Kumbaga, pagkasabi ng Pangulo agad silang nag-imp[lement without even informing the public of thr gudielines.

Blang isang dating mayor ??????

Sjve- siguro dapat ano .asoguro kuing lagging ginagawa, pwede na. Pero kung first time lang halimbawa naglalaba, nagsasampay, hindi naman siguro kasalanan yun nakahubad kasi hindi pwedeng nakadamit...mababasa ka niyan lagi mapapawisan. So halimbawa may ginagawang sasakyan naflat diba minsan talagang huhubarin mo so dapat case to case basis. Again I would go back dun sa naisip ng Pangulo I would naiintindihan ko p[o kung bakit siya nagbigay ng ganung order yung broken windows theory na we have to make sure that the envirpnment is not conducive criminals and lawless elements halimbawa maraming tambay na nakahubad, iba rin yung dating pero kung paisa-isa naglalaba ganun magkaiba naman yun and Im sure the barangay and the law enforcement or the police and other law enforcement authorities would know already know kuing ano yung may ginagawang hindi maganda o may binabalak na hindi maganda or wala.

So i-calrfy hindi kasalanan ang maging tambay?

Sjve- sa tingin ko ano eh sabi ko nga sa inyo probably one of the reasons na kahit mahirap po ditto sa ating bansa, hindi masyADONG MARAMING NADEdEPRESS , nasisiraan ng bait. Sa iabng bansa maraming nasisiraan ng bait mas mayaman sila kasi nga mas maliungkot walang support mechanism. So ditto aside from the family, barkada , yung community so isa sa support mechanism kaya ako nun as mayor back then medyo istrikto rin ako noon pagka yung mga ganyan pinahuhuli natin. Pero pag halimbawa yung maayos naman eh hindi naman nanggugulo, nagkakatuwaan at nagkakainuman sa akin sabui ko pabayaan na yung ganoon dahil nakakatulong yan para makaiwas kumbaga para sa akin support mechanism yan para ano eh yan na nga lang ang libangan ng mga Pilipino at least wag na natin ipagkait yun pero on the other hand dun sa ibang uri ng tambay talagang malalaman mo naman kiung may balak na masama o hindi halimbawa may mga criminal tumatambay din, yun yung pwedeng sitahin at idisperse para wag nang gumawa ng kalokohan.

Pano yung approach ?????

Sjve- ang crucial ho dyan yung barangay kasi yun ang frontline in any government service of course yung mga tanod to enforce kilala din naman nila ang advantage if the barangays take an active role, they know the community mas kilala nila ang bawat tao dun sa kanilang ckomunidaD AT kilala din nila kuing sino ang involved sa krimen at sa drugs o iba pa so mas sila po ang makapagdetermine makapagsasabi kung may gagawing hindi nkanais-nais..siguro ang PNP should be kumbaga sila yung, dapat una barangay kasio mas milala nilan yung nasa community . yung PNP should be there kung talagang may problema na that's the time that they should step in kung medyo challenge na o medyo mahirap na yiung sitwasyon nung barangay enforcement. Agaon I would reiterate mas kilala ng barangay yung kanklang komunidad para din mabawasan na din, ako ang suggestion ko lang para mabawasan na rin yung accusation or perception ogf human rights or abuse of authority dapat siguro yug police oeprations dapat may kasamang barangay lagi, again, mas malalaman nila kung sino po yung kanlang sistahin o kay yung kanila pong hguhulihin. I would suggest dapat yung barangay magkaroon ng role in the implementation of this carackdown on tambays.

Decriminalized na yung bagansiya so ang nagiging so ang nagiging basehan na lang nitong operation sa istambay ay mga city ordinances, under the city ordinance ang nage-enforce mga pulis

Sjve- sa ngayon kasi dahil mayroong instruction eh kaya NG ,MHA PULIS KAYA I would suggest that siguro sa PNP para mabawasan yung perception of abuse, involved nila yuing barangay. And that way also mas matutu,lungan sila dahil the barnagfay could provide more information. Ako ta;aging hindio ako naniniwala na ang mga barangay officials, mga barangay tanod hindi nila alam na may nangyayariong iligal sa kanialng lugar. Im sure kilala nila kung sino ang suspetsa pa lang alam nila kung sino ang involved sa drugs, involved sa mgfa panghohioldap kilala po nbila yan. Kaya nga nung minsan naside-swipe ako nakita ako ng barangay tanod, tjmakbo yung nakabangga sa amin eh nung hapon lang nalaman na naming kung saan ano nahuli na so kung meron mang nakakakilala sa komunidad, it's the barangay dahil doon [o sila neighborhood nila yan. So ang suggedtion ko lang sa PNP as a former mayor that would take the heat off them and mas less congtroversial kuing ini-involve nila ang barangay and at the same time siguro yung iba pang mga methods na may media whatever . so these are mechanisms para mawala yung perception of abuse of authority.

???????

Sjve- I woulod have to check kasi natapos kami bicam last month so I have to check kababalik ko lang so I am hoping na talagang maipasa nay an I ma hoping that the president would sign it kasi I would think na its very significant especial these days na napakaraming naririnig na depression, may mga nagsu-suicide in fact meron ditto sa bansa natin may mga cases na may mga teenager mga youing generation mga millenials that are gping through depression may ialn pong nagsuicide. Those are ano pa belong to prominent families. So I would think that the mental health bill will be very significant to address this problem especially now na dapat maging accepted na rin sa public kasi naging problema na rin sa atin dati ang pananaw pag pumiunta ka sa psychiatrist ajala may sira may baliw ka may ganung perception. We now have to accept that, the pub;ic now has tro accept pag nagkaroon po ng mga ganiot, they need help, hidni sila dapat kamuhian those who are seeking psychological help kaya I would say na very timely very significant and I hope that the Presidwent would be able to sign the mental health bill to law kasi nga very significant especially these days that a lot of cases of suicide kamakailan Anthony Bourdain although andun yun pero meron fdin ditto sa atin sa Pilipinas especially among the younger generation siguro probably kasalanan din natin that may mga ibang millenials or youth that are not used to facing reality so nagkakaeroon ng depression. So I am hoping that with the passage of the mentral health bill itno law ay maminimisze na yung cases ng suicide. At least yung depression we will be able to treat them right away.

I am hoping na with the passage of mental health bill into law ay ma-minimize na yung cases ng suicide at least yung mga depression we will be able to treat them right away. QUESTION: Sir ilan yung mga ibinibigay na assistance under the mental health

SJVE: For the health centers they have to put up their own mental health unit para hindi lahat dadalhin pa sa sa metro manila, cebu or davao, so in the provinces especially sa mga DoH-ran hospitals or tertiary hospitals they should have their own, the law would provide a fund that will estsablish their own mental health unit. This will be a a challenge but at aleast it will be a first step so that the mental illness and things like this it has become a problem so yun yung gist they should have establish their own mental health facilities.

QUESTION: Sir what is your position on same sex marriage SJVE: Medyo controversial kasi ito ano kasi a great majority of us almost 70 to 80 per cent of us population are Catholics so yung acceptance probably it might run contrary to the doctrine or the teachings so that would be the challenge especially in the senate we are very sensitive to the pulse of the people so yun siguro ang rason that is why nobody has filed a resolution on same sex marriage ano pa yung isa dissolution but mag meron nap o mag file siguro it would be worth looking at hindi naman tayo sarado but I just have to be honest it will be an uphill battle probably it would contrary to the doctrine of the majority of the population.

QUESTION: Sir ano stand mo? Open ka ba sa same sex marriage?

SJVE: Wel it runs contrary to the doctrine pero hindi naman tayo sarado agad kasi meron din naman in the modern world napaka active naman ng LGBT so we have also to conside their rights and positions hindi naman talaga ako kontra per sa karamihan probably the doctrine the religion would play a big part a big role in our decision.

QUESTION: Sir do you think our society is ready na sa ganitong

SJVE: Medyo mas conservative pa rin kasi sa atin sa Pilipinas in the the more developed countries, sa Europe sa Amerika probably it will be more acceptable as time goes on baka mas maging katanggap-tanggap pero in a predominantly Christians Roman Catholic country siguro that is the reason why we are more conservative thanthe develop countries.

QUESTION: Sir may oral argument kasi to legalize same sex marriage but some say this must be done in Congress do you agree? Is Congress or the Supreme Court to decide?

SJVE: Well that is the position of the Supreme Court ano mas sila nasa position masgsabi so we will just wait ang problema nga lang wala pa nagpa-file here in the Senate so antayin na lang natin kung may magpa-file probably sa Committee on Family Relations but I am not really sure ifthere was already abill that was field pero parang wala pa eh medyo busy pa ako sa Health, Urban Planning and Housing but siguro we will just cross the bridge pag nandayn na kung meron talaga magpa file saka na natin pag-iisipan but for now I would like to concentrate on the problems on health system and investigating on the housing so tingnan na muna natin

QUESTION: Sir about the signed mental health bill?

SJVE: Well I am very very happy to hear that and I would like to thank the President for signing the mental health bill its now a law and I would like to thank the president for that and I would say that it is a very very significant piece of legislation for now especially that there are a lot of depressions and some suicide cases that have come up lately

QUESTION: Kasama na ba ang Philhealth coverage sir and free check up kapag government hospitals?

SJVE: Yes under the mental health law na ngayon that would also be taken care of philhealth siguro yung sa IRR na lang kung how would be budgeted antayin na lang po natin yun but as far as I remember it will be included sa coverga ng philhealth. That is why I have to be honst with you that I was really disappointed when I learned about the state of finances ng Philhealth that is why we have to go on with these investigations because we have to make sure that Philhealth would be able to implement the Universal Health Care and the Mental health Law as well so dalawa poi to at di biro ang pag-gastos po ditto we want the coverage we want higher benefits kailangan masiguro natin na tama ang finances ng philhealth so we cannot afford for philhealth to collapse kasi we only have one national health insurance hindi tulad ng sa Thailand or sa ibang bansa they have two or three sources eh tayo po nag-iisa lang an philhealth so a collapse of the Philhealth would mean a collapse of the whole health system of the country.

QUESTION: Sir other issues, with the series of killings kung saan kasama po sa victims yung mga priests there have been 200 priests and pastors who are applying to carry firearms ano yun indication ng kawalan ng tiwala na kaya silang protektahan ng otoridad?

SJVE: Unang-una we are also concerned nakakatatlo na yata nakalulungkot na during mass the prists are being gunned down so let us just wait for the PNP and other investigating agencies like NBI to look into this parang ironic because the men of cloth are men of peace so napaka ironic na they will arm themselves but then again antayin na lang po natin but I was also concerned and I feel bad also especially I grew up as a Roman Catholic I fell bad that priest re being killed but let us wait for the investigation of the PNP.

QUESTION: Solution bay un sir yung magdala sila ng armas?

SJVE: Yung pag-aarmas siguro dapat munang pag-isipan kasi parang hindi nga bagay kasi ang kaparian teach us how to attain and be peaceful so parang awkward na armado pa an gating mga kaparian.

QUESTION: Sir may proposal ang PDEA na magkaroon na din dawn g mandatory testing ang grade 4 pataas tapos lahat ng teachers i-test na rin daw dahil meron daw information na age 10 pa lang nakakatikim na ng drugs

SJVE: Masyado naman yatang mababa siguro I would'nt be surprised nakikita mo sa gilid gilid na nagrarugby minsan nakikita ko mga bata may mga hawak na sigarilyo that would be worth looking at pero masyado naman yatang bata probably high school medyo mas prone na mas exposed na pwedeng pumasok sa drugs and other vices

QUESTION: Sir kailangan ba mandatory?

SJVE: Well pag-aralan muna natin kasi medyo magastos din yan ano yung iba nga umaaray na para lang drivers license ano just imagine kung lahat ng bata will undergo mandatory testing that will cost billions. We have to study further di madali para sa mga oridaryong pamilya some of them could barely sned their kids to school. I don't think we have that much to implement this proposal

QUESTION: Are you still hopeful na may mangyayari ditto sa isinusulong ng gobyerno na peace negostiations with the CPP NPA considering the recent developments na postponed yung resumption supposedly June 28 at ini-insist ng president na dapat ditto gawin ang peace talks habang sila Joma ang suto nila sa Norway so ano sa tingin ninyo may pag-asa pa ba?

SJVE: Anything for peace we will support isa sa mga consideration for our economy to reach its full potential dapat maayos ang peace and order dapat wala na yung insurgency dapat wala na rebellion sa Mindanao that is the only time that we could really attract investors kaya lang on this issue regarding the peace I would support the president na dapat ditto gawin sa Pilipinas bakit kailangan gawin sa ibang bansa pa? Sorry to say but the Republci of the Phls or the government must be on the higher grounds kasi tayo po ang gobyerno eh in fact I appreciate what the president has done his initiatives in the early part he reached out in fact he appointed some personalities who are identified with the left na binigyan niya ng cabinet positions so kung titingnan lang natin yung sinseridad sa tingin ko naipakita nan i pangulong duerte because again he gave chance to key positions personlaities identified with the left.

QUESTION: So its about naman na ang CPP-NDF naman ang magpakita ng sincerity sir?

SJVE: OO dapat ganun eh nagpakita na ang pamahalaan by appointing some of their people in key positions kaya lang napikon ang pangulo dahil some elements continue to extort may mga men in uniform that were killed inambush pa nila so I think the ball is in the hadns of the CPP-NPA-NDF to show their sincerity kasi nga itong gingagawa inla epseically atoricities hindi pagpapakita ng goodwill yan eh noonng unang ihinanin ang BBL in the past administration I was against it because of Constitutional infirmities and likewise yung nangyari sa SAF44 yung na nangyari po yun na MILF ang involved sabi ko they have to show their sincerity that is why napakahirap ng tanggapin but this time around they offered the MILF to show sincereity so dapat ganun din sa CPP NDF dapat wala na yung atrocities extortion and other illegal activities dapat ipakita din nila sa ating pamahalaan yun.

QUESTION: Sir confident ba kayo na pag nag resume ang regular session na maaaprub na yung creation ng department of housing sa nakikita ninyo mayron nang solution para maiwasan na yung mga ginagawa ng kadamay na pag attempt na i-occupy yung mga bakante housing units?

SJVE: I am hoping kaya nga nag appeal ako nung una akong matanong about sa pag-take over nila sa rizal naman after they successfully took over one housing project in Pandi bulacan I am appealging again to them to give chance for the improvement and realization of the programs n gating pamahalaan para sa ating housing sector - with the creation of the Department of housing this will be the start of the reform because all the housing agencies they all be under one roof kasi ngayon with the present set-up yung key agencies eight of them each have their own charter their own programs and their own (inaudible) so and HUDCC serves aas the coordinating council so under this they will all be under one direction under one charter at least coordinated na talaga sila hindi na one council- the government will be able to show thay it is serious in tackling the housing backlog the housing problem. I would like to clarify also baka kasi ginagamit ng Kadamay ang resolution na aming ipinasa allowing the or giving authority to NHA to redistribute the unoccupied AFP PNP houing units to qualified beneficiaries. So it will be unfair to have one sector na makalibbre. Again I would reiterate na wala pong libre yung one of our workers sa atin pong agencies na maintenance natuliungan ko po yun nang natulungan kop o siya to be one of beneficiaries sa AFP PNP housing under the NHA naikay-iyak po siya. Kaya kop o ginagawang sample kasi even one of our maintenance worker sa agency sila po ay naghuulog nagsisikap na makapaghulog para sa kanilang pabahay. What the government collects will again be used for future housing projects kasi backlog poi to hindi naman kayang gobyerno ilibre itong mga housing units we need about 1.2 million immediate as of the moment and ing hindi natin maiayos yan untiol 2022 it will balloon to 6 million so we have to pagbigyan natin maipasa itong deparmtne of housing until august so let us give time and I am sure it will be the start for the reform for the housing sector.

QUESTION: Sir is aba kayo sa pumirma sa Senate Resolution expressing the (inaudible) doon po sa quo warranto petition?

SJVE: Di po ako pumirma but I issued a statement that time that I did not agree with the Supreme Court's decision but then again even if I don't agree nasabi ko nan a we cannot correct a mistake with another mistake that is a Supreme Court and we cannot overstep on their affairs we just have to accept what the decision was although I do not agree but we have to accept the decision of the Supreme Court.

QUESTION: About politics nasa listahan na ba kayo ng mga i-eendorso ng iba-t-ibang partido?

SJVE: Wala pa naman kasi nagging busy kami the past few months when we went on break we were all busy with our own pet bill our own vital pieces of legislation kaya hindi pa naming napag-uusapan yun politics. But we are very confident especially now that under Senate president Sotto that he will fight for us that he will assert - he has spoken before nagsalita na nga siya noon siya ay majority leader pa lang that he had volunteered that time tol be the campaign manager ng mga reelectionist senators so siguro alam niya kung sino mga nagsipag nagging mganda naman ang working relationship so probably one of the reasons he volunteered that time to be the campaign manager together with senators lacson and honasan to be the deputy campaign manager. Now that he is senate president probably he would assert more na ma-include ang reelectinoist senators sa administration slate.

QUESTION: Sabi ninyo kanina na may (Inaudible)

SJVE: Maraming iba eh kaya nga the LBRMO, the committee on appropirations are there to study their budget ako nandun lang ako sa system of government hanggang doon ther are two more days hopefully when they get back meron tayong mai-aapply from the Japanese system of government. Parang hybrid parliamentary sila at the sasme time yung kanilang budget nangga-galing lang sa house ehtayo co-equal tayo so we will see pag nakabalik an gating contingent.

QUESTION: Sir pinapa-clarify lang ni nimfa yun bang technical malversation for Abad lang at di kasama si PNoy? Sapananaw ninyo

SJVE: Sa pananaw ko being the last to sign he must presume na all diligence ng kanyang secretaries ng executive secretary and management staff legal team so kahit hindi kami nagging magka-partido I believe honest naman siya hindi nga lang kami magkasundo probably in siguro sa style of governance but I think hindi naman niya papatulan I think he is very particular in keeping the name clean so

QUESTION: He acted in good faith?

SJVE: Well I think so Well sabi nga nila sometimes the road to hell is paid with good intentions so yun ang ano ng technical malversation kahit maganda intention mo pero hindi naman tama. Sa tingin ko technical malversation ito kasi this concerns billions ano yung tungkol po sa health facilties yung sa Dengvaxia and others na ginamit po yung saving yung Personnel Benefit Fund it was used for other purpose ano sana nga kung the same department pero talagang magkaibang -magkaiba eh so it should have Congressional approval.

QUESTION: Hindi lang po nagging cautious di nagging maingat sa pag-aprub si PNoy?

SJVE: I would say siguro negligence or siguro hindi niya lang pinag-aralan they should have scrutinized it dapat may PMS dyan may OP may exectuvie secretary dapat ni review nila ng tama na dapat hindi sasabit ang president

QUESTION: Yung Technical Malversation dapat kay Abad lang or dapat kay PNoy din?

SJVE: Si PNoy would be guilty of negligence pero sila Abad sila Garin and other officials sila po ang masa likuran nitong mga transaksyon naito mga diversion may waiver pa I would like to reiterate na wag naman sana silang magalit parang nagagalit sila sa amin we were also witness during the second hearing kumbaga natisod lang yun wala naman talaga sa plano but it just came out from the officials of Philhealth and DoH na nagkaroon pala ng ganung memorandum sila Garin at Atty Padilla na wine-waive yung ten million that was supposed to fund the expanded senior citizens act that it was used for another purpose so ito po an gaming dine-determine ngayon we are working closely with the DBM and CoA so ang sa akin the burden of proof is with them sa kanila naman the ball is in their hands to dispprove these accusations and allegations.

 (END)

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