At the Kapihan sa Senado forum, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– return of the Balangiga Bells from the US to PH
– portrayal of PNP leadership in ‘FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano’
– suspension of excise tax on fuel products in 2019
– President Duterte’s supposed ‘power nap’ at the ASEAN Summit
– possible arrest of former First Lady Imelda Marcos
– bringing down VAT and cutting the number of exemptions
– possible Senate inquiry into recent killing of local executives
– rogue cops abusing their authority amid a pay raise starting January 2019
– prospective third telco
– DICT leadership change
– legislation transferring training of police recruits from PPSC to PNP
– ‘rampant corruption’ at Customs
– possible extension of martial law in Mindanao
Quotes from the interview…
Opening Statement, on the return of the Balangiga Bells from the US to PH:
Today marks a very significant event. Ang Balangiga Bells ng Eastern Samar, ibinalik na sa atin. Nasa US pa pero it’s due for return to the Philippines. Kung babalikan natin ang history, parang di natin masyadong inaaalala o commemorate ito pero ito ang napakalaking victory ng Filipino freedom fighters.
How many among us would remember who Valeriano Abanador is? Siya ang nag-lead ng attack sa Amerikano, sa member ng 9th Infantry Regiment na nakatalaga sa Balangiga. While having breakfast, ang Balangiga bells, yan ang nag-toll to signal the attack led by Abanador na 500 Filipinos na mga townsfolk na mga bolo-wielding. And they defeated the Americans. Nagkaroon ng mga 40 napatay na Amerikano, nakuha nila ang 100 rifles, 25,000 rounds of ammo. But di natapos yan dahil a certain Gen. Jacob Smith in-order as a reprisal the massacre of any male aged 10 and above, inutos na barilin at patayin. So doon nagsimula at kinuha ang 3 bells from Balangiga town, sa church, parang trophy nila na dahil nang bumalik sila na-massacre ang mga Pilipino. Ang 2 sa mga bells are in Wyoming, sa Air Force base. Ang 1 nasa South Korea. Naroon din nakatalaga ang 9th Infantry Regiment ng US Army.
So ngayon, sa mga pagsisikap ng mambabatas, Pangulong Duterte specifically, sa wakas ibinalik na rin after 117 years. So mahalaga ang araw na ito. This will symbolize a renewed goodwill in the relations between Filipinos and Americans. Parang symbol na Balangiga bells dahil sa hostilities ng US occupation of the Philippines. Dapat alalahanin natin ito Nov. 15 dahil ito ang araw na tinalaga ng US government, ang US Congress, isauli ang 2 bells. Ang 1 sa Korea maski sira pwede rin makuha. Parang kaunting flashback ng history.
Questions and Answers at the forum:
On whether Balangiga Bells’ return due to President Duterte’s being vocal, or campaign by veterans’ organizations:
“Matagal ang kampanya para isauli. As early as 2002 noong narito kami ni Sen. Nene Pimentel, tatay ni Koko, nag-pass ng reso ang Senado ibalik. Ito lobbied sa US Congress at may nagpasa ng resolution para isauli ang bells. Kaya lang sa kasamaang palad inabutan ng sine die adjournment at di na-pursue. Pero kung babalikan natin ang pananalita ni Pangulong Duterte, napakatigas ng salita niya isauli ang ating bells dahil sa atin yan. Yan naging condition pa kung siya dadalaw sa US. Di siya tutunton sa US hanggang di nasasauli ang Balangiga bells. At ito kinonfirm ni DFA Sec. Locsin dahil nang tinanong ni Ambassador sa UN bakit di bumibisita ang president ng PH, sabi niya hangang di nasasauli. So ito ang mga confluence ng events na siguro nag-lead finally nagkaroon ng decision isauli. Huwag natin kalimutan ang araw na ito. Pati ang pangalang Valeriano Abanador na hepe ng pulisya sa Balangiga na namuno sa pag-atake sa Amerikano.”
On the recommendation of economic managers to suspend 2nd round of excise taxes:
“This long in coming. Naranasan natin ang $80 per barrel mga early months of this year kaya pumalo ang taas ng gasoline at maraming vocal sa Senado especially Sen Bam Aquino, siya nangunguna rito paalala ng paalala nag-privilege speech pa rito. Siguro lahat ito nag-contribute sa (decision ni PRRD) na i-suspend na ang excise tax. Magandang move yan para ma-cushion ang effects ng inflation.”
“Kailangan pa rin kaunting break ng mamimili at motorist, lahat-lahat na. Kasi ang laki ng impact sa oil tumama ang taas ng presyo. Kasi lahat apektado.”
On negative effects of suspension on sectors who would have benefited from the excise tax:
“Challenge na sa government yan, sa executive branch, kung paano nila ire-resolve ang mawawalang benepisyo dahil sa pag-suspend ng excise tax.”
On delay in the passage of the 2019 budget:
“Hindi ko alam ang delay na nangyayari sa HOR. Up to now di pa nata-transmit ang GAB-2, ito ang HOR version. Di kami makagalaw sa plenary hanggang di namin nakikita yan kasi yan ang magiging reference namin.”
“Ewan ko ano pa ang inaatado roon para di maano. And pagkapasa ng 3rd reading ipi-print pa yan, give or take it will take 10 days to print. Kung masyadong delayed, paano kami makakapagdebate nang maayos sa plenaryo kung ganoon kaiksi ang oras? We are having our adjournment on Dec 12. Ilang araw ang natitira?”
“So appeal sa HOR sana madalian nila ang pagpasa ng 3rd reading at pag-print para ma-transmit sa amin at huwag tayo mag-reenact ng budget.”
On balancing inflation and taxes:
“Ang gobyerno nagsa-subsist talaga sa revenues and majority ng source ng revenue ng gobyerno sa taxes. So kailangan din. Pero dapat timplahin mo rin kasi kung masyadong tumaas ang tax, inflation naman ang katapat mo at magsa-suffer ang ordinary Filipinos. So ito bina-balance ng economic managers, 2 ito. Expenditure side and revenue side.”
“Pag kailangan ng revenues para matustusan ang expenditure side which is the national budget. Kung wala, lalaki at lalaki ang utang natin kasi nagpapasa tayo ng napakalaking budget e saan mo kukunin yan kung kulang ang revenues e laging kulang ang revenues di tayo nakaka-balance ng budget, so we resort to borrowings. Ang huling count natin, nasa P7.3 trillion ang ating utang panloob at panlabas.”
“We should continue to find ways to generate revenues na di talaga malaki ang epekto sa inflation.”
On President Duterte’s absence from some events at the ASEAN summit:
“Decision naman niya yan. At saka he was amply represented by Sec. Locsin so wala namn siguro masyadong epekto. Of course tayo lang ang masyadong malaking issue ang ginagawa pag na-skip ang isang event. For all we know the other heads of state meron silang other events na skipped pero di ginawang malaking issue.”
“Experience ko sa meetings na masyadong formal, may usapang nangyayari pero ang talagang paggawa ng positive outcomes ang follow-through na mga discussions. This happens pagka ang mga Cabinet members nag-uusap. Yan ang seryosohan. When heads of state meet although may policy issues or guidance na nadi-discuss doon naroon naman. Pero talagang implementation ang follow-through na ginagawa, yan ang mas immportante actually.”
On alleged power nap in skipping the ASEAN events:
“I don’t know who made that announcement kung official ito or baka ibang joke na naman ito na di seryoso. I don’t see the wisdom of not attending an event attended by other heads of state tapos nag-power nap lang pala, … I don’t think they’re serious. Huwag natin seryosohin ang power nap baka wala lang masabi ang nagsalita.”
“I think instead of pounding on the issue of health of the president mainam na healthy ang ating president, yan na lang ang i-wish or hope president siya ng bansa. No matter how you dislike or hate him, president pa siya. Binoto siya ng nakararami sa bumoto sa iba.”
On the possible arrest of former First Lady Imelda Marcos, and allegations of ‘special treatment’ by the PNP:
“Sinabi na rin niya (Chief PNP Albayalde) na taken out of context ang kanyang sinabi na baka lang ang sinabing 89 years old hindi na kailangan pasukin nang marahas o biglaan o di na kailangan pabrusko ang pag-aresto baka ganoon lang yan. The point is pag may arrest warrant na issued wala naman wede gawin ang PNP kundi i-serve ang arrest warrant. Whatever it takes to bring to custody ang person na subject ng arrest warrant, yan ang nagma-matter. The house di masyadong importante kung na-drag o dahan-dahan kinuha o hinintay muna makabihis, sa akin it doesn’t matter anymore. Importante ma-implement ang warrant at madala sa custody ang tao.”
On remedies for the ‘ugly side of due process’:
“Ito sa Rules of Court. Ito naman pwede baguhin ng SC kung inaakala nila na nagkaroon ng disparity sa pagtrato sa mga high-profile o iba ang stature kesa sa common, sa mga hoi polloi, in our society.”
“I think there should be an in-depth study how to really address this inequality sa pagdi-dispense ng justice sa ating mga kababayan. Noong tinanong namin sa budget deliberation ng BJMP kung ilan ang kanilang preso as against their facilities talagang sobra-sobra nakakagulat nga. Pero in spite of that we see some high-profile personalities na hindi naman ganoon ang treatment kundi napakalayo. Kung ma-approximate man lang sana ok na pero talagang napakalaki ng disparity ng treatment.”
On whether Mrs. Marcos’ case is one of justice delayed, justice denied:
“You can say that. Kasi lagi natin naririnig ang justice delayed is justice denied on the part of the Martial Law victims, they can claim ito ang justice delayed is justice denied. Pero napakatagal ng panahong inabot at di pa na-implement agad ang arrest warrant in spite of the conviction verdict na ni-render ng Sandiganbayan.”
On lowering VAT to 10% from 12% and cutting the number of lines of exemptions:
“Ang karatig bansa natin, ang lines of exemption nila, 25. Ang Malaysia 14 lang, ang Vietnam I think 35. Naroon sila pero tayo 143. Pag pinagsama-sama ang lines of exmption ng bansang binanggit ko ang SE Asian countries, mas marami di hamak exemption natin sa total nila. So how can we compete with them?”
“Most of these (VAT) exemptions ine-enjoy nila since 1990s and 2000. Kaya ka nagbibigay ng tax holiday tax incentive pang-startup kasi mag-start ka negosyo bigyan ka ng tax holiday. Pagkatapos ng ilang taon magbayad ka na ng buwis pero nangyari nariyan na di binabawi so yan nilalaban ko sana. Pinagkakitaan nyo na nakauna na kayo nakabawi na kayo. Give back to the government, give back to the people.”
On affected sectors lobbying vs bringing down number of exemptions:
“Doon magkakaalaman sa interest. Ano ba muna, national interest or interest of the people, or interest of the few?”
On a Senate probe into the killing of local executives, including the vice mayor of La Union:
“I think I will look back doon sa mga basis for conducting an investigation. I think there are resolution passed in this regard.”
“La Union is fast becoming the Abra of the past. Ang Abra pag may election may patayan. Ngayon tumahimik Abra pero it seems La Union ang parang pumalit. Di minsan di 2 or 3 times pero sunod-sunod ang nangyari sa La Union. I think the PNP should exert extra effort and focus on the political situation in La Union. Kasi nagkakaroon na ng patern. And I think they should also address the issue of gun-for-hire groups.”
“Dapat talaga tingnan kung saan nag-uugat bakit nagkaroon ng impunity pag malayo pa election mag-file pa lang ng COC bakit may patayan na lalo na siguro pag nagsimula na ang campaign o election period.”
On the negative portrayal of PNP brass in ‘FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano’:
“Parang todo-todo na ang buong hierarchy ng PNP nakikipagsabwatan na sa presidenteng nang-agaw ng poder but nang napanood ko sabi ko parang familiar ito. And ako mismo hindi naman ito sikreto na, I also suffered the same fate when I became a senator. Ang dating kasamahan ko sa PNP yan din ang nagamit para kung anu-anong fabrication para akusahan ako ng kung anu-ano may talagang nagpagamit din. Pero huwag naman sabihing institutionalized, na ang daming estrella sa balikat tapos sila-sila naguusap na parang sobrang nagpagamit na. So I think and I spport the move of CPNP Albayalde regardless of what I experienced in the past, na call the attention of the producers and staff of the teleserye.”
“Huwag nyo naman masyadong pasamain ang CPNP. Nagpipilit sila i-uplift ang morale ng tao at kanilang credibility. Hindi rin matatawaran napakarami noon. Ito nga the fact we’re talking about it ibig sabihin talagang maraming nanonood, at extend ng extend di namamatay. Sa daming nanonood tapos ganoon ang makikita mong pag-portray sa PNP I think to say the least it’s unfair to the PNP na i-portray nang ganoon kasi di talaga ganoon.”
“Kung ako ang nasa lugar ni CPNP Albayalde I would have done the same. Teka muna baka pwede i-review ninyo maawa kayo sa PNP.”
“Sana kung certain segments of the PNP halimbawa hindi mismo CPNP kundi isang lugar na may masama, and it cannot be denied na may bad eggs. But to portray the whole PNP from the leadership, di maganda ang pag-portray o projection ng PNP. And let’s face it, maraming mabuting nagawa ang PNP especially ang leadership, especially now. Ako very vocal naman ako that I’m supporting the programs of Gen Albayalde kasi ang reform na ginagawa nila I also talked to lower-ranking police officers when I go around tinatanong ko kamusta ang pag-release ng pondo, maayos. So doon nasasaktan siguro ang liderato dahil sobrang sama ang pag-portray. Sa akin di na realistic. In some regard or aspects, pwedeng may realism pero di ganoon kasama. Yan siguro unfair doon.”
“Dapat nagkaroon ng consultation (ang PNP at producers). Dahil PNP naman ang nag-make ng move I think the PNP should reach out to the production people para medyo ma-tone down nang kaunti ang masamang pag-portray sa PNP.”
On whether rogue cops are included in the salary raise for cops starting January 2019:
“Kasama sila siyempre dahil hanggang pulis sila but they will have to face the music and they will have to face sanctions ranging from simple admonition to dismissal from the service.”
“We as taxpayers cannot also understand bakit may pulis pa rin na tinaas ang lahat na sweldo ang daming incentives ang daming benepisyo, bakit nakaisip pa ng ganoon? I think they deserve what they will suffer afterward. But ang PNP ang leadership should fast-track all these things especially the administrative aspect of the case. Ang criminal can wait because of the justice system natin. Pero summary dismissal proceedings and all should really be attended to with dispatch.”
On the prospective third telco:
“Ako excited to witness ang pagpasok talaga ng third telco no matter sino ang manalo. Kasi meron tayong hope sana ma-improve. At tamang tama naipasa sa portability kay Sen Gatchalian at magkaroon na ng common cell sites. Mag-i-improve na ang cell network service natin. Naiwanan tayo ng mga kasamahan natin ibang bansa.”
On alleged cybersecurity concerns involving third telco:
“That’s a challenge that should be addressed by the DICT i-address nila ang cybersecurity natin kasi kasama yan kung gagawin talaga. But I think safeguards would be put in place pag na-activate na lahat na ito.”
On DICT leadership turnover:
“The latest I heard from Sen Gringo, talaga naman mga January. Nagkausap sila actually. And he explained to acting Sec Rio di agad-agad ang kanynag pag-takeover because he will be nominated. Upon nomination he will have to submit documentary requirements to the CA and he will have to undergo confirmation proceedings. And then he will have to take his oath pa so give or take January siya mag-takeover. Swak na rin doon sa timeline na hinihingi ni acting Sec Rio. And wala naman issue sa kanilang dalawa, they have been coordinating closely even before this came out, ang announcement na ia-appoint siya, when he was offered the post, immediately he consulted Sec Rio kasi professor namin yan sa PMA kaya medyo meron silang pinanggagalingan.”
“Malawak naman ang experience ni Sen. Honasan sa info security management. Naging chairman siya ng committee on national defense. Even when he was with the military service nagma-manage siya ng info security. So kung titingnan natin ang listahan ang menu makita natin any of the following. So kung qualiifications at qualifications ang pinaguusapan maski saang korte dumating I think he can defend himself as qualified to be appointed secretary of DICT.”
On legislation transferring PNP training from the PPSC to PNP:
“We already passed on third reading ang transfer ng training from PPSC to the PNP. The HOR has done the same. The soonest possible time pag na-reconcile namin ang whatever disagreeing provisions na meron, mata-transfer na ang training.”
“I think (the HOR) already passed it on 2nd reading hinihintay na lang 3rd reading tapos bicam na kami.”
“This year kaya ipasa. Yan ang usapan namin ni Cong Acop.”
On rampant corruption in the BOC:
“I think that’s a wrong premise, that’s a wrong assumption di pwedeng whoever is assigned there di ma-address ang corruption. Ang bagong commissioner although ang kanyang training all his public service career military, maraming magagandang feedback na tungkol sa kanya. When he handled MARINA he reformed MARINA. When he was CSAFP ganoon din, maganda ang feedback sa kanya from the AFP. So I am hoping he can reform the BOC as desired by most if not all of us.”
“Ako positive, mataas ang expectation kay Gen Guerrero.”
On possible extension of martial law in Mindanao:
“We have to take a closer look this time if Malacanang asks Congress to have another extension. Ang haba na ng panahon dapat malaki na nagawa nito para ma-address. Kaya this time around I don’t think it will be as easy as before. Hindi ganito kabilis makakakuha. They will have to justify more and convince us more than how they did it noong una at second extension.”
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