Kapihan sa Senado with Senator Joel Villanueva

Q: Sir, unahin natin yung yung incoming Labor Day, May 1 sa Thursday. Considering yung situation ng labor sector ngayon, ano sa tingin nyo ang dapat o magandang maging regalo ng gobyerno sa ating mga manggagawa?

Senator Joel Villanueva (SJV): Well, gusto kong sabihin na yung efforts natin dito sa Senado na ipasa na po natin itong Senate Bill No. 2354 or yung P100 na Daily Minimum Wage Increase Act. Hinihintay po natin yung pagpasa ng Kamara at inaasahan din po natin at inaapela sa ating mga counterparts dun sa Kamara de Representantes na ipasa din po ito na sa ganun maibsan yung kalunus-lunos na situation ng ating mga manggagawa. Talaga namang napakahirap ng sitwasyon nila patuloy tumataas yung bilihin, mas mabilis yung taas ng bilihin kaysa sa pagtaas ng kanilang sweldo. Bagama't we appreciate and welcome yung mga ginagawa ng ating mga regional wage boards, patuloy yung wage increase ng iba't ibang rehiyon sa ating bansa. Ngunit sabi nga nung isang pelikula sa Pilipinas, tinimbang ka, ngunit kulang. Parang kulang na kulang pa rin talaga. So what's P100 daily wage increase? Maraming mga pag-aaral na sinasabi na talagang masyadong mababa yung ating sweldo. Ngunit of course you have to do the balancing act na hindi mo pwedeng itaboy yung negosyo, mga investments sa Pilipinas. Nang sa ganoon ay may patuloy na trabaho at ma-enjoy na patuloy yung paggawa at paglikha ng trabaho natin. But it's still very low compared dun sa iba't ibang bansa. Meron din tayong bill yung SBN 2140 at pending ito sa ating committee, sa plenaryo. At nais natin talagang pagtuunan ng pansin when it comes to... yun ho bang pagtingin ng pamahalaan, ng gobyerno sa polisya niya para i-determine yung sweldo o salary ng ating mga manggagawang Pilipino dapat talaga based on living wage. Yung living wage, disente, may dignidad at talagang maipagmamalaki natin. So yan po yung mga nagawa at patuloy ginagawa dito sa Senado. Yung trabaho para sa bayan law na ating inakda at inisponsor dito sa Senado ng ngayon ay ganap na batas na ilu-launch na po yung trabaho para sa bayan plan, master plan this coming May 5 po ilu-launch na po yung plan. I'm very excited about this and I think the labor sector would be very happy to welcome this development na kung saan yung iba't ibang rehiyon nagkaroon po sila ng mga pagpupulong at tinignang mabuti ano ba yung mga emerging industries na nagpa-pop out dyan sa mga rehiyon na yan. Ano yung mga trabaho na naghihintay? Yung mga trabaho na po yun, swak ba yung skills and competencies ng mga kababayan natin sa lugar na yun? Ano ngayon yung mga efforts na po pwedeng gawin? So yan po, ilu-launch po yan. May 5, we will be there. Ilulunsad po yung Trabaho para sa Bayan Plan. Ito po yung magsi-synergize ng lahat ng efforts ng ating pamahalaan when it comes to... not just creation of jobs but also to look at our human resources capabilities ng ating mga workers. Ito ba, kailangan ng upskilling? Ito ba, kailangan ng retooling? The emergence of artificial intelligence nandito na hindi pwedeng nakatingin na lang tayo. Otherwise, kakainin ng AI yung mga trabaho na available sa ating bansa. So we really have to be ready at yan po yung ating pinagtutuunan ng pansin.

Q: Sir, balikan ko lang yung legislated wage hike. Pasado na dito sa Senate, sa House, hindi pa. May chance pa ba na umasa yung labor sector na maipapasa ito bago matapos ang 19th Congress?

SJV: May kasabihan nga, if there is a will, there's a way. And I think dito naman sa Senado, pinag-aralang mabuti, nahear ng ilang beses ng committee, na pag-diskusyunan dito sa plenaryo, at handa naman ang ating pamahalaan. At nakita naman nila na may sense at mayroong pinaghuhugutan ang Senado para ipasa itong SBN 2354. So I believe yung Kamara, from the very first time na narinig kong nag-react yung mga members of the House, sinasabi nila pa nga kulang pa nga daw yung 100 which is a welcome development. Kung tingin nila kulang pa, why not? But yung nakikita natin kasi we have to balance yung kakayahan ng ating mga negosyo.

Q: Sir, sa pag-aaral ng inyong committee, magkano ba yung maituturing natin living wage?

SJV: Yung living wage kasi, syempre, depende sa kung nasaan ka. Kaya nga ako rin, naniniwala ako na hindi dapat galawin o buwagin. May mga calls kasi na gusto nyo na buwagin na lang ang mga regional wage boards. Mahirap kasing sabihin kung kukumpara mo yung sweldo ng isang malayong lugar na walang masyadong economic activities, walang masyadong binibigay na tax breaks siguro ang pamahalaan kaya hindi makapasok yung mga malalaking negosyo doon. Hindi pwede talagang magpantay sa ibang lugar. Ang sa akin, ang living wage ay yung disente. Diba? May mga pag-aaral. For example, yung Ibon Foundation were saying dapat ang 1,200 plus. For me, medyo mabigat yun. Medyo mabigat. Especially pag sinabi mo yun sa mga negosyante, talagang outright yung rejection na maririnig mo at mapifeel mo from their end. So, kailangan talaga lang hanapin natin yung equilibrium, yung gitna kung saan mabubuhay, magta-thrive yung ating negosyo. But at the same time, mabubuhay din ng disente naman yung ating mga magagawan.

Q: Aside dun sa monetary or wage increase, may ba ba na mga karagdagang benepisyo na magandang i-ananunsyo na Malacanang?

SJV: Para sa akin, importante talaga yung partnership. Kung merong bukas na communication, partnership, na alam ng labor sector na andyan ng gobyerno, hindi para mag-regulate lang or ipatupad lang yung mga batas natin at hindi tinitignan yung mga iba't ibang sitwasyon, nasaan na tayo, ano ba yung nangyayari we really have to be sensitive about the for example, the trade wars that is happening right now hindi biro ito but in every crisis there's always an opportunity. How are we seizing this opportunity kung lumipat sila ng bansa, bakit hindi dito sa Pilipinas mas mababa yung taripa na ipinapataw sa atin going to America, but at the same time, if you look at what's happening in other countries, di ba, I heard, and you can check it, China already signed a trade agreement with ASEAN countries except the Philippines.Ang Japan and Korea have had trade agreements now with China. So where are we? Importante, alam natin yung direksyon natin and nakikita natin na merong ginagawa ang gobyerno at syempre, at the end of the day, hindi natin pinapabayaan yung workforce natin.

Q: Sir, regarding dun sa EO na inilabas ko ng executive tungkol sa digital nomad visa, kuntento ba kayo?

SJV: Well una gusto kong pasalamatan ang ating Pangulong Bongbong Marcos for really taking this initiative para ilabas itong executive order kasi 70 countries na yung nag-implement nitong digital nomad visa. At malaki ang maitutulong nito sa iba't ibang bansa. And why not the Philippines? Diba? Let's show these foreigners that they can actually work from paradise, showcasing the beauty of our beloved country. I am, it's a welcome development, but I feel na it's more appropriate and more permanent at mas magiging solido yung ating polisiya kung magkakaroon tayo ng sariling batas dito, gaya ng iba't ibang bansa. Tayo po ay nag-file ng Senate Bill No. 2991 o ito pong Digital Nomad Visa Act. Ano yung what made me do this was the time when we went to Siargao for the first time, nagpunta akong Siargao and ang dami po doon ng mga foreigners, nagulat ako talaga nasa Europa ka na, wala ka sa Pilipinas. And a lot of them are going back home because wala na sila, hindi sila makapagtrabaho dito. Can you imagine kung sabi nila kung makakapagtrabaho sila dito, they would have stayed longer or might stay at least a year or two. So sabi ko, sayang nga. And then we look at it and then nakita namin dun sa World Economic Forum, yung nomad list nila, yung Philippines ranked as 7th fastest growing remote work hub in 2023. Yan po yung report nila. Tapos yung Department of Tourism just reported for this 2024, 9.15% increase in foreign visitors. That's a total of 5.95, almost 6 million foreign tourists. Ito po ay all-time high, no? All-time high tourism revenue na nakuha natin approximately about P760.5 billion. So with this in mind, parang no-brainer na gawin natin ito. And dun sa bill natin, ang difference lang sa executive order ng ating Pangulong Bongbong is that ang mag-i-issue pa rin ang Bureau of Immigration. We feel na sila yung of course, ano tayo dyan, open tayo dyan for discussion. But we feel yung BI would have the sila yung nag-i-issue ng mga working visas at student visas etc. And at the same time, nakita natin na sila, may kakayahan sila, may mga personnel sila. They can also revoke yung digital nomad visa. With this visa, hindi kailangan magbayad ng buwis ng foreigner dahil ang nagpapasweldo sa kanya nandun sa original na bansa or bansa na pinanggalingan niya. But on our end, may fee na binabayaran. In some countries,it ranges from 1,000 to 4,000 dollars ang fee. Imagine, so, it's additional income for the government, but at the same time, I don't know if you'll be able to measure how much money they would be spending if they stay here for a year. Diba? The jobs that you will create, the economic activity, diba? So, if our tourism is booming, it's a good sign that we should seize this opportunity. So, hopefully, at ang appeal natin sa Palasyo ay i-prioritize na rin po ito. I think we still have time. Madali lang naman. Napaka-simple itong panukalang batas na ito kung saan mabigyan ng digital nomad visa yung mga nais mag-work dito sa Pilipinas at ma-enjoy nila yung paraiso na inooffer ng ating minamahal na visa.

Q: Under your proposed bill, sino mo yung mag-i-issue ng digital nomad visa?

SJV: Ang Bureau of Immigration po at doon sa Section 3 ng ating Senate Bill 2991, yung applicant must be 18 years of age, works remotely using digital technologies, tapos can show dapat yung proof na meron po siyang sufficient generated income doon sa bansang pinanggalingan niya outside the Philippines. Kasi kung wala, baka mamaya dito pa magtrabaho yun, nagkukumpetensya sa mga Pilipinong naghahanap ng trabaho. Now, siyempre, may valid na health insurance para kung sakaling may mangyari, may health insurance siya. At the same time, ma-check din kung siya may criminal record. Pag may criminal record, hindi natin papayagan yun. He or she should not be a threat to the country. Tapos, last but not the least, yun nga po, may fee na babayaran, yung entry fee, exit fee, yung processing ng visa, and at the same time, para sa akin, and for discussion ito, you asked me how much, bigyan natin ng premium yung ating bansa para may kitain naman. Hindi natin ito dapat biglain. Kailangan talagang mapag-aralan. That's why I wanted the experts also to give us their views on this. Kasi pag masyadong mataas, baka lumipat sa iba. Sa Thailand, tinaas nila eh. Nung tinaas nila, bumaba yung kanilang applicants. Doon naman sa Malaysia, 24,000 US dollars lang yung kinikita. Pwede nang pumasok sa kanila at mabigyan ng visa. Pero ang binibigay na para mga 3 months to 6 months lang. So ito, yung nitty-gritty part, we wanted to discuss in the committee level and we wanted to hear our experts regarding this particular issue. Especially yung tinanong mo na how much fee we should be charging. Kasi nga, again, it ranges from $1,000 to $4,000.

Q: So sir dahil nasa committee level pa lang, malamang sa 20th Congress na ito ma-approve?

SJV: I am hoping, hope springs eternal. So, kanina lang, kahapon, kausap ko din si Sen. Chiz, Sen. Alan, Sen. JV. Kanina si SP Chiz, kanina umaga, nakausap ko din siya. I told him about it, sabi niya, okay yan, kasi may EO na, pag-usapan natin. So, I have yet to encounter anyone in the Senate na merong strong reservations. Or not even a reservation, Sen. Pia already says she wanted to be a co-author, Sen. Grace Poe. And then yung seatmates, lahat sila overwhelmingly supporting this measure. So, hopefully, hopefully, I think, again, if Malacanang would say we are prioritizing this measure as urgent, I don't see any reason why we should not be able to pass sa pagbabalik po ng Kongreso.

Q: Almost two weeks na lang na midterm election na. Ano yung assessment ninyo sa tinatakbo nitong kampanya, yung mga results ng survey? Considering na sa experience nyo sir, di ba? Dati sa survey...

SJV: Parang ang tanda-tanda ako lang.

Q: Pero may isang incident na nag-number one ka?

SJV: Yeah, number two. Yung 2016 election.

Q: So it means yung mga survey hindi natin pwedeng panghawakan yung magiging result?

SJV: Well, yung survey is always a good guide index on your performance. We have been in politics for quite a long time. Yung dalawang takbo natin sa Senado, we garnered 18,400,000 first, 18,600,000 or 18, 800,000 yung second. So, basically, yung 18 million votes, 18.5 average votes na nakuha natin, it's not easy to get. So, talagang nakita ko yung importansya ng messaging. I think that's very important. When you look at the campaign right now and you want me to react, natatawa na lang ako minsan kasi, di ba, I mean, let's face it, marami talagang budol candidates na would make up stories and claim na, for example, sila nakaimbento ng buwan kaya mayroong buwan sa gabi or

Q: Sir, may pangalan? SJV: Yung hangin sila ang dahilan kung bakit nakakalanghap tayo. So I think yung ang di nare-realize nung ilang mga candidates, yung katalinuhan ng voting public. I think hindi mo dapat i-underestimate na kung akala mo kiliti-kiliti or patawa-patawa ka lang or entertain mo lang yung kandidato. Hindi solid yun. Maaaring you can do it once or siguro. Pero yung masustain yung ganun klase na kampanya. And I'm talking about local or national. I think importante yung you have to be true to yourself, authentic. At yung taong bayan talaga looks for resibo. Ang accomplishments. ano yung accomplishments? Or kung hindi ka pa naging senador, for example, ano na yung nagawa mo? What you're bringing into the table? I think that's very important.

Q: Sir, may mga ini-endorse ka ba na senatorial candidates? And second question, crucial ba yung magiging resulta ng midterm elections, particularly sa senatorial race, considering na magkakaroon nga ng impeachment trial against VP Sara?

SJV: Whether it's midterm or hindi elections, I always believe na crucial yung every election, especially yung institution ng Senado, napakahalaga ng Senado. I think people and us, media, tayo, lahat, na importanteng paalam sa taong bayan yung kahalagahan ng Senado yung role na ginagampanan ng Senado. Historically the institution is the last bastion of democracy so napakahalaga talaga yan. Mas mahalaga ngayon dahil nga po may impeachment hindi din biro yung impeachment court, hindi rin biro na yung trabaho mo na regular as legislator ngayon, member ka pa ng jury, hindi rin po biro yun. I think it's a daunting task. So talagang yung iluluklok mo should know that and should be able to contribute sa isang matagumpay at magaling na Senado.

Q: May ineendorso?

SJV: I wanted to say na yung grupo po namin sa Cibac Partylist, yung kinabibilangan kung siguro hindi naman maikakaila na itago na lang natin yung pangalan ng tatay ko sa pangalan Brother Eddie. Meron pong search committee na ongoing yung kanilang mga pagpupulong. I was invited several times na, parang three times na, sa mga deliberations po nila. So, I'd like to just leave it to them, dun sa search committee.

Q: Sa senatorial, sir?

SJV: Yes, dun sa senatorial. I think, dun sa mga local din, meron din po sila sa mga provincial and city, meron din po silang ganun na mekanismo.

Q: Ito muna kailan itong meeting? At anong napag-meetingan. SJV: Ah kahapon. Nag-lunch po kami.

Q: Ano po ang napag-usapan?

SJV: Wala. Parang exchange of notes. We're looking at the campaign whatever's going on may hearing si Senator Alan, he's inviting me on Wednesday kasi nag-participate ako noong last time but I don't know maybe if I'll be able to catch up because I have like 3 activities in Bulacan, in PUP in Santa Maria and several others in the province of Bulacan so I don't know kung makahabol ko ako. Morning naman yan, afternoon I think 1pm po yun makahabol po ako. And then yeah, we'll discuss yung digital Nomad Visa. We also, di naman kami nag discuss ng impeachment except the Robe we're just making fun of ourselves na magsusuot ng Robe and all.

Q: Politics?

SJV: I think mga tidbits of like what's going on in this particular district, this town, this city, who's running, who's leading, who do we think is going to make it, etc. So ganoon, I think it's very natural for us as a senator. Sinong malakas sa Senado, sinong mga may chance, sinong malakas, sinong papasok sure na.

Q: Sir, a few questions for me. Balikan ko yung minimum wage. Sir, are you planning to seek an audience with the President to make it a priority? Because you only have a few weeks pagbalik niyo, sir, kung gusto niyo maihabol sa 19th?

SJV: I wish I had that appeal, as you may say, na I'm more than willing to sit with him and discuss all this data, information, na we can actually pass this minimum wage increase, P100 minimum wage increase.

Q: Was it among the things that you discussed yesterday dun sa meeting with SP to make it a priority?

SJV: Wala na kaming pagdidiscussan sa Senate because tapos na sa Senado. So, this has already passed on third and final reading. In fact, I also saw Sen. Jinggoy kahapon din in the area, as the Labor Chair noon, na siya yung nag-defend noon.

Q: Sir, impeachment, how are you preparing for it since malapit na yung June? Are you brushing up on the Constitution?

SJV: Not just the Constitution, but yung mga Supreme Court decisions, mga precedents. Nandito sa kaliwa't kanan ko yung mga staff ko. Walang ginawa yan, kundi magbasa, mag-aral. And then, once in a while, we discuss and talk about the procedures, rules, the possible tendencies. Kumbaga sa basketball tendencies, pag pumunta rito, pag pumunta doon, if this motion would be, motions that are relevant motions, motions na maaaring out of order or hindi pu-pwede. Discussions like that. For instance, I'll give you a good example. It's a long discussion. Sina Sen Sonny, sina Sen Nancy ba? Magsusuot ng robe. Kasi pagbalik namin, i-start na rin yung impeachment court. Not the trial, but the court.

Q: So dapat kasama si Sen Sonny?

SJV: Exactly. The discussion, kay Senator Sonny. Sige, good. Maganda yan. Sige. Si Senator Sonny. Ang resignation niya is a senator, legislator. Doon ba sa resignation niya, part, yung pagiging judge niya as a senator?

Q: So, anong ano?

SJV: Marami. Ang point ko, is maraming angles. You can choose na pwede mong i-discuss. Wala pang precedent na ganito. So, these are all legitimate issues that you can discuss. And si Senator Sonny I can take that path, for example lang, just for the sake of discussion, and he is still a judge, a senator judge.

Q: Is that part of what you will resolve sa June?

SJV: Hindi ko alam if this is part... But there are thousands of possibilities. So ang sinasabi ko ngayon, part of how you're preparing for it is to look into these tendencies.

Q: Sir, sorry, yung diniscuss niyo kung dapat kasama si Sen Sonny, ay with your staff?

SJV: Yes. Kasi ang question mo, di ba yung how I'm preparing, I'm preparing, so I can only speak for myself.

Q: Ano yung legal point of view ng mga legis mo?

SJV: Hati eh, marami, iba-iba, which is good. Pagka pare-pareho kami mag-isip, or tayo lahat pare-pareho mag-isip, yun ang kagandahan ng Senado, kaya maganda rin na iba-iba. Yung background nung ineelect natin, expertise. So that goes to show my expertise.

Q: Sir, last two from me. Nag-hire na po kayo ng additional legis?

SJV: May mga consultants, may mga kinonsulta. Not necessarily hired.

Q: And then, sir, isa na lang. Yung usapan nyo kahapon, meeting nyo with SP. Napag-usapan yung leadership, kasi may mga dapat pasok ng mga bago.

SJV: Wala naman, it's more of sinong papasok, sinong tingin namin. Wala naman. Kanya-kanya, diba? And then, kanya-kanya rin na, saan ka mas naniniwala? Sa SWS ba? Sa Pulse? Sa Octa? Mga ganun, diba? Kasi marami ding haoshiao na survey na lumalabas din.

Q: Sir, sorry. Si SP nagpatawag nung lunch.

SJV: No, he found out. Kasi si SP would always know if we're here. Like right now, I'm sure that he knows that I'm with all of you. So, are you here? Wanna have lunch? May pagkain kami dito. May Chinese food.

Q: Biglaan, sir.

SJV: Biglaan.

Q: Sir, balikan ko pala yung select committee nyo. So, JIL po ba yan Sir? Tsaka, meron na bang matutunog na pangalan lang na ieendorse ang JIL or yung Christian groups?

SJV: The group that is part of the search committee are all JIL members from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao. I sat three times na yata. Third, kasama lang kagabi. Yun, ano lang ako, tinatanong lang ako

Q: So, sino na nga?

SJV: Maraming kinonsider. Definitely more than 12 yung kinonsider. And I have to say, dun sa discussions, open na pwedeng dose, pwedeng hindi. I think they'll announce yung next two or three days I'm not sure kung buo na or yung mga na-discuss.

Q: So marami ba nun re-electionist or returning?

SJV: Siguro kung if I would, ang hirap kasi mag-name kasi with defeat the purpose ng search committee kung pwede, ako personal, walang kinalaman kung anuman ang magiging desisyon. And this is based also on the questions that was raised for me. Sinabi mo na yung reelectionists. Ako sabi ko ikonsidera mo lahat ng re-electionists. Because they are sitting senators. Sa sitting senators re-electionist. Sen. Pia Cayetano siguro yung most decorated senator re-electionist. Sa dami ng bills, sa dami ng legislation, sa dami ng didiscuss na inexercise ng oversight functions ng senador.

Q: So lahat ng re-electionist?

SJV: To consider. Sabi ko nga, kung iisa-isahin natin, ako yun ang masasabi. Sino ba yung mga, yun yung mga tanong sa akin, ano yung nagawa nito, sino yung author ba nito, sino nag-discuss nito. And then may mga advocacies ng simbahan, I'm sure you're all aware of it. That's why Sen. Manny Pacquiao, I have to say, he's very famous in the Christian community.

Q: Marami bang nanliligaw ng mga kandidato sa JIL?

SJV: I think lahat naman. Hindi lang marami.

Q: Is there block voting?

SJV: We don't. We never encourage block voting. We only endorse. We feel that's your personal right. But it's important to guide your members and yun din yung naging duty ko as a member of JIL to shed light dun sa mga questions nila who are really doing their job may mga na contribute na, sinong kailangan ng Senado. Ito ba kailangan, tingin mo, etc. When our advocacy is on this path, siya ba going to this direction then, or not? And then, I think, tinatawagan rin po nila yung mga candidates.

Q: You just make sure na walang budol.

SJV: Yun ang trabaho ko. Yun ang trabaho ko na sabihin sa kanila na iwasan naman natin yung walang ikokontribute.

Q: Sir, may estimate na kung ganun kung kadami yung current members ng JIL.

Pero, may kinoconsider sa mga returning senators?

SJV: To answer muna yung returning senators, Tito Sen, you know very well, OG natin dito sa Senado. And then, Senator Ping, wala sigurong makaka-question yung contribution niya, Senator Ping as a legislator. Kasi napakahirap mag-move forward ng institution pagka wala ka rin parang basketball team, wala ka mga veteran

Q: So kasama sila?

SJV: Hindi, yun yung sinasabi ha. Again, this is my personal yung binabanggit ko. I would wait for Again, this is my personal ano. I would wait for the endorsement of the leadership and I don't want na pangunahan yung work ng search committee.

Q: How about Bam and Kiko?

SJV: Sa akin? When you talk about their contributions, above average, I would say. Above average. Senator Kiko and Senator Bam worked with me in several instances. I've seen how they work. They're very hardworking.

Q: Sir, ilan ang JIL members?

SJV: Mga 2 or 3 million. Worldwide. We have 72 countries outside the Philippines na chapters. We don't consider it chapters, countries kasi for example in Canada, you have 14, 16 chapters na.

Q: Sir, this coming midterm election, malaking issue yung sino yung pro at anti-China?

SJV: Yeah, I really think it's a big issue. I think it's not just yung pro or anti-China, pero yung pro-Philippines. I think it's very important. We have to really fight for what is ours. Kanina, I was asked this morning about the Sandy Cay. Sabi ko nga yung China will do their thing sa inyo. So tayo, we should do our parts. Anong magagawa natin to fight for what is rightfully ours. Ang teritoryo natin. Importante pa. I think really important. And I think even the search committee would agree with me na yung mga hindi ipaglalaban ang soberanya ng bansa.

Q: At do you think, sir, may indication talaga na may attempt or effort sa China para makaimpluwensya sa resulta ng eleksyon?

SJV: That's what I asked for dun sa National Security Council to do a threat assessment, kasi it's bothering, it's a concern, great concern I would say. Not just, let's not single out China, maybe other countries are also trying to meddle with our upcoming elections. So, importante yung threat assessment and we'll coordinate with the NSC and find out how we could be of help in any way.

Q: So sir, would you advise the voters na kilatisin yung mga kandidato, sino yung pinaglalaban ng ating sovereign, ating territorial waters at sino yung hindi.

SJV: Kung kinakailangan po, lumuhod ako at mag-appeal lang gusto sa ating mga voters na maging matalino, I will not ask them to decide how I am deciding also for myself. Basta sa tingin mo na makakatulong sa iyo, sa bayan, kasi yung right to suffrage is very sacred. Kung titignan natin yung ating kasaysayan, maraming dugo ang tumugis, maraming buhay ang naisacrifice para ma-enjoy natin itong demokrasya, itong karapatan na magluklok ng mga leader ng ating pamahalaan, local and national leaders. So, I pray very hard na yung right candidates to emerge as winners after the big world elections.

Q: Sabi ni Sen. Imee, ginagamit lang daw ang West Philippine Sea issue para i-divert ang attention ng publiko mula sa backlash dahil sa pag-aresto kay Duterte.

SJV: Marami kasing issue and we don't know kung because of the election fever, lahat I would say, lahat ng issue would be used. So I would go with the sweeping generalization na lahat ng issue gagamitin talaga. And it's unfortunate na talagang magagamit lahat ng issue to whatever you want to dikit itong isang issue na ito. Dikit ko dito, dikit ko sa tao, negative, positive, dikit, kuha, credit grab itong ganito, etc. It's a natural phenomenon during elections. Lahat ganun eh. Kulang nalang sabihin, di ba nga, pati mga malls sila nagpatayo, o lagyan ng tarpaulin yung mall, sila nagpatayo, etc. Ganun talaga eh. Lahat gagamitin issue. And that is why, ang appeal lang natin sa electorate is be wise and at the end of the day your decision will dictate the future of your family, your loved ones, your children especially.

Q: Sir, balikan pa lang yung digital nomad. What's the difference between an EO and a legislative law?

SJV: It's a good one. Ang EO kasi is, alam mo, anytime pupwedeng i-revoke yan at pwedeng hindi naiimplement na lang kung may pumalit na susunod na pangulo. Another thing is that EO is very simple na hindi mo pwedeng ichallenge. Hindi mo na na-discuss ng maigi with the representatives of the people. So I think mas mabigat yung dating ng isang batas, mas mapanghahawakan, mas tatagal, mas sustainable, and at the same time mas klaro yung accountability for me. That's what I would say.

Q: Sir, will there be safety nets against, baka kasi magamit na naman yun ng mga POGO entities eh, kasi ganoon sila galing mag-isip, baka mapaikutan ang batas?

SJV: Dun sa Section 3, nung finile natin yung panukalang batas, that's why I wanted the Bureau of Immigration to be the ones issuing. Kasi doon sa EO, it's the Department of Foreign Affairs who would issue the Nomad Visa. Doon sa Bureau of Immigration, may database na sila. Sila din magkikeep anong register. Mayroon din silang access sa Interpol, etc. Mayroon silang access sa Bureau of Immigration, sa Department of Justice, sa NBI, etc. May mga police powers din sila. Pwede silang mag-conduct ng mga raids, etc. So, nakikita nila itong bagay na ito. Sino yung may threat, sino yung may criminal records, etc. So, that's why I wanted BI. But again, I'm open for discussion.

Q: But unfortunately, BI has been involved in so many corruption issues in Pastillas scam. Baka naman dun magamit.

SJV: I am aware of that but I still trust the Bureau. And I still believe with all of my heart na mas maraming good eggs than bad eggs.

Q: Then yung one of the campaign promises of the former president is yung endo bill. How is it the endo bill? Ano nang mangyayari po?

SJV: For someone who authored, sponsored, defended the bill for what, two years, I would say it's a bit disheartening, but again, hope springs eternal. Nandyan pa rin yan. Meron pa akong three years na gusto ko pa rin na maging legacy ni Joel Villanueva dahil mag-retire na ako in 2028, not just in the Senate or in public service. So I pray na makita natin yung kahalagahan nitong security of tenure ang ating kaluluwa ng bayan. Yung constitution natin sinasabi na napakahalaga at napaka-importante. So I continue to pray na maging ganap na batas at i-enjoy ng ating manggagawang Pilipino yung security of tenure to really end-endo.

Q: Sir, ano na po bang status? Nirefile nyo po ba?

SJV: Yes, I did. It's exactly the same bill that we approved here in the Senate. Exact bill that we approved in the bicameral conference committee report ng House and Senate.

Q: Ano pong status na nating? Nasa committee?

SJV: Still in the committee.

Q: Isa kayo sa tumutok doon sa hearing sa POGO, what can you say on the action of Department of Justice? Kinasuhan mo ng non-bailable trafficking case, si dating Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Cassandra Ong, and more than 40 others, dahil nga doon siya involvement nila sa illegal activities doon sa Porac, Pampanga.

SJV: I trust our institutions to do the right thing and meron din proseso para maprotektahan yung karapatan ng mga akusado. We trust our courts here in the Philippines na gawin ng tama at mabigyan hustisya ang ating mga kababayan. Kasi malaking dagok sa atin itong POGO. Importante na talagang matukoy yung mga tunay na salarin para hindi na maulit ito. At magdalawang isip din yung mga nagbabalak gumawa ng kalokohan dito sa ating bansa. So again, all I can say is I trust the process, I trust our courts to make the right decision.

Q: So considering non-bailable yung kaso. Dapat ba na ipa-extradite? Ito ay nasa better land at makapagpapahina ba yun sa kanyang application for asylum?

SJV: I don't know about dun sa magpapahina ng application for asylum but when you talk about extradition, it only comes into the picture pagka meron ng court decision. So for me, wala pa nun. And again, as I mentioned earlier, ang mga akusado ay may karapatang ipagtanggol ang kanilang sarili at let the courts decide on it. And if the court decides on it, then for me, I will definitely support the decision of the court.

Q: Pero itong nangyayari ito bunga ito nang ginawa rin series of investigation ng Senate.

SJV: I would think so. I would think so. And I'd like to believe na hindi nasasayang yung mga efforts na ginagawa ng inyong Senado para pangalagaan ang kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan. Hindi lang ng mga manggagawang Pilipino, kundi ang bawat isa sa atin na na-perwisyo nitong Pogo, hindi lang yung security. And I tell you now, it's not over yet. Ang dami pa rin. Ayoko na sana i-discuss eh kasi for example, kidnapping, medyo concerning na rin. Tapos yung mga nangyayari na left and right na mga pagsalakay ng authorities, meron pa rin naririnig na complaints na yung mga violations, meron namang iba na may nakakatakas or na-spare. So, these are the things na dapat pagtuunan talaga ng pansin. Marami tayong issue o problema na dapat pagtuunan ng pansin. More than politics, sa totoo lang. And that's the main reason ang pinakatalo pagka puro politika yung pinag-uusapan, taumbayan.

Q: Sir, dun lang sa angle, dun kay Senator Nancy, kay Sec Sonny, kailan siya dapat ma-resolve? Magkakaroon ba kayo ng meeting before you open?

SJV: I think so. I think so. We'll have a meeting. Actually, yung before or pre-trial meetings meron. I think meron din caucus para i-discuss yung ilang mga bagay, no sa pag-issue ng summons, for instance, sa mga timeframes, etc. So, yun ang mga i-discuss siguro na pre-trial para pagdating din sa plenaryo, mas smoother, no? Meron mga iba, I believe, na mas ma-discuss extensively sa plenaryo than in a caucus.

Q: And nakausap niyo na sir si Sir Sonny?

SJV: Actually, kailan kami nagkita last week? I asked him. I told him about it. He goes, no, no, of course not. And then I told him, yeah, you resigned as a legislator, as a senator. You never mentioned in your resignation whether it's letter or verbal, even the function of being a senator-judge in case that an impeachment will be filed or mag-prosper sa house at madala sa senate? Natahimik siya eh tapos parang sabi niya, that's a good discussion. Well, kasi I'm a student of history and I always wanted to make sure na nadi-discuss yung mga issues na ito para magandang mapag-aralan din ng mga estudyante, mga nag-aaral ng batas, nag-aaral ng law. So, para sa akin, learning process lahat itong nangyayari na ito. And as I mentioned earlier, I'm not even a re-electionist pero aral tayo ng aral. So, talagang hindi biro itong tatahaking landas ng bawat senador in the coming days after the elections.

Q: Interested si Sec Sonny?

SJV: Hindi, hindi siya interested. That's what I think. He never mentioned na interested siya. Sorry. But I don't think he's interested. Interested sya dun sa discussion. It's always an interesting part ng aming buhay public servant. May nadidiscuss kang mga bago na maaaring na magbigay sa inyo ng dagdag kaalaman.

Q: Pero saan wala kasi impeachment rules na dapat kumpleto yung 24 senators na tatayong impeachment judge?

SJV: Wala eh. Walang nakalagay din eh. Wala rin nakalagay. And pag hindi rin nakalagay, hindi naman rin ibig sabihin, i-assume.

Q: Would you call on Roque na umuwi at harapin na ang kanyang kaso dito sa bansa?

SJV: Ah, well, ako, yeah, at any point in time. No, no, dun sa question whether umuwi or hindi, ako, ang sa akin lang, lahat ng karapatan ng akusado nandiyan, meron. So, for me, better pa rin na harapin ito.

Q: If he is innocent, dapat handa niya harapin?

SJV: Sa akin, dapat niya harapin. Dapat niya harapin. May kaso na. Im sure haharapin po nya.

Q: Sir, ano lang yung take lang dun sa P20 na roll out ng presyo ng bigas.

SJV: I haven't seen or gusto ko sana makita yung ano klaseng bigas yung sinasabi. Kasi napakadaming statements. I don't want to make any statement without seeing. Ang sa akin talagang importante naman na masecure natin when you talk about food security no one would go against that initiative. Now whether yung side comments etc babalikan ko yung kaninang discussion natin dahil election fever lahat, lahat lahat maisasakay lahat, lahat ididikit kung kani-kaninuman positive man or negative and that's why at the end of the day the electorate should be more vigilant about this but also on our part as public servants a-appeal ako na huwag natin pulitikahan lahat, gawin natin yung ano yung dapat natin magawa at mag-deliver para sa ating mga kababayan, yung P11.18 billion na sinayang ng DOH. Hindi dapat maulit ito. 2020, noong pandemic, 95 million. Ngayon, 11.18 billion yung na-expire at nasayang lang. So, ngayon, dinidiscuss na bibili na naman ang kung anu-anong pang dengge, which, kaya ko agree na, tama naman na bumili. Ano ba yung plano? Kailan iro-roll out sa'n? Pag wala na bang dengue? And this is something that we should all be discussing. I think far more important than whether or not itong politika or sinong mananalo, sinong gumagawa ng kalokohan sa kampanya or fake advertisement. I think this is more important.

Q: Since you filed that resolution, pushing for investigation dun sa pag-aaksaya ng DOH ng fondo and then yung national immunization program, Has the department made any representation or submit yung mga explanation nila regarding this? SJV: Wala po, unfortunately wala. We have been doing our best to ensure na maintindihan namin where they're coming from. Tatlong resolution na, if I'm not mistaken, yung finile po natin. Yung 1334 yung dun sa immunization. Kasi 2015 to 2024, 60 billion pesos na po yan. Nananatili pa rin mataas yung vaccine hesitancy. So yung polio, yung diphtheria, yung tigdas, going in the upward figures. 61% lang of the total na mga bata sa ating bansa ang nabakunahan para sa taong 2024 alone. So ang number is 1,459,353. Yun yung kabuuan na nabakunahan. Pero ang dapat bakunahan supposed to be is 2,392,392 na mga bata. And then, yun nga, yung binanggit natin kanina, yung Resolution 1326, yung natuklasan natin sangkaterbang expired at nakatengga na healthcare products sa ilalim ng pamamahala ng Department of Health. Lumobo na po yan, 11.186 billion yung nag-expire. Lumobo ng 11,656 percent compared to 2020 ng 11,656% compared to 2020 na 95 million lang. Yung 95 million, nagtaasan na yung kilay natin. With that P11.18 billion na sinayang ng DOH, that's about 130,000 doktor para sa Bayan Scholars. Four-year course na mapag-aaral ng doktor. 130,000. It would have covered a hemodialysis session of at least 1.761 million beneficiaries, getting 6,350 pesos per session. Yun ho yung nasayang. Masakit. Masakit ko masyado. I don't know kung anong ginagawa ng ating departamento tungkol dito.

Q: Sir, pahabol ko lang. Kanina na-mention ni Sen. Imee Marcos na meron daw siya narinig na protest votes for this coming election dahil wala sa ating kultura na ginigitit ang isang matanda at may sakit. May mga narinig na ganyan?

SJV: But on my end, protest votes means hindi boboto. Ah, baboto, against. Well, natural yun, natural yun. Kanya-kanya tayong biases, yung different sectors, organizations of the society. May mga natural... tendencies na mag-vote sila as one against doon sa hindi kapareho ng kanilang pinaniwalaan. I think we should respect that.

Q: Pero may narinig ka?

SJV: Narinig ko is iba't iba. Iba yung narinig ko sa Bulacan, iba yung nasa Iloilo ko, iba yung nasa Mindanao ka, iba yung nasa Hong Kong ka, iba yung nasa mga manggagawang sektor ka, iba yung nasa mga estudyante ka. Iba-iba eh. Iba-iba yung mga... pinapanigan nila. I think, ang importante and I still commend si Sen. Imee dun sa mga ginawa niya ng committee hearings natututo tayo., ako natututo ko dun sa mga hearings na pinatawag niya and I'm also interested how the Supreme Court will rule dun sa mga nakafile sa Supreme Court, dagdag kaalaman sa ating lahat sa legislator, it's a welcome development.