BBL IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL ¢ THE RISE OF ILOCOS NORTE Weekly Business Newsmagazine BT ee aes ERrInrae eee maeeerra Poe Gees SONEGRONE MARCOS For 2016, the best qualified president of the Philippines is another Marcos, Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., 57. He was trained by the best PH President and was educated at Oxford London and Wharton USA. As CEO of Ilocos Norte, FM Jr. achieved energy self-sufficiency (with 50 windmills producing 150 megawatts), did rice self-sufficiency (harvest per hectare was as high as 12 tons vs. the 4 tons average), promoted cooperatives (200 of them), and gave his people additional income from tobacco, garlic, other Cash crops, and tourism. I a al 77iess! 7ass00! _ISSN 1655-7263 aThe candidate BONGBONG MARCOS By ANTONIO S. LOPEZ Marcos, Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., 57. It's may be a curse or a blessing, but next year’s election will be another dynasty play. Just like the presidential races in 2010 when Benigno Simeon Cojuangeo Aquino Ill, the only son of President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino and Senator Benigno S. Aquino Jr., won, and in 2004, when Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the daughter of President Diosdado Macapagal, was elected. F 2016, the best qualified president of the Philippines is another CLE) Cee oa)A proud legacy As CEO of Iocos Norte for 12 years, FM Jr. achieved energy self-sufficiency = (with 50 windm roducing 150 megawatts), did rice self-sufficiency (harvest per hectare was as high as 12 tons vs. the 4 tons average), promoted cooperatives (200 of them), and gave his people additional income from tobacco, garlic, other cash crops, and tourism. Ferdinand E. Marcos is the best president in terms of intellectual heft (bar topnotcher), heroism (the most bemedalled soldier of World War Il), vision (he said this country can be great again), and love for country and people (he rejected the bombing of Camp Aguinaldo to end People Power of 1986 that ousted him from office). A great promise BNA: What will you contribute to the country if you (become president)? BBM: That government should be excellent. Government should not be mediocre. We have fallen into a trap. Why is it that those people in the government are the most mediocre, and not the best of the class? The laggards in class are the ones entering the government. The excellent people in the Philippines don’t want to be in the government. BisNews Asia/June20-July6, 2015 9Post-1986 dynasties need not be bad. Cory Aquino “restored” democracy. Her son Noynoy Aquino pursued Matuwid na Daan (Straight Path), removed a sitting chet lustice, jalled three of the most powerful Senators of the land for alleged craft, and plaoed under hospital arrest his predeces- Sor, fr alleged plunder and electoral fraud, both charges stil unproven. As president, IMs. Arroyo tripled per capita income and presided over the longest economic expan: Sion in this country's history, 38 quarters of ‘consecutive economic growth For 2016, up to four major political dynasties will contest the presidency —Je Jomar Binay, Manuel Araneta “Mar’ Roxas, {and Bongbong Marcos. The fourth dynasty ‘could be that of former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, the current Manila mayor. Estrada’ wife, Dr. Loi Ejercito, is a former senator. Two of his sons, Jinggoy Estrada {and Joseph Viator (JV) Ejercito, are incum bent senators: Jejomar Binay is the current vice president and the logical successor to BS ‘Aquino. He is already the second highest oficial ofthe land, one heartbeat away from the presidency, and the most experienced ‘among the currant crop of presidentiables of presidential aspirants, having been mayor of the premier business city Makati for 23 years and vice president for three years, with responsibility for housing and Overseas workers welfare under the present COVER “We should bring back the idea that we can be a great country and that we should be doing great things. The Filipino is good. “Here in the Philippine: work, We should be more are now. Merit and vision this country.” Jojo heads a formidable dynasty. His son and namesake, Jejomar Binay Jr. isthe incumbent mayor of Makati. His daughter, Abigail, is a congressman, representin fone of the two Makati distncts, Another aughter, Nancy, is senator of the land. If youbelieve reports, the Binay dynasty is one which is wel-entrenches and well-endowed inancially, amid allegations of massive graft. That is precisely the problem with Jojo Binay. He has no! fully explained his so- ied unexplained wealth, part of which has been uncovered by 22 hearings in 20 months by the Senate anti-graft committee called Blue Ribbon. Meanwhile, Mar (from Manuel Araneta) is the grandson of a famousty pro-American president, Manuel A, Roxas, and son of popular senator in the 1960s and 1970s, Gerardo Roxas who was narrowly defeated by another dynastic scion, Femando Lopez, inthe elections of 1965, Educated at Whar: == =- s, we don’t reward hard (of) a meritocracy than we are not really rewarded in ton and a former investment banker, Mi fan heir to the vast Araneta urban ha fortune. He is actually the man behing call center and business process outso ing (BPO) boom, having authored th for it and executed itwhen he was a Tr land Industry Secretary to President J Estrada and President Arroyo Marhas never been associated with am large-scale corruption but he sometimes perceived as a bumbling bureaucrat. ha mismanaged the government's two important cabinet departments ~ the Depa ment Transportation and Commu (OTC), where Incompetence, c land red tape are the new normal, an Department of Interior and Le ment (DILG), where incompetence, tion and red tape, was the original nor ‘Against Jojo and Mar, Bongbong Mat ccan easily hold his own and Nas not apologize for, Ho trained at the feet o aR ACR CULE From left: William Vincent A. Marcos, Bonghong, lawyer fouise C. Araneta- ‘Marcos, Ferdinand Alexander A. Marcos, Joseph Sion A. Marcoseee see LETTlate strongman Ferdinand E. Marcos, who by today’s reckoning should be the best, president the Philippines ever had, in terms. Cf intellectual heft (bar topnotcher) heroism {the most bemedelled soldier of World War Ii, vision (he said this country can be great again), and love for country and people (he fejected the bombing of Camp Aquinaldo 10 end People Power of 1986 that ousted him from office), As president, Marcos achieved rice sufficiency, built more infrastructure than all previous presidents before him, enforced an onestto goodness agrarian reform, solved the most serious eneray crisis and the most serious foreign currency crisis, prevented the communists and Musim separatists from dismembering the republic, and gave hi countrymen a sense of purpose, vision, ‘and their place in the family of nations. Marcos recognized China and the USSR farahead of te United States. He reduced the area and the 99-year lease on the US. bases to 25 and made the Americans pay upto $2.6billion per year for their use. This ‘bases deal plus the end of the Laurel-Leng: ley parity agreement that gave Americans the status of Filipinos, ultimately prompted the US to help plot his removal, Bongoong named his first born Ferdi- ‘and Alexander, now 21, afterhe says, “the world's best wo leaders.” Learning from the best, Marcos, by osmosis, is Bongbong's education, Add of course, the political - wy Sa er Na ey er er resident Aquino and Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak witness the signing fe Committee on Local Government has reservations about the ment. BBL, he says, is unconstitutional. PEACE DEAL, of the peace agreement, March 27, 2014. Senator Marcos says his S ‘draft Bangsamaro Basic Law which implements the peace 42 BirNews Asia/ June 29- July 6, 015, COVER sawy of his mother, the legendary Imelda omualdez Marcos. Bongbong himself has had excellent formal education-having done graduate ‘coursework in Business Administration at Wharton (1979-1981); Special Diploma in ‘Social Studies at Oxford University, England (1975-1978); high school at Worth boarding ‘school, England, 1970-1974; elementary school at La Salle Greenhills; and pre~ ‘school at Institucion Teresiana, what is now Poveda on Edsa. He trained himself to be ‘mathematician and a scientist but his dad forced him to enter pots, “as a matter of duty tothe nation” Bongbong’s best achievement, he ‘says, was being governor for 12 years 1983-1986) and (1998-2007). As CEO of locos Norte, FM Jr. achieved energy selt- sufficiency (with §0 windmills producing 150 megawatts), rice self-sufficiency (harvest per hectare was as high as 12 tons, he says, vs. the 4 tons average), promoted cooperatives (200 of them), fand gave his people additional income, with tobacco, garlic and other cash crops, and tourism. “As governor,” he says, “you don't just talk anditalk. You have to get things done,” He winces that the Philippines today sui- fers from three major problems ~ massive ‘unemployment and massive poverty, lack of infrastructure, and one of the worst income inequality ratios in the word “uy Says Bongbong of his achievements ‘as governor: “The one that gets a fot of traction are, very surprising, the windmills. There are ‘about 60 windmills now inllocos Norte, ap- pproaching 150 megawatts. We need only 40 mw. So we feed the surplus to the grid. When we first put up the windmills, the ROI (payback period) was 23 years. Until the WTO started paying carbon credis, ROI was cout by half to 12-13 years, The capital cost has come down, “The windmills have been associated with me. | used it in the campaign of 2010 (for senator). Until now, they stil talk about i.” Wikipedia says: Under Carbon trading, counity having more emissions of carbon is able to purchase the right to emit more and the country having less emission trades. the right to emit carbon to other countries. Countries ullize (carbon trading) in order to meet their obligations specified by the Kyoto Protocol, namely the reduction of carbon emissions. ‘Adds Bongbong: “As governor, | am much prouder in what | did in agriculture. From an importer of rice we became a surplus [producer by increasing production four- fold. Normal production was nine tons per hectare, from the national average ISIN NSOnly son SCN A Congressman COO u iti y Senator Next President?‘BONGBONG joins the raltary, Camp ‘Aguinaldo, ‘Quezhr City, 197 “When I went to Whar established I’m not enter into private life.” } of 4.2. Weeven hit a high of 12 tons per hectare in the good areas. We sold the surplus to Manila, We had 2 population of about 600,000 and 70% derived their income trom farming, “noticed that ince production, the ones geting rh ae the vacers, 66 the pled tobe acreited as a ies put una rotang und buy pay, ar eis goa pe he rot Wom te wedlng was Good 8s produc. CREME on oan because tarters had no money Pree aay pay their loans. They repaid us with paiay. Teetcaumibiaicerentuioweused eo eaerer BONGBONG elected as vice governor Cet oe eee But the key to llocos Ne cooperatives. We put up about 20 eratves. 8 the The windmills and agriculture kick: started our tourism. Tourism boomed so much so that at one time, we ran out of food. For a while, we had as many a 30,000 tourists, mostly from Taiwan, Coming to locos. Until 2010 when that thing (kidnappng that resulted in the death of eight Hongkong tourists) happened at Luneta. Tourist agencies cancelled all their flights to the Philippines. This was followed by the siege in Zamboanga and the earthquake in Boholof PENNSYLVANIA ton, it seems it was ‘ing politics. I am going ; —Bonghong "We also focused on infra. Funny, butit was my mother whe took it upon herself to fehabiltate the roads of llocos. My father was careful about being accused of favor- ing his province. So the roads were not | attended, until the 1970s when my mother took a look at our roads. Do governors make goad Presidents? "I's an executive ob," he says. "Inotice that the best talents in the government are local. Among the mayors and governors, there are so many of them who are good, Because at local, you cannot just talk and talk, you cannot just go on making speech- es. You have to get things done.” Bongbong’s biggest challenge as gov- femor, he recalls, was the trapo mindset ‘You have to give people more than doleouts. | That's old siyie. You have to do more than that. Myidea is completely citferent. I want you toto be independent of me, to the point Where I cannot buy your vote because you donot need the money. You have to im- prove people's lvelinood.” Bongbong started in politics at 23 in 1981, a8 vice governor of locos Norte, the youngest elected inthe land. After one term. 5 vice governor, he won as governor in 4983. In 1992, he won a seat in the Lower Turn to page 19Pree ery er se Es‘THE FUTURE KING, clockwise, from left: ESBP eo BONGBONG marries Louise Cacho Araneta, Fiescle, Italy April 17, 1998 SENATOR Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jt. with wife Liza Araneta Marcos (center) and sons (Lto A) Vincent, Sandro and Simon. ‘BONGBONG sors (clockwise) Ferdinand Alexander, Joseph Simon, and Wiliam Vincent Bongbony being sworn in as senator by SC Justice Diostado Peralta, Supreme Court, Manila, June 29, 2010 UZA isa loving and caring wite to Bongbong. She has own law firm, MOST.‘SENATOR Ferdinand R. Marcos, Pace (center) and sons Vincent (left), Bc 4d»ILOCOS NORTE is the first province to develop wind i Y electricity. Bangui town is the first windmill farm in Southeast Asia. Ilocos Norte is one of the few provinces that boast 100% electrification of all its House, representing the s locos Nore. nd dlstrict of In 1998, he carre back as governor ‘and completing three terms. He returned to Congress in 2007 and was elected deputy minor leader. In 2010, Mareas ran for the Senate and won, with over 13 millon votes. He became ‘chairman ofthe comimitiees on Local Govern- ment and on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettiements during the 15th Congress, IN transformed ‘As its governor, Bongbong transformed locos Norte from athrd class toa firstclass province, Agricultural outost grew dramatically He stabilized the price of rice, benefiting both farmers and consumers. Rice out- pul increased from 145,000 metric tons to 200,000 MT. Livestock production also doubled, from 5,000 MT to almost 10,000 MT, Today, llocos Norte has a rice and Corn surplus: The province has also become a model for public health care, wth all residents pro- vided with health insurance. improvements in infrastructure haled transform liocos Norte, especialy the town of Laoag, into a ‘major tourist destinaton, The province is at the forefront of de- velopments in energy. llocos Norte is one (of the few provinces frat can boast of 100% ‘lectification in all ofits barangays (557), Tris also the frst province to develop wind electricity. Bangui, locos Norte, is home to the first wind farm in Southeast Asia In Congress, Bongbong authored the law creating the Philippine Youth Com mission. He is also responsible for the mandate to adopt English as the principal language of instruction in schools, and as a tool for Filipino competitiveness in education. Inspired by locos Norte's tourism boom, Bongbong has initiated tourism as major strategy for economic development. Since ‘marketing alone will not achieve this, he has, ‘pursued laws for the adoption of a compre: hensive infrastructure modernization pro- {gram as key to full economic development. Territorial integrity, recognizing the country’s territorial integrity, Bongbong is, response for the passage ofthe Philippine Baselines Act. It defines the boundaries of the national territory according to interna: tional law but retains the country’s claims to lands under dispute witn other nations. (On another front, Bongbong has also initiated laws for the upgrading of the Fi pino overseas workers program, which was, began by his father. Famember INRI—the letters on Jesus's cross? It stands for llocos Norte, Region I Quite possibly in 2016, Marcos could just ‘mean salvation. BizNews Asia/ June 29 July 6,2015 19greatness? “Those who work to build the main: springs of the Filipino community will naps not be privileged to see in our full flowering. We ere when the tree hi We will not be there And we will not be able to rest in its shade nor taste of its fruits, but our sons and daughters will be there. And. perhaps in some vagrant moment, you shall remember that old men like me planted the seeds knowing fully well that they would not be there when the trees grew—so that you may rest in it shade, that you may smell its flowers and you may taste its fruit — Ferdinand Marcos, 1989 ‘This nation can be great again. It is my atticle of faith, and Divine Provi- has willed that you and | can now translate this faith into action. We ‘must renew the vision of greatness for ‘our country. We must awake the hero inherent in every man. We must find the secret chords, which turn ordinary man into heroes, mediocre fighters into champions. And I ask not for one hero among you but for many. In fact, | ask for all of you to be heroes of our nation, Offering our efforts to our Creator, w. rive ourselves to be great again. — Ferdinand Marcos, 1966Q/A: Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. “We have to bring merito: “The main export of: (BlzNewsAsia's Tony Lopez had two Interview sessions with Sen. Ferdinand Ri ‘Marcos Jr, each fortwo hours, on June 10, and June 16, 2015 in Pasay City. Excerpts, with some edling, for brevity and clarity: ) You have had more than a quarter century of public service. Aren't you Overdue for a higher affice? Your fa- ther was president at 46. You are 57. became vice governor at 23. 1 was the youngest vice governor. They had to change the law (to lower the minimum age for the position) ‘The presidency is destiny. | never dreamed to be president. But my father required me to be in politics as a matter (of duty to the country, i's part of our duty ‘as Marcoses. And my mother had told me since I was three | would be president You 100k like 40s. 1am careful with what | eat and | ex- fercise. | have the Oriental advantage of looking younger. Ihave long hair because ‘of my British influence. | am almost exactly the same size as my father. He weighed about 130 Ibs. and was 5'7". I can wear all of his clothes, including his shoes. He had many beautiful clothes. So I shop in his closet. ‘What's the most important thing you learned at Wharton? That's what my father asked me once. Economics is the matching of needs and limited resources. | asked my father, why are resources limited?” "Because that is. the rule, he said. | asked, "who makes the rules?" And my mother would point at my father, “who else, but him.” The old man would break into laughter. When | wentto Wharton, itseems twas established I'm not entering politics. | am {going into private life. But didn’t you go to Oxford to study politics? That is not my choice. My choice was mathematics and philosophy. My father reminded me, "you won't make money from that. You willbe a professor and you willbe poor. Why not study something you can actually use.” So your choice became politics and economics? Yes. Idon'tregretit. learned and knew alot of things. 22 BirNows Asia / June 29- July 6, 2015 ‘But why did you want to be a scientist? ‘Because that is what | enjoy. Ihave an affinity for physics, | could never under- Stand why people would say mathematics is dificult, And I would always say, ‘sit down, ‘Give me an hour | will explain everything.” What is your best achievement as a public servant?) “The one that gets a lot of traction are, very surprisingly, the windmills. There are about 50 windmills now in locos Norte, ap- roaching 150 megawatts. We need only 40 mw. So we feed the surplus to the grid When we first put up the windmils, the ROI (payback period) was 23 years. Unti the WTO started paying carbon credits, ROI was, cut by half to 12-13 years. The capital cost hhas come down, ‘The windmils have been associated with me. used iin the campaign of 2010 (for senator). Unti now, they stil fk about it (Wikipedia says: Under Carbon trading, ‘a country having more emissions of carbon is able to purchase the right to emit more ‘and the country having less emission trades the right to emit carton to other countries. ‘Countries utilize (carbon trading) in order to ‘meet their obligations spectied by the Kyoto Protocol, namely the reduction of carbon emissions) ‘As governor, lam much prouderin what Idid in agriculture. From an importer of rice, we became a surpius producer by increasing ‘reduction two-fold. Our normal production ‘was nine tons pernectare, from the national ‘average of 4.2. We even hit a high of 12 tons per hectare in the good areas. We sold the surplus to Manila. We had a population ‘of about 600,000 and 70% derived their income from farming, | noticed thatin rice production, the ones ‘getting rich are the traders. Sothe province applied to be accredited as a rice trader. | Ut up a rotating fund to buy palay, milled it {nd sold the rice at a good price. The profit from the trading was used as production loan because farmers had no money to pay theirloans. They repaid us with palay. The rice with high broken ratio we used for the schoo! feeding program BButthe key to llocos Norte was the coop- eratives. We put up about 200 cooperatives. The windmills and agriculture kickstar- e¢ our tourism. Tourism boomed so much ‘0 that at one time, we ran out of food. For @ while, we had as many as 30,000 tour- ists, mosty from Talwan, coming to locos. Unt 2010 when that thing (kidnapong that resulted in the death of eight Hongkong tour en : ee ists) happened at Luneta. Tourist agencies Canceled all their fights to the Philippines. ‘This was followed by the siege in Zambo- nga and the earthquake in Boho. ‘We also focused on infra. Funny, but it was my mother who took it upon herself to Tehabiltate the roads of llocos. My father was careful about being accused of favor. ing his province. So the roads were not atlended to, unti the 1970s when my mother took a look at our roads, Isn’t garlic the best product of llocos? Yes, we have the llocos garlic. You know the llocanos, they can make anything;cracy to government” “learned from the best. There is nobody who would disagree leader, leader of men. He saw himself as a builder of the nation.” have a t-shirt that says The ‘of locos. At the back it says * race. Our main exports are presidents” Mocos should again start exporting presidents We will survey the market. ‘Are you saying that a good governor makes for a good president? that seems to be the pattern in that Marcos was a good — Bongbong grow, anywhere. They are serious and hardworking people. ‘That's why when | am asked, ‘what's the main export of locos?” I say presidents, Half of Philippine presidents spoke locano. locos are presidents” inton, Bush were I's an executive job. | notice that the best talents in the covernment are from local. Among the mayors and governors, there are so many of them who are good. Because at local, you cannot just talk and talk, you cannot just go on making speech- 88, You have to get hings done. ‘As governor what was your biggest ‘challenge or problem? The trapo mindset. You have to give people more than doleouts, That's old style. You have to do more than that, My idea is completely diferent. | want you to bee independent of mo, to the point where | ‘cannot buy your vote because you do not need my money fou have to improve people's livelihood. That's why Idependedon agricuture. When ‘people's life improves because of you, that's the best campaign of al Asa legislator how did you do? | am always in the opposition. In the House and in the Senate. Probably, the cone big bill | authored as a congressman was the Youth Commission. In the House, you can make a beautiful speach. People will admire you for it. But you cannot move your bill because you cannot gamer the Votes because you arein the minority. was ‘a member of the House opposition during the presidencies of Gloria Arroyo and Fidel Ramos, So what are your plans now? The truth is that it has never been my ‘dream to be president. Who does not want to be president? But being president Is a very difficult job. ‘What do you think are the country's main problems? Poverty, lack of infra, and the worst income inequality What's causing the country's economic malaise (Lack of) good leadership. That's re ally the problem, we have a very very poor leadership. ‘What makes you think that you are a ‘good leader? Heamed from the best (aughts), There is nobody who would disagree that Marcos was a good leader, lezder of men. He saw himself as a builder ofthe nation. He told me “l did not become president to preside over the division ofthis country, of the Republic of the Philippines”. remember that very well. What was your father's most difficult problem? Mindanao. When | asked him why he said “i's a war, you fight you die, Filipinos are kiling each other’ At the height of the oil crisis and the secessionist movement, | remember he walked for about a week or two with the Koran under his arm. He studied it. He ‘would have imams come and explain things {ohim. He wanted to know why the Muslims think that way, their beliefs, What would happen had your father continued in office? We would have become another Sin: gapore in per capita income. My father and Lee Kuan Yew were doing exactly the same thing Didn't your father train you to be president? He asked me to study politics. | also learmed economics. All the skils |i wanted to learn | had access to them. Sports was very important to my father. Mens sana in ‘corpore sano, "a sound mind in a sound body,” my father told me repeatedly. “You have to follow the Greek ideal,” he said So I learned alot of sports, | became a ‘martial arts black belter. | took up fencing | swam for the Philippines inthe 400 meters inthe SEAGames. | stucied fying. | could ‘ly a small plane until my mother became 0 worried my father, though he liked very much the idea of my becoming a pilot, asked me to stop because it was causing her so much anguish {also played polo with my friends. But my father watned me, "there would be a revolu- tion if people saw you playing polo." its such an elfist spor. I's the sport of royally. So you are the best qualified to be president? ‘Wall iflearning from the feet ofa master is a qualification, [have to agree with i It is not just one master. Your mother is good too. My mother isthe politician. My father was the statesman. My mother ust loves tobe with people, any kind of people. Ihave seen hor with vary, very ordinary peopl, have seen her with kings, queens and BizNews Asia / June 29 - July 62015. 23Popes. She could win the trust of anyone, ‘And itis not something that she feels she has todo. She enjoysit. Talk toher fortive hours non stop? She enjoys that. She is really good with people. That is her best quality. What's the worst? Tdon’t know. She doesn't know how to {quarrel with people. She will be sad, rather than fight them. She doesn't fight people. Wasn't the word Imeldific invented for her? [asked her about that, and she says “t amy duty, lrepresent....am the First Lady, hhave tobe the First Lady so that the Filipinos are proud of me.” My father will get (peopie) with his Intellect, my mom Uses personal charm. ‘She knows the way to people’s hearts, to their weakness. I's not something she does consciousiy, i's completaly intultive remember in the 1870 Osaka Expo, she called for interpreters. She asked them to teach her Japanese for her speech. So when she stood up to speak, she first spoke in English, and then she spoke in Japanese. People were just clap- ping, cheering her. ‘She did the same thing in China. She spoke in Mandarin. It was 0 natural to her, to make a speech in the language of her host. What's your best quality as a leader? Being open-minded. One good quality ‘of my Daddy whenever he had a problem, he wouldn't stop until he knew what to do. ‘Then he would g0 to sleep. remember before he deciared martial Jaw, he went to sleep, Babes Romualdez (Whe worked for Channel then) was aghast when he found out, while waiting for my Daddy to make a very important announce: ment, you know what he was doing? He was asleep! (Laughs). Because he knew What to do, ne didn't have any major thing to worry about Did he (Marcos) ever asked you about martial law? He told me about it more than a year before Why did he think it was necessary? We were fighting a war. Firstly, our politcal system is sick, we had to fix it, and Secondly, we had war on two fronts: the NPA, and the secessionists. Iwas in London when my father de- lared marial law. When | was told by Jaime Zobel, our ambassador to London then, “Bong, | ust want to tell ou. your father has declared martial law” and | wasn't surprised. | knew it already that's why he sent us (the kids) away | left for London in 1970. The situation was getting critical. There were threats of us being kidnapped. On Feb. 25, 1986 of People Power, ‘why were you in combat uniform? 24 BizNews Asia / June 29 - July 6,201 COVER ie Ue CO Seay didn't want bloodshed We were going to fight. We were going to repel whoever was going to attack the palace He (Marcos) told me, “we have uncov- fered this plot.” They are going to attack the paalaoe, We are nat sure anymore who we fan trust among our officers. He told us, *You and Erwin (Ver), you put up the defense of the palace’. ‘We got intelligence where they would ‘enter, Some would come from Ayala Bridge, ‘some would come from Naglahan. Some ‘would enter the park (by the river). We Teconnoltered around, We started bringing in supplies, food, medicines just to be sure We could fight for three months, ‘One officer told the President, “Sir, we will do location shots with mortar, three rounds." And my father asked him, “how many would be the casualty” The oficer said, "you know sir, whatalo- cation shot means. Any number could die.” “The President said, “No, do not fre!” We had plenty of plans. | remember telling him, “Dad, the enemy is already ‘on war footing, yet, you are still on peace footing, We have to get on a war footing and fight." He would say “how many people will get hurt?” That was his fighting motto. Why didn’t Marcos want bloodshed? He Is a man who fought a war, was Incarcerated and tortured by the Japanese. He said, “I have spent my entre ite defending Fiipings. All my entire lite was defending Filipinos, now | wil kill hem?” Was he right? He was convinced it would have ended up in a civil war. If we started fighting they “Marcos was alre man when he ran By JUAN PONCE ENRILE Betore | filed his certificate of candidacy: | scrutinized his entire assets and labiives. | reviewed all his available income tax returns land hhis bank accounts and other financial records. |had to make sure that he would be vunerabe to any charge fr tox evasion. (Of llthe people working for Marcos dur ing that politcal campaign outside his immed ate family members, | was probably the only fone who had access to his entire personal financial records at the time. That was how close | became to Marcos and his wife. Tha was also the measure and extent oftheir trust. in my judgment and discretion. From the records made avaliable to me, Marcos was already a wealthy man when heCan eady a wealthy | for the president” was running forthe presidency of the county, He had, atthattime, a very large amount of cash deposited in various banks, some of which he used in his campaign forthe presidency. Although the tempo of the election cam- paign had heated up, my participation became routine, There was not much excitement for me. The activity was almost the same every ay. The group to which | was assigned con- tinued its daly campaign activities We woro oithor attonding to the myriad of visitors that wanted to see Marcos or 10 seek favors from him, or we were out ymewhere campaigning for votes for him. ten, Imelda brought me along whenever e was invited to speak betore students or ademic crowds. Everyone in the Marcos camp was in high spits. There was much optimism in the *. This wes in spite of political surveys that ‘owed that Marcos was behind his opponent. Allof usin the Marcos camp were aware that wwe had a formidable adversary and that we had to work hard to push for our candidate. — From “Juan Ponce Enrile, A Memoir” COVER ‘would fight back and that it would eruptinto a civil war. What did your father tell you was his legacy? He said, “forthe frst time, Filipinos felt ‘a sense of nationhood that they belong to the Republic of te Philippines,” That's why. twas so Important for him that we know ur culture, we know our history, we write ‘our own history. That’s why it's important for him to say this form of government is distinctly Flipino, it's not an American form of democracy, itis a poltcal ideology that Is Filipino, that itis applicable to Flipinos, ‘What will you contribute to the country if you (become president)? ‘Thal government should be excellent. Government should not be medioore. We have fallen into a trap. Why is it that those people in the government are the most me- Gloore, and not the best of the class? The laguarus in Gass are the ones entering the government. “The excellent pecpe in the Philippines don't want to be in the government We have a government of mediocrity? itis vary mediocre. Itdoesn'thave good ideas. We don’ putin good ideas, anymore. We haven't seen any great achiavements, Ithas failed. Is that why the government is. under-spending on the budget? ‘They are under-spending by about 400 billion on the 2014 budget. Bul that's the election plan. To ramp up spending for 2016. What are you doing to counter that? odie BONGBONG and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. “te sa goed frend. With 2, you have a strong team. We have to resist, You cannot just lot them do it. You don’t seem to he organizing? Actually | have more people than you think (laughs). 1 have an election to win whatever itis 1n2016._ Definitely, | wil be a candidate in 2016. Whether for president, vice president ‘or senator, | have yet to decide. What do you think Is your role in this ‘country? Bring back the dea that we can be a great country and that we should be doing great ings. Because the Fliping is good. You give the Filipino a chance. That's why the ‘OFWs, in the systoms that they go to, if you work hard, you are clever, orif you are lucky, You wil make it. Herein the Philippines, you don't reward that kind of hard work. That's what should we be doing. We should be more of a meritocracy than we are now. Merit and Vision are not eally rewarded in the county. The life of ordinary Flipino is not getting botter. I's gating worse, that’s why many are leaving. The most worrisome isthe dis: ‘tribution of woalth. That's what lam worried about. I's gating worse rather than better ‘Aren't the Marcoses among the richest families? Not today. My father, when he was already a lawyer and congressman, he became one of the country's top taxpayers. ‘The PCGG has taken everything. | know that he found the treasure of Yamashita The story from my mother is that in our ld residence, the walls were made of gold bricks. My mother had access to deuterium deposits. She bequeathed them to her (grandchildren. mt 9 July 62015 25 BizNews Asia / JuneCOVER BBL must conform to the s ‘By SENATOR BONGBONG MARCOS (Privilege speech on the Basic Bangsamoro Law, June 3, 2015) 1. President, distinguished colleagues, good afternoon. Irise today to speak on a matter of profound importance to the national interest. | stand before you in the name of peace. Like our Muslim and Christian brothers, our Lumads and our indigenous people, | too, long for peace — an equitable, enduring peace. Peace with justice. Peace with honor. Peace for all I have walked the proverbial extra mile in search of peace; peace in Mindanao; peace in the land. When Senate Bill No. 2408 was filed and subsequently referred to my committee in September last year, we endeavored to scrutinize the proposal by conducting several hearings on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). We sought the opinions, sentiments, concerns and propositions of the different sectors of society. Discussions of the measure at the grassroots level triggered passionate debates and scholarly discourses between national and local officials, members of the academe, concemed sectors and other stakeholders. We also sought the opinions of legal experts who shared their scholarly analyses on the constitutionality of several provisions of the bill In all, our committees have conducted 14 public hearings: nine in the Senate; and five in the affected areas of Cotabato City (October 8), Marawi City (October 23) Tawitawi (November 11), Sulu (May 13), and Zamboanga City (May 14), Eight months have passed since the time the bill was fled in September last year. This morning, we just conducted the fourteenth hearing on the BBL. The Bangsamoro Basic Law is sup- posed to be an instrument of peace. share inits objective, But for peace fo be achieved, the BBL mustbe inclusive All the stakehold- fers must be consulted, their views heard their concerns addressed, More importantly, itmust conform tothe letters and sprit of the Jaw of the land. No ifs, ands, or buts, Unfortunately, the BBL in its present form and substance will not bring us any closer to peace, Instead, it will lead us to Perdition. Armed conflct will ensue. Blood willbe shed. And when blood is shed, it wll ‘ot distinguish between right and wrong; be- ‘ween young and old, nether between men and women, nor soldiers or rebels, com= batants and civilians, rich, poor, Muslims, Christians, Nobody wins. Everybody loses. After a series of meetings with the stakeholders, it became obvious to me that 30 BizNews Asia / June 29- July 6, 2015 ‘Ro substantive consultations had been held ‘with them prior to or curing negotiations. The Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process (OPAPP) totally ignored the major stakeholders. The Sultanate of Sulu, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the Lumads, the Indigenous people, the Christians, te Local Government Units and businesses were abandoned, removed from the negotiating process. ‘And so, Mr. President, | ill not invite your boredom by repeating allthose conten tious findings which Rave found their way to the media. | would lke, instead, to express some of my reservations with regard to the Proposed BBL so as to give the Filipino people an idea of how complicated or maybe ‘ven convoluted itis and why this Cornmit- tee has deep reservations on the wisdom of the BBL. Issue on constitutionality Soon after the commencement of the ‘committee hearings, speculations: on the ‘constitutionaliy ofthe BBL began to surface, ‘These speculations ripened into substantial findings which first had to be addressed before a comprehensive understanding of the BBL was to be had, Thus, we were Constrained to seek the opinion of the Com CONSULTING WITH BBL STAKEHOLDERS: Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos J., chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government, listens to the different opinions of major mittee on Constitutional Amendments and Revisions of Codes, chaired by Senator Miriam Defensor-Sentiago AAs stated in the closely argued and ‘erudite Committee Reportof Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who we all acknowledge isagreatlegal luminary of the Senate, which was transmitted to the Committee on Local Government on May 26, 2015, the following findings were made: tis the Committee's understanding that the establishment of the proposed BBL ‘Ought to be within the constitutional frame- work In order to establish an autonomous, region in Muslim Mindanao. That Is to say,COVER irit of the Constitution b muna nanan dl WH Ny stakeholders during the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) hearing Tuesday, June 2, 2015. Marcos emphasized the need to ensure tie swelfare of over 36,000 public servants in the proposed BBL should and could only create a teritorial and political subdivision of the Republic ofthe Philippines, which is our sovereign state. However autonomous it may bets autonomy does not, and cannot, make i higher than, or co-equal with, the whole, Section 15, Article X of the 1987 Const tution states “There shall be created autonomous Fegions in Muslim Mindanao x x x within the framework of this Constitution and the national sovereignty as well as territorial integiity of the Republic of te Philippines.” ‘The BBL, however, aspires to create a par-sovereign state that enjoys sovereignty (wR Wa ANY AR ANd Mindanao as well as other key sectors like the women, youth and businessmen who will be affected if the BBL is passed into law. within the Bangsamorc teritory and within the fenitory of the State. it seeks to create \what our Supreme Gatrt has called an im- pperium el imperio, which is a “state within a stato”, This notion has been squarely rejected by our Supreme Court time and again Not within the Constitution Stated otherwise, the BBL and what it aspires to oreateis not within the framework of the Constitution because the powers enjoyed by the Bangsamoro government alone are violative of several provisions of the 1987 Constitution, First, it provides for three catagories of powers: ()) a limited number reserved to central of national government; (i) an extensive number of exclusive powers that may only be enjoyed by the Bangsamoro. Government; and (ii) concurrent powers. that may be shared by both central govern: ment and Bangsamoro government within the Bangsomoro teritory. ‘Second, the granting of these exclusive powers to the Bangsamoro government Implies that the central government recog- nizes another, and more supreme, authority within the State — an anomaly which is not authorized by the Constitution. ‘Several other provisions run counter to ‘our Constitution: BBL provides for a parliamentary form ‘of government within a presidential form of government. There is no constitutional basis for this effort to change the form of government. Parliamentary form The proposed BBL provides for a pariamentary form of government for the Bangsamoro. it vests ihe powers of gov- cemmentin a Parliament headed by a Chiet Minister, who shall concurrently Read the ‘executive department called the “Cabinet” The members of the Parliament are to ba elacied by tha constituents of the Bangsamoro, but itis the members of the Parliament themselves who shall elect te Chief Minister, who shall in turn, appoint his Deputy Minister and a majority of the members of the Cabinet. BBL seeks to establish limitations to the powers of Congress. Congress will be entitled to reserved powers, but the Bangsamoro would be excluded from the laws passed by Congress with respect 10 autonomous regions. The Bangsamoro Parliament would become not subordinate, but equal to, our Congress. ‘The BBL contains the categories of pow- fers contractually stipulated upon between the MILF and the OPAPP. “The Philippines is a democratic and republican State. Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.” Theretore, there 1S no doubt that the Philippine government hhas all the powers of sovereignty, except conly those given to autonomous regions in the Constitution. In contrast, under the BBL, the Bangsamoro goverment may enact pieces. Of legislation on the exploration, develoo- ment and utilization of mines and minerals in its tertory, draft policies on mining and other extractive industries and recommend to the President applications for financial and technical assistance agreements. BizNews Asia / June 20- July 6, 2015 34These are measures that fall exclu- sively within the power of Congress to leg islate under the Constitution. By giving the Bangsamoxo government the power to lenis. late on these subjects, the BEL equates the Bangsamoro government with Congress, Exclusive powers given to the Bangsam- ro will inevitably reduce or diminish the ‘comprehensive sovereign authority of the Republic over the so-called Bangsamoro teritory and the population thereof. What is given to the Bangsamoro Governments necessariy tom away from the Government of the Republic. 58 powers of BBL ‘Section 3,Aricle V ofthe BBL enumerates no loss than 58 powers that are exclusively {given to the Bangsamoro government. T’must agree with the observation of Dean Merlin Magallona of UP Law that since the exclusivity of these powers necessarily implies that these are to’be exercised to the ‘exclusion ofthe national government (or the ‘central government as it referred to in the BBL), the only governing authority will be the Bangsamoro government If that is the case, how then will the Bangsamoro government be able to imple- ‘ment and enforce some of those exclusive powers? To cite some examples: The creation of sources of revenue, which necessarily include the power to tax all qualified persons within the tertory. ‘Would a revenue-sharing scheme ap- ply to the Bangsamoro govemment as in All other local government units under our Local Government Code? (Or would this central government con- tinue to give internal revenue allotments without receiving a just share of the rev- ‘enues received from within the Bangsamoro territory? Labor, employment and occupation ‘During our previous hearings, vati- ous stakeholders expressed concems on how the Bangsamoro legislation could be reconciled with a person's night to security Of tenure or even their constitutional right ‘against non impairment of contracts? Bangsamoro police in the exercise of its right to establish Cr create institutions, policies and laws for the general welfare of the people within the Bangsamoro tertory, the Bangsamoro ‘government can create its own police forea. In the exercise ofthis right, there can be no recognition of the central government's, authority over said police force, uniike the Central government's PNP which is under the supervision and control of the DILG and the President Private army? What will prevent the Bangsamoro police from turing into turning someone's private army? Indeed, these exclusive powers go beyond anything ever granted by the Can- 32 BizNews Asia/ June 29- July 6, 2015 COVER — sttution or any oer piece of lepisation to any locel government unit or autonomous region BBL refers to the autonomous egion as aroriory' and as he ancosvalhomeland aL nas ho power o create te "Bangsar oro ierory which proceeds from the view that although Bangsamoro Is under Philp Dino jutsdiction, can be molded into @ Separato terrtory ofthe Phippines ‘il 1. Section tof the 1987 Const. tion provides the folning. [The national terry comprises tho Philgoine arch polago, with al the islands and waters er- Fracad therein anda otvertorntores over wich the Philppines has soveregny of jurisdiction..." the pase ‘other trons {eters the oer tomones over won he Pilppnes has claim, fr instance, Sabah itmust be pottod out that the Autono- mous region in Muslim Mindanao under the Const is pat othe Phippines ter- {ory Tocalthe region, eluding the present KARIM, “Bangsamoro Tenor” i 0 enply that lt @ separate par ofthe Philpoines whichis nat he case. The realy is thatthe Republic of the Phipines recognizes thal ceva areas are bccupled by ethic groups, for which reason the State, under the Consitaon, allows he ‘ration of autonomeus regions in, 2008 case, the Supreme Court hold that the concept of association is not recognized under the present Constitution The Gout opined sxx The Consttuton, however, does not contemplate any sate inthis urisdicbon ‘ner an the Phipine State, much fs oes it provide for a transitory status that aims to prepare any part of Philippine or ‘ory for independance.” Furtnermore, and because ofthe way cour national tertiary is defined, and as an cloment of ts natlonal sovereignty, the {97 Consttuton provides that Tal ands ctpublic domain, water, mineral, coal po: trleum, and other mineral ol al foros of potential energy aha, ars, or imber, Sricife, oraan other natura resources aro Duned bythe Ste State controls natural resources ‘Accordingly, "Whe exploration, develop- ment and utilzation of natural resources shall be under the full control and supervi= sion of the State.” Despite this clear mandate under the Constitution, inland waters, Bangsamoro waters, ancestral domain and natural re- sources, protected areas, fishery, marine and aquatic resources, are all within the ‘extensive exclusive power ofthe Bangsam- ‘oro government. ‘This extraordinary power over natural resources found within the Bangsamoro territory and granted to the Bangsamoro government runs counter to the very definition of the national territory and the State's ownership and control over all natural resources found within the Philippine territory. BONGBONG CONDUCTS BBL HEARING. Senator Ferdinand “Bonghong” Marcos, Ey eae eT Paka cu otic jproposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) tern ee | Cree ee Lg peesren rr ea a Cee ee ee lug stakeholders before writing a'¢ommittee Perr. e Other substantial issues and questions of policy At hindi natatapos ang debate ukol sa BBL sa mga constitutional questions na to. ‘Once the issue of modality of making the BBL legally enforceable is setied, deibera- tions shall ultmately center on the specific provisions of the BBL. More importantly, ‘discussion shall ascend to a debate on the higher questions of national policy. ‘Aside from those earlier mentioned, ther controversial points and serious con- cerns have been raised in the course of our hearings, such as ‘The rather “flexible" Bangsamoro tert- tory, owing to the vague and loose “opt-in” ‘and “inclusion” mechanisms; ‘The possible conflicting rights and ‘claims over “exclusive” and “internal” bodies of waters, ike the Sulu Sea and Lake Lanao: ‘Co-equal rights of indigenous peoples, ‘as well as of the Royal houses and Sultan- ates living within the Bangsamoro territory “The business and economic implications rot just on the Bangsamoro territory, but on adjacent LGUs and on the wider Mindanao ‘community; ‘Separale taxing authority, which can be susceptible to double taxation: ‘Operational control over the Bangsam- ore police: Impact on our other LGUs in light of our evolving policy on devolution of powers to local governments; Energy implications not only in the Bangsamoro territory, but in the whole ofMindanao, which is already beleaguered by power shortage; Separate Commission on Elections, Com- mission on Audit, Civil Service Commission; Implications on previous relevant peace agreements and documents that are bind- ing upon our Government; and many more. And in our attempt to create and install the Bangsamoro government, we are of necessity faced with the proposal to repeal Congress’ previous enactments: Republic Act Nos. 9054 and 6734, or our previous laws creating the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). What is the wisdom behind “repealing” these important laws under the BBL, as opposed to just “improving” on them? Are we to just accept the claim that the ARMM was but a “failed experiment”, as though Congress’ previous efforts had all been for naught. As an optimist and a believer in our capacity as a nation, it could be said that the ARMM is an experiment that is on the difficult but promising path of discovering the perfect conclusion and the solution to the problem. And in the event that we do decide to abolish the ARMM, how do we protect the interests and welfare of its 36,000 civil servants who will be without work after the ARMM is rendered functus officio? We cannot keep on conducting iso- lated experiments on the development of our people all the time. Rather, we should improve on our previous efforts by applying the wisdom gained from our experiences COVER and shortcomings. All these issues must be carefully stud- ied and duly presented to our people, not only reasonably prior to enacting the BBL, but more improtantly, prior to subjecting our people to the routine and perfunctory process of a plebiscite. As responsible and conscientious legis- lators, we are bound by constitutional and moral duty to carefully deliberate on the wisdom of the provisions of the BBL—all 119 of them—with a view to laying down a Clear and effective legislative policy for our autonomous regions, in accordance with our Constitution. Our success in this particular Herculean task could lay the basis for the development of our local government system, as well as a blueprint for our other autonomous region under the Constitution: the Cordilleras. Why rush it? Given the complexities on the consti- tutionality of the BBL—not to mention the other debatable parts of the proposed law, | am at a loss as to why we are being pres- sured to sign off on this important piece of legislation. Binigyan di-umano kami ng deadline ng Palasyo. Kailangan daw nam- ing maipasa ang BBL sa aking Komite bago mag-June 11. In light of the grant of extensive powers being given to the Bangsamoro government as well as the plethora of alarming issues attendant to the proposed BBL, how can our electorates possibly come to terms with this complex piece of legislation which will obviously have serious implications on our lives, Our economy and on the future of our country, if arbitrary deadlines are continu- ously being imposed? Lord Chesterfield once said, “If someone is in a hurry, it only shows that the thing be- ing rushed is too big for him.” Hindi po tayo magpadadala sa emosyon at sa pulitika. Hindi ako makapapayag na ma-railroad ang BBL sa aking Komite. It is complex enough as it is. Why rush it? | will not be rushed. | will see to it that any peace agreement we fashion with the MILF will be inclusive. It should protect the integrity of our country. | will make sure that Mindanao or any part of our Republic will not secede from us. | will stand my ground so that our country is not dismembered. | will do whatever it takes to help achieve an enduring and equitable peace in Mindanao. Hindi ako tumatakbo sa responsibilidad 0 Sa anumang problema. Hinaharap ko ang hamon ng panahon. Bilang isang halal ng bayan, mayroon akong pananagutan sa taong bayan. | cannot and will not fail the people who are looking at us for deliverance. | will do my duty as a Senator. | will do the right thing. For peace Mr. President, | repeat: | am for peace. | share our people’s thirst for peace. Pero napakarami pong mga kumplikado at kon- trobersyal na probisyon na napapaloob sa BBL at kung tatanggalin pong isa-isa, baka maski kahit ano pang retoke ang gawin, hindi na makakaya pang maibalik sa orihinal na anyo ang BBL. Kinausap ko ang lahat ng stakeholders. lisa ang kanilang hatol: hindi ito magbibigay ng kapayapaan. Mr. President, | CANNOT SUPPORT THE BBL IN ITS PRESENT FORM. May inihahanda akong kapalit nito na maka- bubuti sa lahat. Manalangin tayo para sa linaw ng kaisi- pan at tapang ng kalooban. Huwag tayong matakot gawin ang tama para sa Kapayapaan at pagkakaisa ng bayan. | cannot end without paying tribute to our “Fallen 44” and those before them, who had offered their lives at the altar of service, of duty. | salute you for your bravery and pa- triotism. Your heroism will not be forgotten. You will remain in the collective memory of a grateful people. Your sacrifices will continue to inspire us. | shall not stop until you and your loved ones are given the justice that you all richly deserve. | will continue the search for peace even if it means traveling that dark, treacher- ous road alone. By doing that, |, in my own small way, would have helped demonstrate that your supreme sacrifice did not go to waste and that you have not died in vain. May the good Lord help us all and may He save us from the evil that men bring upon themselves. Maraming salamat po. BizNews Asia / June 29 - July 6, 2015 33