In an interview, Sen. Lacson answers questions on:
– divorce bill
– Blue Ribbon probe of anomalies at BOC
– withdrawal from ICC
Quotes from the interview…
On claims that there is no evidence of tara recipients:
“That’s his opinion. My sources, most of whom are insiders at Customs, say otherwise. And I stand by my sources… Let’s wait for his committee report. And let’s see.”
“Kung walang tara, anong ire-reform ni Sid Lapena? Bakit biglang nag-spike ang revenue ng BOC? Yan ba ang walang tara?”
“Kung wala siyang na-gather na ebidensya hindi ko problema yan. Siya ang nagko-conduct ng inquiry.”
“It’s an inquiry in aid of legislation. I don’t know anong legislation ire-recommend niya sa plenary. I’d rather wait for that.”
“I gave all the information. Naroon naman sa privilege speech at pag-conduct ng investigation. Madali maghanap ng ebidensya kung talagang maghahanap.”
“Naturally ide-deny nila. Sino ba naman aamin na tumatanggap ng tara? E di kulong sila.”
“Kumbinsido ako may tara. Kayo ba hindi kumbinsido na may tara?”
On the divorce bill:
“Unang una walang counterpart bill dito, so paano maipapasa?”
“Ako hindi (pabor sa divorce). May annulment na tayo. May batas na sa annulment, na-relax ang batas sa annulment. At ang Pilipinas is a Catholic country. Mukhang di pa tayo ready roon.”
On claims the Philippines is not bound by the Rome Statute:
“Sinasabing hindi bound kasi nga di na-publish sa Official Gazette, mukhang yan ang kanilang explanation.”
“Mahabang salaysayin yan. Unang una, assuming may jurisdiction, assuming na nbound tayo, may principle of complementarity. Ine-exhaust ba ang investigation sa PH against issue ng EJK? I suppose nag-imbestiga naman tao, Senado naginvestigate. May findings kami. Meron naming nahabla. Ito ang nitty-gritty ang detalye na dapat, assuming magkaroon talaga ng jurisdiction ang ICC in spite of the withdrawal. Napaka-preliminary ng stage eh. Preliminary examination. Kumbaga sa Ombudsman ito ang fact-finding stage kasi kung magkakaroon ng basehan ang preliminary examination papasok ito sa preliminary investigation, parang IPI ng prosecutor. E ang layo pa eh. Pinaguusapan pa natin kung jurisdiction tapos kung papasok tayo sa principle of complementarity na nagkaroon ba ng pagimbestiga sa loob ng Pilipinas.”
“Remember hindi lang korte pinaguusapan dito, di lang korte dapat magimbestiga kundi other agencies. Ginamit ang salitang genuine investigation, nagkaroon ba? And I would like to think the Senate conducted a genuine investigation on the issue of EJK.”
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