Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Francis Escudero Podcast Transcript
Francis Escudero Podcast Transcript
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 11:36:00 02/26/2007
Total all of these and you could construct “x” number of schools, “x”
number of streets, “x” number of hospitals and other potential social
services in government should be able to afford if only we could curb if
not minimize or totally eradicate corruption.
Ang sagot n'ya simple lang, pero masakit, sabi nya: “Kayo naman, wag
'nyo ko hanapan ng batas. Sampung batas lang ang ibinigay sa 'yo ng
Diyos di n'yo pa sinusunod. Bakit ko pa dadagdagan? E kung
sinusunod natin ang sampung utos ng Diyos sabihin n'yo nga sa akin
kung may problema tayo?”
I'm of the firm belief na hindi bagong batas ang kailangan na solusyon
natin. As a member of the Senate, as a member of Congress, we should
all promise our people simple things. One, that they will bring their
voice and their vote in the Senate insofar as issues brought forth before
the Senate is concerned. And secondly, that we will exercise our
powers to ensure that all of the laws that have been passed thus far are
indeed implemented and followed to the letter by those who are
supposed to implement them and by those who are supposed to follow
them.
Dalawa lang ang gawin natin sa ating bansa. [Kung] sundin ang batas
at ipatupad and batas, maraming pagbabago tayong makikita sa ating
bansa. The way or the mode I am referring to is the power of Congress
of oversight and to conduct congressional inquiries in order to check
on abuses of the executive.
JV Rufino : But aren't these powers in aid of legislation? Isn’t that the
primary focus?
JV Rufino : I see... Our next question has to do with call centers. Most
graduates of even the top schools, they end up working as call center
agents. Is this something that you would support or would you sort of
promote entrepreneurship as an alternative way?
Five, ten years ago, “yung mga Chinese at Korean nationals at Indian
nationals nagpupunta dito para mag-aral ng English. As of today
inimport na lang nila yung mga English teachers papuntang Korea,
papuntang China, papuntang India para turuan yung mga kababayan
nilang mag Ingles.
Alam nila kung anung klaseng skilled labor ang kailangan, alam nila
kung anong klaseng medical personnel ang kailangan, at alam din nila
kung ilan. Bakit hindi natin i-train at alamin natin yung mga
pangangailangan at pag napunuan na natin yun, tama na rin.
In Australia, that's how they do things. They look at the career path
and the available professionals in the county. And whenever they find
out that the particular career has been filled up, they simply
communicate with the schools by increasing the quota, meaning yung
average grade quota requirement for a particular course or limiting the
number of students that can take that particular course in order to
redirect and direct their graduates according to the needs of their
country or according to the needs of the market.
Hindi natin ginagawa yun. Wala tayong ginagawang kaugnay pero
kayang kayang gawin natin yun. I think that is what the government
should do.
Thea Alberto : Sir, for this campaign, how much do you intend to
spend?
And I said two hundred thousand. I'm of the firm belief in what Kevin
Costner said in the movie “Field of Dreams,” if you build it, they will
come. And we have thus far tried to build our campaign, build our
names, build our plans, ambitions and dreams for the country in the
hope that the support will come.
But insofar as studies are concerned the administration bets are correct.
To be able to run a credible campaign, you need about a 100 million to
120 million pesos to run a credible campaign. Kami nangangarap
kaming ma-raise yung pondong yun. Pero kung hindi man, we are
willing to adjust accordingly and make the necessary changes with
respect to our secrecy.
Thea Alberto : Sir, when you last ran for a political, for an elective
post, how much did you spend?
Francis Escudero : By far mura, ni hindi kami umabot sa maximum
spending requirement limitation provided for valid for by law. Under
the law you can only spend two pesos for every registered voter. Under
the law, a party can only spend five pesos for every registered voter
cumulative. In Sorsogon, we have approximately a hundred eighty
thousand registered voters...times three so that's approximately a little
less than one. And we complied with the requirements of the law
insofar as expenditures in concerned.
Thea Alberto : Sir, given the costs of campaigning and the lack of an
immediate impact legislation has on running a country, why run for
senator? Why not mayor or governor or again a representative of
Sorsogon?
Thirdly, I don't think this is what I'll be doing for the rest of my life. I
would want to run for a higher position and find out, and I would
lucky enough to find out at the age 37, if this is still what I'll be doing.
I've had the perspective of my district, insofar as serving government is
concerned. I would want to broaden that perspective, if I will be given
a chance.
If I would not be given that trust and chance by our people, then I
guess it's time to move one to other fields insofar as my professional
career is concerned. Outside of politics, outside of government where
perhaps life might be easier and happier.
Thea Alberto : Sir, are there friends who have pledged already for
donation?
Thea Alberto : For those who are able to help you, sir, don't you think
you would be beholden to them in the future? And if someday they
would ask for a favor?
Francis Escudero : There's a basic distinction, and I draw the line there.
If you asked for help and come knocking at their doors begging, and
they actually helped you, then probably you are correct.
But if you simply sit still and not move and wait for people to offer
help and volunteer their own help, whether it be financially or in kind.
That is where the distinction lies. Yun, hindi ka nila hawak. 'Yun hindi
pwede kang hindi tumanggi. At kahit naman sa akin ngayon e.
Even if you look at it from the point of view, from a person that you
asked help from, you'd be doing him a service, you would be doing his
or her children a service, you would be doing the country a service, if
you still did what you thought was right. Instead of simply doing what
they would want me to do. Even if it was against your conscience, your
belief system, and your principles.
I've been in politics for nine years. Wala pang nakapilit sa 'king na
gumawa ng isang bagay na hindi ko gusto. O hindi ako naniniwala.
Marami na ring temptasyon na dumaan pero, nalampasan ko 'yon. At
sana sa mga darating pang taon, malampasan ko pa rin at magkaroon
pa rin ako ng matibay na paniniwala at lakas na sabihin pa rin na NO
pag NO, at YES pag YES.
Thea Alberto : Sir, another topic. What are your views on political
dynasties?
I'm against political dynasties, for the simple reason that it limits the
voters’ choice of candidates.
Naniniwala rin ako kung gusto sa 'yo ng tao, ikaw ang mananalo.
Kung ayaw sa 'yo ng tao, hindi ikaw and mananalo. Bakit mo
lilimitahan ang pwedeng pagpilian ng tao kaugnay ng gusto nilang
botohan? Pa'no kung ang pagpipilian mo ay isang sugarol, isang
matanda, isang drug addict at isang sira ulo talaga, at 'yun sunod na
choice nagkataong anak nung dating nakaupo. Pagbabawalan mo
silang mamili at sabihing 'yun ang gusto nila? At pupwersahin mo
silang pumili dung sa apat o lima na hindi naman talaga nila gusto?
Take for example, the two remaining candidates in the GO slate who
has a -- one has a sister there and one has a father in the Senate right
now. Para sa 'kin hindi tamang pagbawalan silang tumakbo, but in the
same manner, in the same breath, it is your right, if it in your right and
voter's right to say and decide. Will they still vote for them even if they
have a father or sister there? Or will they not vote for them anymore
because they have a father or sister there? It's completely up to the
voter. And it's not for us to decide and dictate upon them whom they
will vote for given the wide choices that should be made available to
them.
Thea Alberto : Pero, sir, don't you think it is ironic that you may not
get this from the s-called political dynasty and yet you don't like you
know, the whole thing, the whole picture?
Francis Escudero : No, I benefited from it. Meaning, I'm the product of
a dynasty in our district, in our province perhaps. And I'm against it,
but I have not participated in any vote with respect to it. Given the
conflict of interest that I have, given that I'm a product of a dynasty, I
don't think we should pass the political dynasty law. Simply put.
It gives the image and impression that we don't trust the Filipino voter.
That the Filipino voter cannot decide for himself or for herself what is
best for the country. At the end of the day it's still one person, one
vote. Even if he is still the child, wives, children, brother, uncle, of the
incumbent. Let the people decide whom they want to serve as the
member of congress, mayor, governor or any other elective position.
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 11:42:00 02/26/2007
Lira Fernandez : Sir meron pong -- marami siguro hindi alam tong bill
na 'to, na ikaw ang nag propose. Pero nagsi-circulate sa Yahoo!
Groups, and which is about giving more teeth to the Animal Welfare
Act. Hindi ka ba natatakot for the loose voters for this bill kasi
maraming Filipinos ang dog-eaters?
Francis Escudero : I think from from one to six years was the increase,
if I'm not mistaken.
But politics, having said that, is not my end-all and be-all. I don't eat
politics for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And whenever I sleep, I don't
dream of politics. Hindi pulitika ang hangin na hinihinga ko. At
maswerte siguro ako, sa edad na 37, nasa crossroads ako para
malaman: Ito pa ba ang gagawin ko o hindi na? Maghahanap ba ako
ng ibang dahilan o rason para maski na papa'no maalala ko
pagkatapos kong pumanaw, o dito na talaga yung lugar para makuha
at makita ko 'yun?
Francis Escudero : What will I be six years after? I hope I will still be
the same person. Scruples and principles intact. Very much like what I
am now after nine years in Congress. And I don't know if I will still
seek re-election after that time.
Francis Escudero : I don't want to lose. Nobody wants to lose. But I'm
not afraid of it. It's a reality and it's a fact that one has to accept and
live by. But I would consider myself lucky because should that happen
at my age right now, 37, I still have the rest of my life to do other
things.
I think the more painful part is losing when you're already 65, 70 or
80. Wala ka ng ibang gagawin pa kung saka sakali. Matapos nun, I
consider myself blessed. That at age 37, I would be given the privilege
and opportunity to know what to do for the rest of my life henceforth
depending on what the outcome of the election will be.
Lira Fernandez : Sir, would you still recall, how much personal income
tax did you pay in the last six years?
One of the things we take very good care of is our income tax return
and statement of assets and liabilities. Being in the opposition, we
wouldn't want government or the administration to be able to find a
gap insofar as the things that we should be doing, given the fact that
we been dishing out criticisms, left and right, to officials in the
administration.
But I assure you, anything we have stated in the ITR and SAL is
exactly what we have, and exactly what we should pay, and is exactly
what we earned in the past so many years that I have been in office.
Lira Fernandez : Sir, how do you feel about Cesar Montano's joining
Team Unity?
Francis Escudero : At least may gwapo na 'dun. (laughs) Hindi, it's his
right to run for public office. Nobody should take that right away from
him. For as long as he complies with qualifications for the office,
meaning he's of age; he's a natural-born Filipino; he is able to read and
write; he is a resident of the Philippines for two years previous to the
election; and he is a registered voter; I think nobody can say or claim
that he cannot run for this particular post that he is running for.
I'm not taking anything away from Mr. Montano. It's his right to run.
At the end of the day it's still one person, one vote. Let the people
decide who they want to serve as senator of the Republic insofar as the
12 vacant seats are concerned.
Joel Guinto: Sir, just an overview, what bills will you prioritize if
you're elected?
Francis Escudero : Bills basically institutionalizing first and foremost
the system or theory being adopted by the Gawad Kalinga group
insofar as reviving and restoring the dignity of every Filipino is
concerned via their programs associated with housing.
Third, would be bills that would ensure that the ample and adequate
protection of human rights, and for penalties against those who might
want or should violate these human rights -- basic human rights of our
people.
Francis Escudero : The rules of the House. The rules of the Senate for
that particular matter because according to the Constitution, the
Senate and the House would be supreme insofar as the rule-making
powers are concerned and this can be done by each chamber
independently of the other, and such rules would be respected by the
courts given the theory of separation of powers.
Francis Escudero : At the end of the day, in a democracy, it's still the
majority that should be followed. Tama man o mali, moral man o
immoral, just or unjust, in a democracy you follow only one rule.
What the majority wants, let history decide who was right and who
was wrong.
Let history decide if at all, if it was indeed a correct decision or vote or
if it's a wrong decision or vote. Trabaho ng minority na matalo talaga
sa botohan. Dahil ang tawag nga sa 'min ay minority. 'Pag nanalo
kami sa botohan, hindi na minority ang tawag sa 'min, majority na
siguro ang tawag sa 'min.
Joel Guinto: Sir, you mentioned human rights. Given the spate of
political killings and journalist killings, how do you intend to stop this?
Joel Guinto: So, whose head should roll, sir? Does this include
Commander [Hermognes] Esperon [military chief of staff-ed]?
Joel Guinto: Sir, you also mentioned about improving the educational
system. What laws do you intend to pass?
Francis Escudero : Isa lang siguro. 'Yung budget kada taon, to increase
instead of decrease the budget for state colleges or universities to be
able… to enable them rather to offer them services to a wider number
of students in the provinces. Ang nangyayari ngayon for the past 3
years, pababa nang pababa ang budget na pino-propose ng
administrasyon ni Pangulong Arroyo sa state colleges and universities.
Gusto nilang maging self sustaining ito at ayaw nilang makipag-
compete daw and mga eskwelang ito sa mga private schools.
Para sa 'kin, mali 'yun. Dapat makipag-compete ang state colleges and
universities sa private schools in order to hold them in check. Alam
n'yo ba na pag tinataasan ng gobyerno ang sweldo ng mga teachers sa
public school, nag-oobject ang mga private school, sa kadahilanan na,
mahihirapan na raw silang makipagsabayan sa gobyerno sa pagbayad
ng sweldo ng mga titser. E mali naman nga ata 'yun.
I think government, for as long as we can afford it, must be able to set
the bar insofar as salaries are concerned so that the private sector
would follow. And, number two, government must also be able to set
the bar insofar as the lowered cost of education is concerned. So that
the private sector would also follow suit. Otherwise, they will simply
lose out in the business that they had entered into, insofar as educating
our youth is concerned.
Joel Guinto: Sir, you mentioned about increasing the budget, but do we
need to build more state colleges and universities?
Francis Escudero : I don't think so. For as long as we have one for each
province that would be enough. Providing them with adequate money
in order to maintain their facilities, and expand perhaps their facilities
would be enough without necessarily enacting via a law, another state
college and the university in another municipality or city for as long as
there's already one in the province.
Joel Guinto: Sir, on the issue of taxes, do you think Congress should
pass more laws?
Francis Escudero : No. Before government can knock at our doors, and
ask for more money via taxes, they must prove two things first.
One, that they have been collecting the best take that they can [from]
existing taxes that are being imposed.
Two, that they have been trying to spend our money wisely and
prudently but it simply is not enough. Hindi nila pinakita 'yan nung
ipinasa nila 'yung VAT. Hindi nila pinatunayan sa 'tin 'yan nu'ng
pinasa nila 'yang Expanded Value Added Tax. Bakit tayo pumayag na
ganu'n ganu'n na lamang?
Prepaid ka o postpaid?
Francis Escudero : How much are you paying per minute? Do you even
know?
All of the persons I ask if they were postpaid, kung magkano 'yung
binabayaran nila, can't even say how much per minute they're paying.
Prepaid itself approximately eight pesos per minute. Postpaid
depending on your plan, it's about four pesos to six pesos per minute.
There' s a difference of approximately two to four pesos.
'Yun 'yung equalization tax na gusto sana naming gawin. 'Yung
differential na 'yun ibabayad sa gobyerno. So, immediately socialized
'yung tax mo. If you're paying four pesos per minute, it means you
have a high income or heavy user ka, kaya mura lang e. So you'll be
paying a price differential of four pesos for every minute of usage of
your cellphone. So yumayaman ang nagbabayad nun. Kung medyo di
ka masyado kayamanan, you pay two pesos which will go to
government.
Joel Guinto: Would you seek a repeal of the EVAT [Expanded Value-
Added Tax--ed]?
Francis Escudero : Yes, we tried to. We have been trying to, and we
will continue to do so.
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 11:44:00 02/26/2007
Joel Guinto: What your agenda for the military? What do you think it
needs, more budget like what President Arroyo is saying?
Hindi na uso ang lusuban ng bansa ngayon. Ang uso ay ite-take over
mo na lang ang ekonomiya ng bansa kung saka-sakali. We can't even
defend the Philippines, which is an archipelago, and I don't understand
why the Philippines keeps on insisting to buy an F16.
Kahit gaano kagaling ang piloto natin, kung iisa lang naman 'yan, at
15 'yung F16 nung kabilang bansa, kukuyugin lang naman 'yung nag-
iisang F16 natin. Balewala 'yun e. Tinanong ko sila kung bakit nila
gusto 'yan? Sabi nila, tayo na lang ang walang F16. E ano naman
ngayon? Isang F16 kaya nating bumili ng 13 helikopter. Para sa 'kin,
internal security and dapat nating pagtuunan ng pansin. Internal threat
ang dapat nating tugunan, at hindi external threat. Alam n'yo ba nag-
aambisyon pa ang AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines-ed] natin na
bumili ng aircraft carrier na maliit daw, at isang submarine. Aanhin
naman natin 'yun, utang na loob.
We should accept and live with our limitations. We should accept there
are four elements of the state. Sovereignty, territory, government and
people, the most important among these four should always be people.
Hangga't wala pa tayong sapat na pera na gagastusin para sa mga
kababayan natin, wag na muna tayong mag-ambisyon ng kung anu
ano pa na hindi naman nakalatag para sa pangunahing
pangangailangan ng mga kababayan natin.
Joel Guinto: But how do you fight the communist insurgency and the
Abu Sayyaf?
Joel Guinto : What should the military interest lie in? What hardware
should you push?
For every item that you get, you are able to save approximately five
thousand pesos per month. Malaking bagay 'yan, malaking
pagkakaiba 'yan sa operational expenses na pwede mong mabigay sa
mga platoon at sa mga batalion natin sa field. The money is available.
If only government will be prudent enough insofar as spending our
money is concerned, I think we can easily make do with what we have
insofar as realizing our ambitions and dreams or even our objectives
for any given year is concerned.
Joel Guinto: Are you in favor of limiting the scope of the Commission
on Appointments and the promotion of military officers?
Francis Escudero: Yes. I think it should be re-studied. I think it should
be limited, and I think it should be de-politicized.
Nonoy Espina: Huling tanong na lang siguro. Coming from Bicol, isa
sa iyong pinaka-apektado ng insurgency, malamang may ideya ka
naman ng ugat nito, paano dapat tugunan 'yan? Tama ba ang
pagtugon ngayon ng gobyerno sa problema?
Alex Villafania: Sir, what are your thoughts regarding the automation
of elections?
Unlike now, there are only about seven or nine copies, I think under
the existing law of the election return. In addition to that, via the Net,
napakadaling batuhin ang inpormasyon na 'yan at isang programa
lang ang kailangan mo para meron kang real-time result ng eleksyon,
at the national level. 'Yun ang solusyon para sa akin, para maiwasan
ang dayaan at para sa lalong madaling pangahon, malaman natin ang
resulta ng eleksyon. Not this computerized voting scheme being
provided by the AES.
Alex Villafania: Sir, what if in a computerized system in the elections,
it opens opportunities for Filipinos abroad to vote online?
Alex Villafania: Sir, last question po, regarding po sa mga gay and
lesbian rights. Sir, would you be pushing for legalization of civil unions
between gays and lesbians?
Francis Escudero: No, for the simple reason -- not because I disagree
with it -- for the simple reason that I don't think that Filipinos in our
country are ready for that at this point in time. It may come in the
future, it may come at some future date but not at this point in time. I
may be wrong, I may be mistaken but that is how I view it insofar as
the present situation and circumstances is concerned.
Francis Escudero: 'Yung sarili ko. Botante din man ako, Filipino di
naman ako, may mga pinanghahawakan din naman akong paniniwala.
Sa aking pananaw at opinyon, hindi pa nakahanda at hindi pa handa
ang ordinaryong Filipino kabilang na siguro ako dun. At dadalhin ko,
'yang boses na 'yan at 'yang opinyon na 'yan sa Senado kung saka-
sakali until and unless it has been proven and shown that indeed the
Filipino is ready for it already, I'm not willing to support such a
measure.
(clapping)