Transcript of Kapihan sa Senado with Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III

Q: Sir, it is now becoming clear kung sino mapro-proclaim na panalo sa senatorial race, are you satisfied or a little bit sad dahil mukhang 'yung sa isa ng mga kandidato nang NPC ay nasa alanganin pa?

SP Sotto: Nagaagaw eh. The Pilipino word would be nagaagaw. I hope that Sen. JV Ejercito will make it. Mayroon pa mga naguusapan, may nagbibilang pa, may padating pa, pero when you hope for that, nakakatakot kasi 'yung sa No. 12 ay si Nancy, so gusto mo rin mananalo 'yun..kung pwede lang mananalo silang lahat. So, it's really nagaagaw 'yung tuwa at kaba na finally malaman natin kung ano talaga ang decision ng majority ng ating mga kababayan.

I am waiting for the final, official results from Comelec. As a matter of fact, I am planning to monitor sa PICC kasi nandoon, di ba? Doon tayo makikita the official canvassing and sanay tayo doon, every now and then may representation tayo doon. I'm sure one of my lawyers will be able to monitor the official national canvassing.

Q: So, sir, tama 'yung lawyer ni JV Ejercito na right now walang basis to concede dahil may parating pang boto?

SP Sotto: Oo, at mga diperensiya nila naglalaro lang sa 100,000 or below, 'yung last three slots, including No. 13. 'Yung 14 and 15 lang naglalayo layo ng konti pero hanggang No. 13 kung tutuusin, naglalaro sa mga 100,000 thereabouts. As a matter of fact, mayroon pa sa kanila 10,000 or 20,000 lang ang diperensiya. Pero, that has been the benchmark of national elections when it comes to the senatorial elections from 1987 to the present, except in 2016. 'Yung ang malaking pagkakaiba. Lahat 'yan tingnan mo 'yung 1987 national elections, No. 24 and No. 25 during that time was Sen. Enrile and Bobit Sanchez ang diperensiya ang liit. Pagdating 'yung 1992 elections, 'yung No. 24 and No. 25, ganun din ang liit. Butch Aquino, No. 24...I do not remember who was No. 25 but ang liit din 'yung diperensiya, less than 100,000. Lahat 'yan even 'yung 1995 'yun No. 12 and No. 13 and liit ang diperensiya...in 1995 12 senators na lang kasi nag-oover lap na. Kaya nga lagi may protesta, eh. And then 2001, 2004...2001 di ba si Greg was No. 13? It just so happens that 13 ang kukunin kaya nakasabit siya, dikit din sa No. 14 and No. 12. No. 14 then was Sen. Enrile, No. 15 was Miriam Defensor. Except 2016 and I don't really have the answer for that...1 million ang lamang ni Leila de Lima kay Francis Tolentino, 'yung lang ang kakaiba sa lahat, pero ngayon, tingnan mo ganun ulit 100,000 below or thereabouts. So, may karapatan siguro mga abogado nila JV na huwag muna mag concede, ma hintay na lang 'yun final.

Q: Sir, did you expect na ba na ganito kakarating situwasyon ni Sen. JV considering na hati nga siguro 'yung boto dahil sabay sila tumakbo ni Sen. Jinggoy and at the same time may ilan religious group na hindi siya po inindorse?

SP Sotto: 'Yung una talaga tingin ko uphill dahil dalawa sila tumakbo sa pamilya for the same seat pero I knew pagkick-in ng local candidates and national party like in our case, the National People's Coalition wherein Sen. JV is a member, I was expecting na talagang ganyan, papasok siya. I was expecting na papasok siya. The kick of the local, the trajectory naman talaga pa akyat, eh. "Yung iba nasa top 12 dati unti-unti nag iislide. I was expecting na papasok siya. Alam ko mahihirapan, it was an uphill battle but I was expecting him to win.

Q: But plano nyo magbabantay sa PICC?

SP Sotto: Hindi naman magbantay, magmonitor lang. Beterano na kami doon basta't nakaharap mga abodago namin nakikita na 'yung monitor nyo parehas na lumalabas dito at parehas lumalabas sa transparency server napupunta sa mga media, pagnakikita mo parehas 'yung give or take a point or two, hindi naman problema 'yun.

Q: Sir, considering mga glitches sa last election, mga hindi gumanang mga VCM, mga sirang SD card, sa transmission, sa transparency server, may basehan ba para dudahan ng credibility and integrity of the last election?

SP Sotto: Well, not really kasi tingnan mo 'yun percentages 'yung let's say nagkaroon nang problema sa VCM, SD card, tingnan mo 'yung nakaraan, ang mabigat kasi sa panahon ngayon may social media, nangyayari pa lang, nakakaalam na sa buong Pilipinas at buong mundo kung anong problema. Pero, tingnan mo 'yung percentages, medyo mukhang tama 'yung sinasabi ni Commissioner Guanzon at saka ni Chairman Abas ang liit ng percentage 'yung nagkaproblema na kaya lang matingkad because it's on social media and the mainstream media usually picks it up. But in general I think the elections were credible. Ang pinaka madali dyan, kung mayroon nagdududa, presenta nila 'yun dahilan kung ba't sila nagdududa and present the evidence. Like in our case in 2016, I presented it in a privilege speech and the investigation went on. As a matter of fact, it's on-going. Pwede pa naman din 'yun. If we will not be able to take it up in the next three weeks what I can do in the 18th Congress is simply to rise and move that my previous privilege speech be considered by the Committee on Electoral Reforms who will be headed by I don't know yet, depende baka magkaroon kaming konting pagbabago sa chairmanship sa committee I cannot say at this point. So, pwede pa tuloy 'yun investigation. Hindi mamamatay 'yun dahil sa sine die adjournment. Imbis nakarinig ako na may nagsasabi na magpresenta daw nang ebidensiya na credible ang election...baliktad ah...magpresenta ka nang ebidensiya na hindi credible ang election, dapat ganun.

Q: Sir, 'yung line-up lang na lumalabas na so far nanalo sa top 12, 'yun bottom three, 10, 11 and 12 puro re-reelectionists, what does it say, sir, parang hindi ba enough 'yun performance this time around or may mali sa messaging, hindi nakita 'yung tao nagawa nila?

SP Sotto: Hindi, nakita 'yung tao nagawa nila kaya sila nandodoon. Ako ang tingin ko it's because...sabi mo last three? Puro re-reelectionists? Simply because malakas lang talaga 'yung three na bago ito pumasok. I think it's simple because there were three very strong candidates who barged in kaya na displace 'yun iba. And the strength of the candidates that barged in had the full endorsement of the President who is enjoying approximately 80 percent approval and trust rating from our countrymen so talagang lalakas at lalakas 'yun and if you will notice in his sorties during the campaign period, he never failed to mention the four of them. 'Yung pang apat sa Mindanao lang popular, si Mangudadatu, pero hirap sa Luzon and Visayas unlike the three others who were known nationwide. So, I think it was because of that, mayroon tatlong nag barge in na malalakas kaya siyempre baba 'yung iba.

Q: At this point, can we say na totoong may Duterte Magic in terms of endorsement?

SP Sotto: I-dissect natin ng mabuti. Is it really 9 or 10 from the administration? I don't think so. The HMP is not the administration, it's a regional party, hindi ba? Ang talagang binabanggit ni Presidente apart and every now and then, siyempre nadedeclare siya si Koko dahil party president nila, every now and then mayroon mga sorties nandudoon, nagendorse siya pero he was very strong on the four.

As a matter of fact, of the 12, 11 inendorse namin, inendorse ng macho block, di ba? Ano ba kami administration ba kami? Hindi. 'Yung HMP administration ba yan? Hindi din, it's a coalition of different political parties, may NP doon, may PDP-Laban, may NPC, may independents. Remove the word magic. Alam mo sa ibang tao, pag-sinabi mo ng magic baka akala nang daya kasi ang noon araw, ang term ni Sen. Maceda "masahe," minamasahe ang resulta. I think it would be the President's support and he enjoys a big trust rating of the people so they trust what he says.

Q: Sir, babalik lang ako doon sa mga nangyari problema ng automated elections, if you think na credible pa naman 'yung elections, why is there a need for the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee to investigate?

SP Sotto: It's the chairman of the Committee on Electoral Reforms and the JCOC na nagsabi na magkaroon ng inquiry (inaudible) Sen. Koko Pimentel. Ako naman, I support it kasi mas maganda na 'yun malinawan lahat n'ya. So, ano ginawa? 'Yun 2016, lock, stock and barrel, Smartmatic. Ito 2019, medyo nag iba-iba nang mga service providers so maganda makita natin, ano ba mabuti sa dati, ano ba mabuti sa ngayon? At saka paano ba bidding n'ya sa 2022? Baka pwede na iconsider 'yung suggestion ko na hybrid, manual ang botohan, transmission ang automated. So, hindi naman karaka-taka at hindi naman masama na tumawag ng hearing ng JCOC.

Q: Do you think it's time para palitan ang Smartmatic as provider ng machines?

SP Sotto: Matagal na. Nung Jan. pa sinasabi ko na yan eh ang problema nung nag privilege ako nakapag award na pala ang Comelec eh, remember? Kasi napakaraming naging problema and my sources, definitely alam na nila na taga Smartmatic yung isa at yung isa ay ginamit nila. And by the way yung source ko, I think was already approved dun sa application nya kaya dun sa isang hearing ayaw nyang lumabas meron syang inaaplayan na kumpanya eh natanggap na. I think he's ready to appear. Oo, sabi nya sa akin eh, if matutuloy yung imbestigasyon nung 2016 elections, hindi itong 2019 elections, palagay ko pwede ng magtestify yung 2.

Q: Yun yung dating ayaw magtestify?

SP Sotto: Hindi eh, hindi sa ayaw, wag daw muna kasi nga daw meron syang application with an international company ang ayaw nyang ma prejudice pag nakilala, sasabihin controversial ka ah, ayaw ka namin.

Q: Given ng line up ng top 12, halos lahat administration allies, would you say ma strengthen hold ni Pres. Duterte sa Senate? Does this mean mas malaki chances na maipasa pet bills nya like death penalty, federalism etc.

SP Sotto: I doubt it. I think it what will be passed by the Senate would be based on its merits. Based on the bills on its merits, not because it's being endorsed by the President or is not being endorsed by the President. As a matter of fact we have passed so many bills na binito (vetoed) ni Presidente. Hindi kami nagkukunsulta talaga. Tapos hindi naman namin nakukuha yung pulso nila from the PLLO and the technique here and based on my experience, pagka yung bill ayaw nung Presidente, wag nyo ng ipasa or tanungin ninyo, ano bang ayaw nyo dito. Kaya importante dun yung role ng PLLO. Kesa sa ipapasa ninyo, pagpatapos ibibito pala. Pagka tinutulak naman ng Presidente and there are a number of bills na itinutulak ng administrasyon na hindi naman namin, itong present set ng senators, kung tutuusin hindi naman malayo dun sa mananalo eh na magiging 18th Congress Senate, halos pare-pareho na. Nabawasan lang yung members ng minority siguro, baka mababawasan ng 2. Pero yun din yun eh.

Q: There's no basis na baka magiging rubber stamp ng Malacañang ang new composition ng Senate?

SP Sotto: I really doubt it. I seriously doubt that will happen. First of all, ang leadership hindi kapartido ng Presidente. We would like to maintain and if our leadership is retained, we would like to maintain an independent, transparent and sincere Senate like what we have done in the 17th Congress. Ganun pa rin ang ime maintain namin na kung let's say ang gusto ng Presidente, ganito ganito na batas eh kung talagang mabuti naman at maganda, bakit hindi? Pero kung ipipilit lang na alam naming makakasama, I doubt kung papasa sa amin dahil sa Senate walang cloture eh. Walang cloture sa amin nakakalimutan nila na hindi ka pwedeng mag ram through like for example yung sa House na pwede kang mag ram through dadaanin sa bilang. Sa amin ang daming pamamaraan. And i know because I've been a minority leader and I've, one time or another eh stymied a bill of the Palace.

Q: Death penalty, mas ipu-push nyo sya sa next Congress considering mas marami na pro...

SP Sotto: That's a possibility now because nadagdag nga yung pro-death penalty. Pero sino bumoto sa kanila? Eh di yung mga tao. Alam nila kung sino yung pro death penalty at hindi. Hindi ba? I'd rather not say that it's a Palace bill kung tutuusin because I for one filed, without any ika nga eh egging from the Palace. As a matter of fact, pagtungtong ko pa lang ng 17th Congress uli eh which already I filed in the 16th Congress is death penalty for high level trafficking. So it's not really a Palace...as a matter of fact the Palace death penalty before na gusto na ipapasa sana ng Congress, was maraming crimes na kasama. Ano nangyari? Di ba sa kaka debate namin sa kasasabi ko wag na yan. ako payag na ko dun sa wag death penalty eh because nakita ko rin eh. You could say that I have seen the light. Payag na ko talaga na wag death penalty. But for high level drug trafficking it has to be there. it is a defense mechanism of the government against high level drug traffickers and drug lords because we are the only country in this part of the world where we have no death penalty for high level drug trafficking kaya paboritong paborito tayo. Dito nag mamanufacture, dito nagta transhipment, pag nahuli sila nakakapag operate pa sa Muntinlupa. Ganun eh pero kung ilalagay mo yan na parang sword of Damocles. It need not be used but it should be there. yun eh ika nga panakot ng gobyerno.

Q: So mas madali nga mapasa, mas mataas na mapasa yung death penalty in the coming 18th Congress?

SP Sotto: I can say na it is possible. Hindi ko pwedeng sabihing mas madali. Again because of the no cloture rule in the Senate. Kung madaming ayaw, maraming pamamaraan.

Q: Super majority na raw dito sa Senate...

SP Sotto: Super majority for the majority. I'd rather not call it a super majority for the Palace. Even the President would agree with me, I'm sure. He has never interfered. He has never called. Even when Koko Pimentel was Senate president, he has never called Koko Pimentel for any bill eh. It all emanates from the collective wisdom of the members of the Senate.

Q: If you will still be the SP, you will prioritize the death penalty bill? Maglalatag kayo ng agenda di ba.

SP Sotto: It is never been a priority as far as I'm concerned. Ang daming ibang priorities eh. It is a priority of Sen. Manny Pacquiao. Just to set the record straight. Kasi pag hiningan mo kami ng mga pet bills, nilalagay namin yung mga priority namin. You can check with the Senate Secretary's Office, alin ang mga sinabmit naming pet bills from 3 to 5 pet bills. Dun sa mga pet bills ko makikita nyo, medical scholarships, mental health, yung mga ganun eh. If I remain as Senate president, as far as I'm concerned it's not a priority, it could be a priority of the other members of the Senate and we can discuss it depende dun sa committee chairman. I would rather perhaps concentrate and hopefully if does not reach the 18th Congress na, ipasa namin dito sa last 3 weeks yung Human Security Act which we would now like to call as an Anti-Terrorism Act, my medical scholarship Act, amendments to the Public Services Act na talagang it would address, it can address the issues on water, air transportation, power. Sapul lahat dun sa Public Service Act yun eh which is very old. Tapos yung the Rightsizing of the National Government, Budget Reform Act, baka sakaling matapos namin bago umabot pa dun, and of course the Security of Tenure or the endo. Baka di umabot sa 18th Congress, ngayon pa lang mapasa na namin ito. Then, kung death penalty ang pag uusapan natin, imposible in the 17th Congress in the last 3 weeks, ang haba ng debates dyan eh. We debated this for over a year in the 9th Congress. I was here in the 9th Congress, mahigit 1 taon naming dine debate yan. Kami ni Boy Herrera sponsor, I was the sponsor for drug trafficking, Boy Herrera was the sponsor for plunder at kung ano anong mga crimes. Ang tagal ng debates namin dyan. I went through the baptism of fire as a new senator, as a fledgling senator then because of that. Ang mga nag interpellate sa akin dyan yung mga anti death penalty, andami. si Bobby Tanada, si Ernie Maceda, Turing Tolentino. They were all against it. Nikko Coseteng, Joey Lina and Kit Tatad, si Kit Tatad and Joey Lina ang pinakamahabang interpellation sa akin eh. So alam kong mahaba yan. Hindi madali yan. So in the 17th Congress malabo na yun. In the 18th Congress perhaps we can ask Manny Pacquiao if it's still a priority to him or perhaps one of the new senators, incoming Sen. Bato Dela Rosa, he says he will file. Ayun tingnan natin kung ano mangyayari.

Q: Sabi nyo Smartmatic dapat matagal ng pinalitan. One way or another nandun pa rin yung involvement nya dito 2019 elections. Does it give some questions na nandun pa rin yung Smartmatic, madaming pumalpak na SD cards...

SP Sotto: Look nga at the percentage. Kahit anong manufacturing naman kasi, hindi naman kasi, ilang libo yung total nun, hindi magiging perfect lahat yun kaya merong paraan eh na may mga reserve na pampalit. As far as Smartmatic is concerned, I really seriously doubt the issues that were raised by my sources in the 2016 elections. Pero ang nase sense ko rin at yun rin naririnig ko sa mga insiders ko sa Comelec, ingat na ingat dito sa 2019 elections para hingi mapatunayan at mapagbintangan na nagkaroon ng problema sa 2016. Kaya kung Smartmatic ang pag-uusapan, palagay ko nag super ingat sila dyan. Wala yung mga early transmission. Wala yung mga queuing server. I doubt it. Saka yung mga naririnig ko sa local na sinasabing may dayaan, ang hirap paniwalaan. Incumbent ka, pano ka dadayain? Kontrolado mo lahat. Baka nadaya ka nga, ng taumbayan. Binigyan mo pera hindi ka pa rin binoto.

Q: Ngayon natriple yung dami ng problema, (unclear)..

SP Sotto: Before we agree to that, alamin natin, ilan ang nagloko na VCMs noong 2016 na pinalitan at ilan ang nagloko itong 2019.

Q: like sa SD card, parang 128 nung 2016 ngayon 1,655

SP Sotto: Hindi Smartmatic yung SD card na yun. VCM Smartmatic pa rin. But then again, I'm not ready to say that this elections is not credible. Perhaps the call of Sen. Pimentel for a hearing or inquiry by the JCOC is proper. So that we can be enlightened. Yun ang pinakamaganda.

Q: Yung kay Sen. JV, nagkulang ba yung Senate leadership especially yung Macho Bloc sa commitment na ika campaign maige yung mga re-reelectionists...nandun ba yung possibility na yung ibang NPC members nagkaroon ng laglagan?

SP Sotto: Laglagan ng NPC, I doubt it. Pero yung schedule na gusto kasi naming gawin, hindi talaga nasunod eh. Ideal yung gusto naming gawin, sana it was really planned but iba iba yung schedule nila eh. Iba iba ang naging lakad. May kanya kanyang program. May kanya kanya kung kelan yung parang pinaka proclamation rallies. Nagkaiba iba eh kaya hindi namin magawa yun eh. Unless at magagawa namin kung isa lang yung political party nila eh. For example, merong, say yung NP sa isang area. Eh may ibang mga kasamang taga ibang partido, kasama yung mga taga HNP. Ang hirap dun sa iba na hindi naman kasama dun.

Q: If you believe na credible yung elections, bakit kailangan palitan yung Smartmatic kung nakapag deliver naman sila?

SP Sotto: Hindi sila nakapag deliver ng credible elections nung 2016 eh. Kaso yung 2019 nasubo na ang Comelec eh. Bakit natin uulitin sa...Kung palagay mo maganda ang performance ng 2019, eh baka maulit yung 2016 eh. Presidential pa di ba? Wag na. Pili tayo ng iba.

Q: Fear ngayon, with only 4 members of minority, baka mawalan ng checks and balances sa Senate...

SP Sotto: Outright sinasabi ko na na no. It won't happen. It won't happen. Si Sen. Drilon lang times 10 eh. Ganun din naman eh, ako ilagay mo sa minority ginagarantya ko, times 10 ako. Kami yung mga beterano alam namin eh. We know how to skin the cat, alright? But going back to, yung parang introduction before your question tungkol dyan, sinabi nila susuportahan nila ang programa ng Presidente. Milyon milyon ang bumoto sa kanila. Bakit matatakot ngayon itong mga iba na natalo? Eh yun ang gusto ng majority ng Pilipino eh, suportahan si Presidente eh kaya nila binoto. Bakit makikinig tayo dun sa minority? Kami naman na nakaupo, ginagarantyahan namin, hindi yun mangyayari sa amin yun. Even Sen. Cynthia Villar, I've heard, I've seen her on TV, she's saying that she cannot be a member of any rubberstamp. Eh talagang allied ang NP sa PDP Laban. Koko Pimentel himself, president of the PDP Laban, says we cannot be rubberstamp. Ano na lang yun, sinasabi ng iba yun dahil ang akala sunud sunuran kami.

Q: So mananatiling independent ang Senate?

SP Sotto: Oo saka, in case na yung mga ibang binoto nila eh sumunod nga sa gusto ng Presidente, eh gusto ng mga kababayan natin, binoto sila eh. Alangan namang hindi na tayo demokrasya, na yung minority yung masusunod, syempre majority ang nasusunod. Mabuti na lang, swerte lang tayo na yung members ng majority sa Senado lagi, I don't know why, but it always happens, they always feel independent once they're in the Senate already. Ang hirap diktahan believe me. I've been with the best and brightest. I've been with those affiliated...in 1992 we were 17 or 18 members of LDP in the Senate. We were allied with Lakas who had other members with us, Letty Shahani and Nina Rasul. Pres. Ramos was never able to dictate on us on what to do. Talagang naniniwala ako sa sinasabi ni Orly Mercado nung araw, na sa Senado pagtungtung mo dun, sa gabi may naririnig kang boses bumubulong sa yo, magiging presidente ka ng Pilipinas. Naririnig ng mga senador yun eh. Nagiging independent yun. Mabuti na lang ako wala naririnig na ganung boses.

Q: Sinasabi si Presidente hindi nakikialam...kasi sabi ni Sen. Lacson, talagang ang Malacañang laging may blessing sa Senate leadership

SP Sotto: Hindi naman. I don't think Sen. Lacson will say that. Baka sa House. Pero sa leadership ng Senate medyo...hindi pa

Q: Walang hand sa leadership nyo, sa assumption nyo, yung Malacañang? Can you say that categorically?

SP Sotto: Yes. Yes. In fact, in the start of the 17th Congress, some of the Senators were thinking that the blessing of the President would go to Alan Cayetano. The President never did. Even for Koko Pimentel, no and for me for that matter. There were, I think 11 members of the Senate who wanted to hold the majority and I was being pushed to seek the Senate presidency. We talked to Alan. Hindi kami nagkasundo-sundo sa mga usapan. The President never had a hand in that. We talked to Koko, and the thinking of majority of us, the thinking was, mabuti si Koko ang ilagay natin kasi friendly with the President. Para kung baga sa ano, bigyan natin ng leeway ang Presidente sa kanyang first two years. Sa amin galing yun hindi sa Pangulo. Kami mismo thinking na para mas maganda ang relationship total hindi naman ako hot na hot mag-SP, sabi ko nung mga panahon na iyon. Kaya si Koko ang naging Senate President, and he knows that, he has said that time and again, na he owes it to the majority bloc that gave him the Senate Presidency, not the Palace. And then when we transferred the leadership from Senator Pimentel to myself, ganun din, wala ring pakialam ang Palace dun, hindi naman sila nagsasabi na okay or hindi okay. Ngayon ang magandang tanong diyan, sa tinatanong ninyo, what would Bong Go, Bato Dela Rosa and Francis Tolentino do? Susunod bang basta-basta yan? I doubt it. As a matter of fact, the way I know Bong Go, kilala ko siya, pag may pinilit ang Palasyo at hindi niya type, o hindi niya gusto, papalag yun, magsasabi yun doon. Sasabihin niya alam mo sir, hindi maganda ito. The way I know him, ha? Hindi basta pikit mata, susunod. Hindi ganun, at saka lalo na pag nag-oath na sa June 30 yan. Senador na. You already owe it to the millions of people who voted for you not to those who endorsed you. Ganun ang feeling niyan, ng mga senador na yan.

Q: I stand corrected, Senator Franklin Drilon pala yung nagsabi. Sabi niya I have no doubt that any reorganization in the Senate will need the President's blessing. SP Sotto: It has never happened in the 17th Congress and the 18th Congress and in the past, tingnan natin. Trace back natin. Bago ko makalimutan, I know Senator Lacson more than you do. Alam kong hindi niya sasabihin yun. Anyway, huwag na yung 1987, ibang klase yun, Katatapos lang nung Freedom Constitution nun. 1992, at saka 1987, hindi ko alam yung nangyari. 1992, 17 o 18 kaming LDP. Ang presidente si FVR. Ang ginawa naming Senate President si Neptali, walang pakialam si FVR. Nung 1998, si Erap ang presidente. Ang una naming Senate President, si Fernan. Tapos naging Ople, Drilon, puro hindi ally ni Erap yun. Siguro may mga presidente in the past na may mga medyo favoured kay ganito, kay ganyan, as a matter of fact sa mga committees, kung minsan importante sa kanila, lagi sa Presidente importante ang Blue Ribbon, importante yung committee on justice, committee on public order, ways and means, finance, yan an g mga importante sa presidente, pero this president, has never set his foot down or even gave a message on who he wants. Wala. Q: How about Federalism? Maipapasa na ba siya sa next congress considering marami siyang allies na sa Senado? SP Sotto: It will emanate from the House. In the Senate, the 17th Congress syempre no chance. In the 18th Congress, napaka-habang debate niyan, palagay ko.

Q: Pero mas may chance?

SP Sotto: Hindi din. The chances of Federalism in the Senate depends on the merits of the Federalism itself kasi nung kami nagkaroon ng briefing...ang NPC nagkaroon ng briefing tungkol diyan, are we going to support it or not? And after the briefings that we had, the sentiment of the Nationalist People's Coalition is pag-aralan pa natin. Ganun kahirap, kasi ang nakita namin, transition alone would be at least five years or baka abutin pa ng mga ten years. So five to ten years ang transition from the present form to Federalism. Pati debate niyan, medyo mahirap, matagal. I cannot say, I cannot agree na sabihin na mas madadali na ang Federalism sa Senado dahil sa magiging composition ng bagong Senate. I cannot agree. It will depend on its merits.

On the death penalty

Q: Sinasabi ninyo na may possibility na confined lang siya sa drug trafficking?

SP Sotto: Drug trafficking, doon lang.

Q: Pero pag inexpand pa nila yun?

SP Sotto: Talo na yun. Talo sa amin yun pag inexpand. Mahihirapan, hindi na namin makukumbinse yung iba. Yung present composition ngayon, kung iinsist namin, nagbilangan, nakakatakot ang bilang. I don't think we can get 13. In the new Senate, there is a possibility of 13, for high-level drug trafficking alone. Kasi oras na hinaluan mo ng iba, na pwede naman talagang punishable by reclusion perpetua, may mga dalawa, tatlo akong alam na aatras, hindi na susuporta. Bawas na rin kami. Wala na rin, you will never get the 13.

Q: But you also mentioned na at this point, hindi priority?

SP Sotto: Unfortunately for those who are proposing it, it is not really a priority. Unless it is a priority of one of us, then mapapagusapan namin yan, and then we commit to a LEDAC and depende ngayon kung sino ang magiging Speaker ng House, if they will agree with my suggestion, that we have a monthly mini-LEDAC aside from the LEDAC with the President.

Q: Pero I mean kung si Pacquiao, with the support of other pro-death penalty senators, ipush nila na maging priority, may possibility rin na sa next congress, maging priority rin ng leadership yun?

SP Sotto: Oo, yes, it is possible, pero not because it is a priority, it has a good chance of passing already. Ilang bills ang cinertify ng Presidente na urgent in the 17th Congress? Tingnan ninyo. Ang dami. Ilan na ang napasa? Baka 50 percent. It's not dahil binigyan mo ng titulo na priority yan, makakapasa yan. Hindi madali.

On lowering the age of criminal liability.

Q: Doon po sa bill on lowering the age of criminal liability, sabi dati ni Senator Gordon, napagusapan ninyo na pwedeng ihabol sa resumption na ito, ano po ang chance noon?

SP Sotto: Oo. May pag-asa, pwede. May pag-asa yun, sigurado tatalakayin namin. But if not, then in the 18th Congress, mas malamang.

Q: When you say may pag-asa, may pag-asang mapasa on third reading?

SP Sotto: Yes.

Q: Paano yung bicam kasi three weeks na lang?

SP Sotto: Yun na nga. Kung ifa-fast-break talaga, unless iadopt ng House yung version namin, wala ng bicam.

Q: Pwede ba nating sabihin na yun ang una ninyong isasalang na bill sa pagbalik nest week?

SP Sotto: That would best be answered by the members of the majority after my meeting on Monday kasi I called for a majority meeting, 12 noon Monday, to discuss what we may be able to pass and what are the more important bills that we need to pass in the next three weeks. Thereafter, I will meet with Senator Drilon to discuss it with the members of the minority kung alin doon yung sa tingin namin mas madali na at hindi na mahihirapan kami. Alam mo naman ang Senate, even in any parliament, malaking bagay yung dialogue out of plenary kaya kung minsan nareresolve yung karamihan na yan sa caucus imbis na sa plenary.

Q: Going back to the elections, are you satisfied with the performance of the Comelec? Kasi they were saying na parang yung mga commissioner parang hindi ganun ka-pursue doon sa election, kasi parang late na magsimula yung canvassing, and all?

SP Sotto: I do not agree. I am satisfied with the performance of the Comelec. They have been very proactive contrary to what others are saying. Nakikita ko, very forceful pa nga. The likes of Chairman Abbas, Commissioner Guanzon, Commissioner Pareño, even Commissioner Guia, they were proactive.

Q: Yung investigation on the 2016 elections, hindi pa yun masyadong too late na three years ago, tapos hindi agad na-conduct?

SP Sotto: Still we have to learn. Even kahit anong tagal na noon, we have to learn our lessons, because yung 2022 very crucial yun, presidential yun. Kaya nga (unclear) election, huwag ng maulit yung mga apprehensions na nangyari nung 2016. I cannot 100 percent say that there was cheating until nga lumitaw lahat ito, so dapat tuloy pa rin para makita natin. And then the possibility of adopting a hybrid, tingnan natin kung after this elections ng 2016, 2019, ano ngayon ang sasabihin ng Comelec? Ano ba, nahirapan kami? Or hindi, kayang-kaya? Or mapapatino natin, di ba? Ano ba ang resulta? Kaya maganda yung JCOC matawag.

Q: Last few days trending si Senator Bato na sabi niya wala siyang alam, although sabi niya he has experience in the Executive being in the PNP and BuCor, pero sabi niya wala siyang idea and he is willing to learn. Your take on that?

SP Sotto: Merong nakaprepare ang Senate Secretariat lagi, even previously, tuwing after elections we are ready for any conferences, orientations, meetings with the members of the new Senate, new Senators or their staff. Kung hindi man sila, mga staff nila, so parating yan. And then you know, pwede ka namang magreview. Pwede ka namang mag-aral, pag-aralan mo yung rules. Ang importante sa isang senador, ay sumusunod sa rules. That's one. The other thing is, every now and then, you come up with a piece of legislation na maganda para sa mga kababayan natin. But to me, one of the more important roles of a Senator is how to vote. Malaking bagay yan, dapat diyan maganda, excellent voting record ka. When you talk about bills, you talk about kung ano yung pinaguusapan. Importante yung boto natin. For example, yung sinasabi nila, si Senator Lapid, ilan ang mga bill na pinasa, baka isa o dalawa, di ba? Pero tingnan mo yung voting record niya, like in my case, even in the past, ano ang voting record ko? Bakit? Makikita mo, approve ako sa lahat ng magagandang bills. Kontra ako saan? GATT. No vote ako doon. Oil deregulation, no. EPIRA, no. Yung downstream, no. Alam kong masama. Lagi nga ang dasal ko noon, sana mali ako. I always say that when I vote against, I hope and pray that I am wrong, those of us who are against are wrong. Unfortunately, years thereafter, makikita mo, tama pala kami, nakita mo yung GATT, nakita mo yung nangyari sa mga magsasaka. Yung EPIRA, ano ang nangyari sa energy natin? Oil deregulation, ano ang nangyari, hindi na natin makontrol ang presyo ng langis, di ba? Lahat yan no ako. Ganun din, ganun yung katulad nila Senator Lapid, or let's say ni Senator Dela Rosa, basta't tama silang pumulso sa bayan, yung boto nila importante kung saan sila papanig, kung saan sila boboto. Mahalaga yun.

Q: So walang masama na aminin nila na wala pa silang masyadong alam?

SP Sotto: Walang masama doon, at saka nung tumatakbo sila, alam naman ng mga kababayan natin kung ano ang mga background nila usually kaya binoboto sila. Yung iba na maganda ang record, maganda ang academic records, maganda, pero ayaw nila yung mga stand, ayaw nila yung kung minsan yung personalidad lang, ayaw nila, hindi na nila iboboto. Ganun, and that is democracy.

Q: Mababawasan yung Macho Bloc sa 18th Congress, magrerecruit ba kayo o may potential na bagong member ng Macho Bloc doon sa mga papasok?

SP Sotto: Meron naman kami talagang mga members na hindi lang masyadong matingkad, like si many Pacquiao, talagang kasama namin yun. Si Grace Poe, talagang honorary member yun, like Loren Legarda. So nabawas si Greg, nandiyan naman si Lito Lapid na pwedeng pumalit muna, di ba? Si Lito, si Manny, si Grace, puro members talaga ng Macho Bloc yan and we will accept any other, kaya lang medyo na-ano na... hindi, bagay pa rin. Manny, bagay pa rin sa amin. Si Grace, kaya honorary member, kasi si Lito, medyo iimbestigahan ko muna kung macho rin yan. Kasi, ano ba ang ibig sabihin namin ng macho? Machunurin. Hindi naman machong machismo yung amin, machunirin, puro kami takot sa asawa. Si Greg, si Ping, ako, puro naman kami takot sa asawa. Si many, mula nung nag-Christian, takot na rin sa asawa kaya kasama na namin yan. Macho na rin siya. Si Lito, kinakabahan ako rito, parang hindi takot sa asawa, kaya iimbestigahan ko siya.

Q: Sabi ninyo kanina the Senate will remain independent as long as the current leadership will remain. Are you assured that you will remain as Senate President come 18th Congress?

SP Sotto: Parang self-serving ang pasagot at patanong mo diyan. I leave it to the members of the Senate. I serve at their pleasure, I will leave it with the members of the majority if they would want to retain our leadership, or if they want a leadership change.

Q: But as far as you know, happy naman yung majority? Meron ba silang mga concern?

SP Sotto: Sa tingin ko naman, majority if not all are satisfied with the way the 17th Congress was handled in the Senate.

Q: May mga naririnig ba kayo na possible challenge or gusto maging Senate President?

SP Sotto: Wala. Wala akong naririnig, kasi usually, ipapaalam sa akin or ipapaalam doon sa leader kung sino man ang leader. O, kursunada ni ganito... So far wala pa naman nagsasabi sa akin. When many Pacquiao called me two days ago, what he was saying was that he was proposing that the leadership be retained at kausap na rin daw niya si Bong, si Bato at si Francis, I think.

Q: Ano ang sagot po?

SP Sotto: Sabi niya, gusto namin pareho pa rin, parang ganun. Mabuti pa sila ang tanungin niyo. I cannot remember his exact words, pero yun ang dating sa akin.

Q: Pero at least may expression ng support?

SP Sotto: Yes. Senator Pacquiao? Yes.

Q: And the rest?

SP Sotto: Well, sabi niya.

Q: Sino yung apat na sinabi ninyo?

SP Sotto: Kausap daw niya, and okay daw sila sa present leadership. Yun ang sabi ni Manny sa akin. Mabuti pa siya na mismo ang tanungin ninyo para eksakto dahil baka mali ang intindi ko. Buti na yung huwag tayo presumptuous masyado.

Q: Senator Zubiri will more or less be the majority leader? Hindi rin magagalaw yung committee chairmanships?

SP Sotto: Mahirap sagutin ng affirmative kaagad yan. Kasi, yes, definitely, if the leadership of the Senate is retained, then it will be Senator Zubiri for sure who would be majority leader, no doubt. The minority I am sure will be the same.

Q: Walang madadagdag?

SP Sotto: Ang magiging medyo paguusapan na namin doon ay yung mga committees na mababakante and then the possibilities of who will be chair of finance, yun ang crucial palagay ko. There are preferences, I have my personal preference, pero I will leave it to the members of the majority. Paguusapan namin muna.

Q: You have someone in mind for finance?

SP Sotto: Sa akin, makakahandle mabuti nun, it's either Senator Recto or Senator Lacson.

Q: Papalitan na sir?

SP Sotto: Importante ang meeting namin on Monday. Paguusapan namin, kasi kasama pa namin sa Monday yung mga graduating. Paguusapan naming mabuti yan. Let me set the record straight, I am just speaking off my hat, it's my personal opinion. Yun lang muna yung akin. Ang majority, malalaman natin pag nakausap na namin.

Q: Yung Blue Ribbon, papalitan din?

SP Sotto: Everything else, from the Senate President to the memberships or the committee chairmanships, will all be at the pleasure of the members of the majority.

Q: Kung sa finance committee meron na kayo in mind, sa Blue Ribbon meron na?

SP Sotto: Sa akin lang yun, personal kong suggestion yun kasi yun ang mababakante.

Q: Also being looked at is the committee on constitutional amendments?

SP Sotto: Depende pa rin sa majority. What I can say is definitely, yung mababakante, mapapagusapan namin. Yung mga present na hindi naman mababakante, again, it is left to the members of the majority to decide.

On the recall of the Ambassador of the Philippines to Canada because of Canada's failure to meet the deadline to get back their trash.

Q: Will it affect our relationship with Canada?

SP Sotto: They must have their reasons. If the Department of Foreign Affairs, headed by Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin decides to do so, they must have reasons to do that. Sa akin, dapat din tingnan natin, imbestigahan natin, sino ba yung nag-import niyan? Sino ba yung nagdala niyan? Pinadala lang ba basta dito yan o meron talagang recipient? Bakit hindi pinaguusapan yung recipient? Sino siya? Sino sila? Sino yung, ano yung pangalan nung kumpanya? There is this company that is supposed to be the recipient. Chronic Plastics Incorporated, address sa Valenzuela. Ano yun? Ano ba yung mga explanation nila? Ano ba ang napagusapan? Siguro alam na ng DFA yan by this time. Baka meron silang alam na hindi natin alam.

Q: Sabi po ni Secretary Locsin, hindi daw po umattend sa meeting yung mga taga Canadian Embassy doon sa scheduled meeting with customs officials and DOF. Yun daw po ang nagtrigger para iminimize yung presence natin sa Canada.

SP Sotto: Then he has every right to do so dahil parang binastos tayo, di ba? Parang ayaw man lang harapin itong problema. Madali namang mag-explain kung wala naman silang itinatago, so I will support the decision of the DFA.

Q: Yung CBCP nananawagan na idefer muna yung proclamation nung at least initial six, yung twelve na lumalamang ngayon, kasi sa question of authenticity nung result.

SP Sotto: Paano kaya nila nasabi na questionable yung authenticity ng result? I wonder, because wala akong nakikitang senyales, wala akong nakikitang ganun, unless you can prove it otherwise, so present evidence and prove it. Present proof na may nangyayari or may nangyari so that Comelec would be forced to not proclaim. Halos lahat nung local officials na tumakbo na nanalo naproclaim na. Yun din, yun mismo yung pinanggalingan ng bawat balota na yun, yung pinanggalingan nung papunta sa Senate. Palagay ko sapul yun doon sa sinasabi ko kanina earlier, I said, if they say the elections were not credible, show why. Prove it. Show proof na hindi credible kasi ang alam ko, parang 100 percent nung mga nasa leading, kahit saan ako pumunta, yun ang talagang sinasabi nilang iboboto nila. Ako naman yun din halos ang inendorse ko. Lahat ng matitino at legitimate survey companies yun din ang sinasabi ng mga kababayan natin and scientific yung mga approach na yun, basta hindi yung pasurvey ni ganito at ni ganyan, ito rin yung lumalabas. So paano nila masasabi na not credible? Yung mga hindi lumabas, o malayo, pinagtatanong ko rin sa pag-ikot ko. Sinasabi nila, ayaw nila iboto. Ganun ang sinasabi sa akin. Ay hindi, hindi namin iboboto yan, ganun. Hindi nakakakapagtaka. Kung ang naririnig ko si ganito hindi nila iboboto tapos nasa top five o nasa top twelve, aba, siguro meron silang dahilan para sabihin na incredible.

Q: May halos nawala nang political dynasties like Estrada, Cerilles, Eusebio, pero at the same time meron ding mga budding political dynasties like yung Sottos.

SP Sotto: Ang dynasty, sa isang lugar lang. Like for example, yung governor kamaganak yung mayor, kamaganak yung vice-mayor, kamaganak yung vice-governor, pagkatapos ng term nila, papalit, sila rin, kamaganak rin. Pwede mong sabihing dynasty yun. Pero yung isa taga Parañaque, yung isa taga Quezon City, yung isa taga Pasig, paano naging dynasty yun? Siguro pwede mong sabihing political clan. Admittedly, lumalabas yun. For a very long time, people have always associated our family name to show business, because sila yung mga bata, pero tingnan mo yung history, tingnan mo yung nakaraan, yung family name namin associated with journalism and politics. Politics and journalism. The members of the seven wise men of the 1935 Constitution, there was a Sotto there. There were two Sottos in that Constitution. First senate in 1917, bore only one name that was present in 2017 after 100 years. There was only one family name present in that 100 years ago that was present in 2017, 100 years after, and it was our family name. So, akala lang nila, sa showbiz talaga connected, hindi. It's really a political clan kung tutuusin. Even in the provinces, the vice-governor of Governor Vicente Duterte was a Sotto, Noli Sotto, my first-cousin. One of the stalwarts of the city-council of Cebu from there for a very long time was a Sotto. Suga Sotto-Yuvienco. It's really a political family, it's not a dynasty.

Q: What you can assure is that these political clans is different from the regular picture of a dynasty, or a clan that (unclear)?

SP Sotto: Iba naman yun. Iba yun.

Q: Yung pamangkin ninyo sa Pasig according to reports binoboycott ng mga city hall employees, kahapon naka black yung mga employees in protest doon sa naging proclamation and then today merong information na nagstop ng distribution ng assistance to the poor sa Pasig, again in protest doon sa bagong leader ng pamangkin po ninyo.

SP Sotto: I am sure babalik lahat yan sa July 1. As a matter of fact, mas maganda yung mga programang narinig ko kay Vico other than what they have now. Aalisin lahat niya yung mga bayad sa permits, mga bayad sa ganito, mga bayad sa ganyan, aalisin niya lahat yun and he was programming at least about P2 billion for the healthcare of everybody in Pasig, so yung mga employees, ewan ko kung bakit nagkakaganon sila. Eh di magresign na lang sila. Sabay-sabay na silang magresign on June 30. Kesa sa pro-protestahan nila yung mga boto ng mga kababayan nila sa Pasig. Baka yun yung sinasabi nila na nang-daya. Isipin mo binayaran mo, hindi ka binoto? Nadaya ka nga. Dinaya ka ng taong bayan.

Q: May observation na rampant daw yung vote-buying this election? May mga nagsasabing baka it's about time na government funds na ang gamitin sa kampanya para maiwasan ang ganitong bilihan ng boto? You think yun ang solution?

SP Sotto: It's something that we can study. Kasi yung definition ng vote-buying napakahalaga. For example, there are let's say 1,000 precincts in your city. To win, you need at least four to five watchers or coordinators or supporters for every precinct. Sa tingin mo makakakuha ka ng ganung libo-libong volunteer? Hindi. Babayaran mo yun, yung mga watcher. Babayaran mo yun, babayaran mo yung mga coordinators mo, kasi, paano pagkain nila? Mag-aabono sila para sa iyo? Di ba? Pagkain, that's on the day alone. So, question, is that vote-buying? Once and for all, we have to define it. Vote-buying ba yun? Eh kung gusto kong sampung watcher per precinct. Bawal ba yun? Pero yun ang insurance mo na may magbabantay, bakit lima ang sinasabi ko? Kasi yun ang practice before. Sa umaga, o sa gabi pa lang, pineprapare yung mga balota, yung mga boxes, yung mga ganyan, may watcher ka na dapat. Sa umaga, habang nagbobotohan, may watcher ka ulit. Napapalitan yung watcher mo dahil pagod na yun at gutom na yun. Pagdating mg pagsara, pagsara ng presinto, may watcher ka dapat habang nagbibilangan or habang sinasara. Pag dinala na yung ballot box sa munisipyo, kailangan yung watcher mo nakasunod, baka kung saan mapunta yung ballot box. At pag nagbibilang na sa munisipyo, minomonitor mo yung tinatawag nilang (unclear) o hindi, kaagad nandoon yung isa mo. Hindi pwedeng isang tao lang yan. May kanya-kanya silang dapat na oras dahil kakain yan, magmomonitor yan, napapagod yan, so let's define that. Kung ayaw natin nung ganun at ika-classify natin na vote-buying yan, ibawal natin ang watcher. Hindi pwedeng puro volunteer, imposible. And then party workers during the 45-day campaign. Sino ang magdi-distribute ng mga paraphernalia mo? Sino ang kasa-kasama mong umiikot? May mga coordinators ka, binibigyan mo ng funding yan, pagkain, pamasahe, is that vote-buying? Because automatically those people will vote for you. Napakahirap siguro. Pag-aralan nating mabuti and let's define once and for all what we mean by vote-buying.

Q: Sabi ng Comelec kaya maaaring palpak yung mga SD cards, kasi ang binili nila is yung pinaka-mura. Hindi ba kailangang amyendahan yung Procurement Law para hindi palaging yung pinaka-mura ang option?

SP Sotto: Haven't we heard that from the President himself? Hindi ba, gusto niyang burahin yung Procurement Law daw dahil diyan daw naguumpisa ang corruption? Yes, it is about time, siguro it's about time, baguhin na natin yang Procurement Law na yan kasi hindi lang sa Comelec nangyayari yan, pati sa ibang departamento nangyayari yan, kapro-procure natin, kagustuhan natin ng mura, bulok ang nakukuha natin.

Q: Pero meron din namang minimum requirement, hindi basta cheapest?

SP Sotto: Andiyan yung corruption kasi ipipilit nila.

Q: Isa yan sa ipupush next congress?

SP Sotto: Yes, siguro, about time. As a matter of fact, may mga nakafile. Di ba may mga nakafile na amending the Procurement Law? Meron, di na lang nakasama dito sa kailangang ipasa agad.

Q: Ano po yung iooofer na tulong doon sa mga baguhang senador at saka ano yung itutugon ninyo doon sa sinasabing bakit pag ordinary workers papasok sa isang trabaho kailangan skilled na, hindi ka matatanggap kung hindi ka magaling na welder, hindi ka kukunin na welder, pero bakit sa Senado, OJT pa lang?

SP Sotto: Yun ang nakalagay sa Constitution. Read and write, di ba, even for president? Baguhin natin. Baguhin natin ang Constitution kung ganyan ang feeling ng mga kababayan natin. Kailangang may Master's Degree ka.

Q: Agree kayo na aamyendahan yung Constitution, itaas yung standard?

SP Sotto: Then hindi na demokrasya yun. Mahirap. Napakatagal nang panahon, even in the more developed countries, they have never touched that. Madaling sabihin kasi yun, welder ka, gusto mong kunin, gusto mo pulis, kailangan abogado ka, pero sa Senate, kahit hindi, eh yun nga ang demokrasya. Hindi naman porke kasi wala kang pinag-aralan, hindi ka na pwedeng maging magaling na leader. Meron kang napakagaling magvulcanize, pero walang naiintindihan sa pagmamaneho, ano yan, chicken and egg.

Q: Ano yung itutulong po ninyo sa mga baguhan, may seminar ba?

SP Sotto: Merong orientation na nakahanda ang Senate Secretariat. There is an orientation all set, it is a package thing na pwedeng pati mga employees or would-be employees, mga staff. They can be given that orientation.

Q: Yung tungkol lang kay Bikoy, dinedeny niya na signature niya yung nasa pinakita ninyong affidavit and si Hatch daw yung pumunta nung October 2015, pero siya na daw po yung may hawak nung dokumento?

SP Sotto: Paano ngayon malalaman ni Hatch? Basahin ninyo yung first two, three paragraphs of his document. Sino makakaalam nun? Siya lang. Trabaho niya, saan siya nagtrabaho dati, kung ano yung ano niya, doon pa lang tapos na kaagad yun sinasabi niya na dala-dala ni Hatch yung dokumento. Sino ang makakaalam nun, eh siya lang ang nakakaalam nun. Kalokohan niya.

Q: Hindi raw yun yung signature niya.

SP Sotto: Halika, pumunta siya rito. Pakita niya sa akin yung pirma niya bago ako maniwala sa sinasabi niya. You know, unfortunately, with due respect, siyempre ang mga tao naman dapat binibigyan ng kanya-kanyang respeto, but if I were you, after that, after yung nakita kong biglang may pinagsasabi siya na ganito, eh alam ko yung pinanggalingan niya na mga dokumento at lahat, hindi ko papatulan because he is damaged goods. Damaged goods, bakit mo bibigyan ng (unclear).

Q: May pending tax measure pa ba?

SP Sotto: Gusto ng Department of Finance. Gusto nilang maghabol. As a matter of fact, merong akong meeting na sineset-up sa akin ang Department of Finance tungkol doon, sabi ko, bago ako makipagusap tungkol doon, yung ways and means namin, at saka yung chairman ng accounts, pagusapan muna natin, kausapin natin kasi ano ba yung kailangan? If it is again like aalisin ang income tax para sa mga ganito, ganyan, okay yan. Katulad nun, natatawa ako sa nagsasabi doon sa kumakampanya, irerepeal daw nila yung TRAIN, para bang kaya ng isang senador na magrepeal ng bill na siya lang mag-isa. Anyway, kung nasabi man yun, maraming hindi boboto sa iyo. Bakit? Irerepeal mo yung wala ng income tax yung P250,000 and below? Pati tayo na medyo more than P250,000 ang income natin, yung first P250,000 wala ng tax. Irerepeal mo yun? Aba hindi kita iboboto. So kung ang ipipilit ng Department of Finance na ihabol namin ay makakaganda para sa atin, ay okay lang na pagusapan namin at tingnan namin kung maihahabol. Ngayon kung makakasama, like for example, isa sa dapat mahabang debate diyan, yung tungkol doon sa sin tax, let's say like yung cigarettes, ang masama dun sa report na nakikita namin, habang tinataas mo yung tax ng sigarilyo, palaki ng palaki yung income ng smuggler at saka nung illegal tobacco manufacturer. Palaki ng palaki ang income nila na wala naman sa gobyerno yun, tapos paliit ng paliit ang income ng gobyerno dito sa mga legitimate tobacco companies. So kailangan talaga yan timplahing mabuti.