Francis Escudero, podcast interview transcript, part 1

INQUIRER.net
First Posted 11:36:00 02/26/2007

Editor's Note: What follows is the first part of a preliminary transcript

of the Eleksyon2007 podcast interview with senatorial candidate
Francis Escudero.

Joey Alarilla: Our guest for this podcast is Congressman Francis

Escudero, Escudero is running for Senator under the Genuine
Opposition slate. Good evening, Chiz Escudero.

Francis Escudero : Good evening and it's an honor to be here.

Joey Alarilla: Our first question is from INQUIRER.net editor in chief,

JV Rufino.

JV Rufino : Good evening, Congressman.

Francis Escudero : Hi, good evening, JV.

JV Rufino : The Philippines has been chugging along economically, not

really soaring as some of its Southeast Asian neighbors. What do you
think are the three most important problems preventing the Philippines
from feeding all its people, sending all its kids to school, and giving
them all the basic needs for a decent life?

Francis Escudero : Hmm. First, insofar as being able to attract enough

business to be able to provide enough jobs to pay for whatever basic
needs they might want to have including education, food, clothing and
housing...

The number one problem insofar as that is concerned is power cost.

Electricity simply costs… The cost of electricity is too high in our
country in order to attract enough investments, to be able to provide
jobs for our citizens, perhaps enable them to buy whatever it is they
want -- to educate their children. All of the surveys they've conducted
either here or abroad would point to the cost of power as the number
one culprit. It’s not even instability. It’s not even the unions that we
have here. It's not even the strikes that usually occur. It is power and
that is what we should resolve in so far as attracting business is
concerned.

Secondly, insofar as the economy is concerned, especially spending in

social services including education and health, it’s a question of
budgetary prioritization and allocation. Under the Constitution,
highest budgetary priority must go and must be given to education;
however, they have included some items which you call off-budget
items to the budget.

For example, the internal revenue allotment, and, secondly, debt

servicing. These two big ticket items actually have a bigger allocation
in our budget than education. And they were able to circumvent that
particular costly provision by simply saying that these are off-budget
items -- automatically appropriated and need not pass through the
budgetary process in Congress both in the House and in the Senate.

Third, perhaps, insofar as that particular issue or problem is concerned

would be corruption. The Philippines right now is ranked as one of the
highest, not only in Southeast Asia, not only in East Asia, but also in
the world in so far as the corruption index is concerned.

Transparency International have been logging or ranking the

Philippines at a increasing rate. Compared to other countries, it should
improve insofar as [the] battle against corruption is concerned. For
example, according to the recent data of the Department of Finance,
we are losing approximately 200 billion pesos via corruption insofar as
the capital outlay of government is concerned, approximately 70
billions of pesos in so far as the MOE and other expenses of
government are concerned and about 180 billion from smuggling.

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.

JV Rufino : As a senator, how are you going to solve these problems?

Francis Escudero : You can only legislate. As a senator, as a member of

congress, you can only legislate. I'm of the firm belief, na karamihan sa
mga problem natin, hindi na bagong batas ang kailangan. One of my
colleagues in Congress has this anecdote that he always tells us. When
he first ran for Congress, he did not file a single bill while he was a
member of Congress for three years.

When he was seeking reelection, his constituents asked him, “bakit ka

namin iboboto ulit ni isang bill wala kang finile? Mambabatas ka pa
man din.”

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?”

Wag na 'yung sampu. Mahirap memoryahin 'yan. 'Di ko rin kabisado.

'Yung dalawa na lang. Nung dumating si Hesus, ginawa N'yang
dalawa. Respect and love thy Father and your fellow man as much as
yourself. Kung mahal mo kapwa mo pagnanakawan mo ba? Dadayain
mo ba? Lolokohin mo ba? Sasaktan mo ba? O gagawa ka ng anumang
masama sa kanya?

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?

Francis Escudero : Not necessarily. There are two functions of

Congress. One is oversight functions, to ensure that laws we have
passed are indeed followed to the letter; and, number two, if they
cannot follow to the letter, then we should find out what the reason is-
-if at all, there is a need to amend or pass a corrective piece of
legislation. But if not, it's simply calling the attention of the executive
branch to follow the letter and intent of the law that Congress has
passed previously.

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?

Francis Escudero : We should promote local entrepreneurs. We should

be able to give them enough incentives insofar as being able to conduct
and have their own business, concentrating on indigenous talent and
local talent or local products or local raw materials.

'Yung call center is a temporary phenomenon. Para sa akin, wala

namang masama. Pero hindi rin naman tama na in the long term, iyan
na lang ang tayaan at asahan natin. Think for example [of] forward-
looking countries like Singapore. I do not and cannot see why our
country cannot do the same insofar as planning forward is concerned,
or being forward-looking is concerned.

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.

We suffered a double whammy insofar as that is concerned. We lost

out on what we may call student dollars, yung mga gusto sanang
matuto ng Ingles dito at yung kababayan natin lalayo pa sa kanyang
mahal sa buhay at yung kinikita nyang sweldo dun, dun din nya
syempre ginagastos yung bahagi.

We should be able to be forward-looking enough and not simply react

to the current situation. We are in a position, given our placement in
various countries in the world, to be able to predict or somewhat plan
ahead insofar as the career path of our citizenry is concerned.

Another example: Imbes na yung mga ambassador at consul natin

nagiging alalay and tour guide ng mga congressman, senador, secretary
o mga asawa nila o anak o kapatid, ang dapat sana nilang gawing
trabaho: Alamin kung ano ang nangyayari at nagaganap sa bansang
'yun. Halimbawa, sa aking pagkakaalam sa Dubai, may i-kokonstruct
na hospital dun o may i- kino-construct na matatapos sa year 2011.

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.

JV Rufino : Ok, thank you very much.

Thea Alberto : Hi, good evening. I'm Thea Alberto of INQUIRER.net.

Francis Escudero : Hi Thea, good evening.

Thea Alberto : Sir, for this campaign, how much do you intend to
spend?

Francis Escudero : It depends on how much money we can raise. We

work on a weekly basis. We plan for one week. And depending on the
amount of money that we can raise for the given week, we adjust
accordingly. I was interviewed once [and asked], how much money I
had in the bank, and that was as truthful as I could get. Of course, the
interviewer did not ask me how much money I had--she asked me how
much money I had in the bank.

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?

Francis Escudero : Can't run for rep anymore of Sorsogon--I finished

three consecutive terms . Another relative of mine is running for a local
position, and the last thing I want would be an Escudero, Escudero,
Escudero lineup for local positions.

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?

Francis Escudero : Yes, iyon ang pinakamadaling gawin sa mundo.

Mangako. Ang mahirap mangyari ay tuparin and pangako. Friends
have pledged to help, some have actually helped, and we have
somehow been able to make do these past weeks --this first week of the
campaign.

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?

Francis Escudero : I am a beneficiary of a political dynasty. And there

can be no doubt with respect to that. My father used to be the member
of the [House], representative of the first district of Sorsogon. He was
appointed secretary of Agriculture in ‘96. And I ran for the same
position in the same district in 1998. So you have to take with a grain
of salt whatever it is I will be saying.

I'm against political dynasties, for the simple reason that it limits the
voters’ choice of candidates.

Bakit mo nilimitahan yung pagpipilian nya? Dahil yung dynasty raw

naka set-up na yung pamilya. Kontrolado na nila 'yung boto sa lugar. I
disagree. There have been many dynasties that were defeated in
previous elections.

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.

Francis Escudero, podcast interview transcript, part 2

INQUIRER.net
First Posted 11:42:00 02/26/2007

Lira Fernandez : Magandang gabi po. Ako po si Lira Fernandez. Nag

ko-cover ako ng Team Unity.

Francis Escudero : Good luck.

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 : Minana ko 'yang bill na 'yan, na inumpisahan ng

tatay ko nung s'ya'y mambabatas pa lang. My father is a veterinarian
by profession and he used to be the dean of the College of Veterinary
Medicine in UP. Some changes have to be made and we filed the bill in
order to pass corrective legislation. 'Yung takot na mawawalan ng
boto, hindi konsiderasyon sa 'min yun nang ifinile namin 'yun bill.
Marami ba? Ay.(Laughs)

Lira Fernandez : Have you pushed for it?

Francis Escudero : Yes, and we have been pushing for it.

Lira Fernandez : In the next Congress?

Francis Escudero : No, actually, we still have time to finish it when we

resume in June 4.

Lira Fernandez : Ano'ng status nung...?

Francis Escudero : It's approved I think in the House but it is pending

approval from the Senate. Hopefully if it's approved in the Senate by
tomorrow, we still have time to pass it before we go on recess in June
4. Because if we don't, it will start again from scratch.

Lira Fernandez : Basically, what does it hold?

Francis Escudero : It simply increases the penalties for cruelty against

animals, particularly dogs. Because it doesn't seem to have [a] deterrent
effect given the low penalties the previously law had.

Lira Fernandez : How much [is the] amount?

Francis Escudero : I think from from one to six years was the increase,
if I'm not mistaken.

Lira Fernandez : Basically, what drives your political ambition?

Francis Escudero : What drives my political ambitions? The desire to

be remembered beyond one’s lifetime or after one has long passed
away. 'Di ba may kasabihan sa Ingles: If you can't write a book, might
as well be written about. I can't write a book. I can't sing so I can't
leave a CD behind. I can’t act so I can't leave a DVD behind. I can't
write so I can't leave a book behind.

I would want somehow to be remembered beyond my lifetime for

having done something good, something right. Something that the
people actually felt and the only thing I know is serving in government
as a lawyer or as a professor. Wala pa kaming anak ng misis ko. Wala
pa 'kong maiiwan na mabuting tao siguro sa mundo para sabihin ito
yung pamana ko sa mundo.

Right now, what I have is what I know I can do insofar as my present

position is concerned. And that is my basic driving force insofar as
entering politics is concerned, and staying in politics is concerned.

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?

Lira Fernandez : What will make you get out of it?

Francis Escudero : 'Pag sinabi na sa 'kin ng tao na ayaw na nila sa 'kin

at matalo ako sa eleksyon. I will not run for any other position after
that.

Lira Fernandez : After this election?

Francis Escudero : After this election.

Lira Fernandez : And if you win?

Francis Escudero : And I hope it will not happen though.

Lira Fernandez : And what will you be six years after?

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.

Lira Fernandez : I mean no more political career?

Francis Escudero : Well it depends. May Senado pa ba pagdating ng
panahong 'yun? Would there be an opening for higher office later on?
Any politician really who says that he is not thinking of higher office is
not telling the truth.

Every politician at the back of his mind at least would be thinking:

What if? What if? What if? And for as long as reality hasn't slapped
him in the face. I think that possibility remains open insofar as
everyone is concerned.

Lira Fernandez : Is losing one of your worst fears in politics?

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?

Francis Escudero : I honestly don't know. It's my accountant friend

who takes care of it. I think we paid, if I'm not mistaken – two
hundred plus. Two hundred or three hundred plus thousand, excluding
the withholding tax part.

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.

On the part of the administration, I ask them, is this an admission, that

they are taking back everything they said against FPJ [actor and
presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr.-ed] in ‘04 [the 2004
presidential elections-ed]? Or they saying it was only wrong in ‘04 but
it's now right insofar as they're concerned for this particular election in
‘07?

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: Hi sir, I'm Joel. I cover the defense beat.

Francis Escudero : Hi Joel. Good evening.

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.

Second would be ensuring that quality education is made available to

anyone who might want to study not only up to high school but up to
the tertiary or collegiate level.

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.

Fourth would be strengthening the oversight and legislative powers of

Congress as against the executive in order to prevent abuse and in
order to prevent any potential or possibility for corruption that may
occur in government particularly in the executive branch.

Joel Guinto : How do you increase the oversight powers?

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.

Joel Guinto: In Congress, you are always out-voted by the majority,

how do you work around it?

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.

Having said that in fiscalizing, we don't expect to win a vote. In

fiscalizing, we simply expect to clarify certain issues that may be
clouded. In fiscalizing, we simply seek to make them accountable for
whatever it is that they have done, or failed to do.

And in fiscalizing we seek to prevent or avoid previous mistakes or

misdeeds committed by officials in government. Even if we lose the
vote, for as long as we get that message across, I think we would have
been able to perform our duly sworn duties already.

Joel Guinto: Sir, you mentioned human rights. Given the spate of
political killings and journalist killings, how do you intend to stop this?

Francis Escudero : Trabaho ng executive 'yan. May mga common

denominator ang lahat ng mga pagpatay o mga political killings na
nagaganap sa ating bansa. Una, palagi naka-motorsiklo 'yung
bumabaril. Pangalawa, dalawa palagi sila. Pangatlo, naka-bonnet.
Pang-apat, .45 and gamit. Panglima, hindi nalalayo ng isang kilometro
sa isang pinakamalapit na kampo ng sundalo o nga pulis. At pang-
anim, ni isang suspect, hanggang ngayon, bagaman pitong daan
mahigit na ang pinapatay, at sa araw na ito may binaril na naman sa
aming distrito sa lalawigan ng Sorsogon, 'yung ABC president ng
munisipyo ng Pilar na malapit na kaibigan ko pang si Jun Esplares,
hanggang ngayon wala pa rin silang suspect.

Clearly, it is government that is behind these killings and clearly it is

government that must do something about it. Matagal nang
pinaparusahan sa ilalim ng batas ang pagpatay ng kapwa natin. Hindi
na kailangan magpasa ka pa ng panibagong batas ng Kongreso na
pinagbabawal 'yung pagpatay s kapwa. Kailangan lamang ipatupad
'yun. Kailangan lamang tiyakin na sinusunod 'yan partikular na nga
mga miyembro ng Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The only thing that Congress can do is to exercise its strengthened
powers of oversight to ensure that indeed these laws are followed, and
officials who are amiss with respect to their duties and functions would
be held accountable by dismissing them from office, or holding them
accountable by a command responsibility 'nung failure ng peace and
order dun sa lugar nila.

Joel Guinto: What should GMA [President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo]

do to stop the killings?

Francis Escudero : Start disciplining members of the military and heads

should start rolling. Si General Palparan halimbawa, maraming
alingawngaw na s'ya ang may kinalaman sa walang humpay na
pagpatay ng mga miyembro ng makakaliwa or progeisibong grupo,
Inimbestigahan ba s'ya? Sinuspinde ba man lang s'ya? Bakit kapag
mayor, governor, o kakampi na opposition ang medyo nadapa or
natisod, suspendido agad. Dahil pag kapag kakampi n'ya, kaalyado
n'ya, tumutulong sa kanya, kahit preventive suspension man lang ay
wala.

A chilling effect must be sent to the hierarchy of the Philippine

[military]and the PNP [Philippine National Police-ed] insofar as these
political killings are concerned. That government will not stand idly by
and watch as our citizens even if they disagree with the government are
being killed and shot one by one.

Joel Guinto: So, whose head should roll, sir? Does this include
Commander [Hermognes] Esperon [military chief of staff-ed]?

Francis Escudero : Command responsibility. Esperon, yes, should be

one. The commanding general insofar as the particular area or field is
concerned would be two. Third would be the respective regional
provincial police directors who cannot even produce a single suspect
insofar as these killings are concerned.

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.

Para sa 'kin 'yun lang ang kailangan gawin ng kanyang pamahalaan. A

reverse of what the present administration is doing.

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?

Pangatlo, under the Constitution, taxation must always be based on

the taxpayer's ability to pay. Hindi sinunod sa VAT 'yun. Tayong lahat
tinamaan ng VAT nu'ng ito'y pinasa ng Kongreso, mayaman man o
mahirap, may trabaho man o wala. We were proposing to them a
counter measure. Sabi namin, why don't we pass what we proposed in
the opposition -- an equalization tax. Ano 'yung equalization tax? It's
basically a tax on cellphones. How would we be taxing cellphones?
Again, bearing in mind 'yung taxation must be based on the taxpayer's
ability to pay.

Prepaid ka o postpaid?

Joel Guinto: Postpaid in the office…

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.

Ayaw mo ng ganun, ayaw mo mgabayad ng tax, then get prepaid. And

you will still pay the same amount of eight pesos per minute. Walang
magbabago din. Based on our computation, it is less than their
projected collections from the VAT by only about four billion pesos.
But socialized pa sana di pa tayo tinamaang lahat. Nakabase pa sa
usage ng bawat isa hindi yung pati kanin babawasan a ng bibilhin at
noodles babawasan ang bibilhin dahil lamang sa pagtaas ng buwis.

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.

Francis Escudero podcast interview transcript, part 3

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?

Francis Escudero : The military must be re-oriented. We must be able

to provide a staffing pattern for the military, which has not yet been
done in the so many years that it has been in existence. For example,
tine-train mo ang sundalo, bibigyan mo ng mataas na sweldo para
maging sundalo. Private man o colonel, o kapitan, o sarhento. Kaya
lang sa loob ng kampo, 'yung nagbabantay ng kampo, sundalo. Dapat
security guard. 'Yung naglilinis ng pinggan sa mess hall, sundalo.
Dapat dishwasher.

'Yung naglilinis ng plato sa lamesa dapat waiter, sundalo pa rin. 'Yung

typist sa opisina ng heneral, sundalo. Driver, sundalo. Driver ng asawa
ng heneral, sundalo pa rin. Bodyguard ng mga anak, sundalo pa rin.
Messenger sa opisina ng heneral, sundalo pa rin. Ang taas na sweldong
binibigay natin sa sundalo, ang ginagampanang tungkulin, walang
kinalaman sa pagiging sundalo.

Mas mura kung mag-apruba na kasi nila--di ko mainthindihan kung

bakit di nila ginagawa--ang staffing pattern ng military functions, or
civilian functions must be performed by civilian personnel. Mas mura
ang sweldo nila kaysa sa sweldo ng sundalo na napakaraming
benepisyo.

One, two, we must re-orient the entire military's needs and

requirements and so far is the modernization is concerned. Sa tingin
may lulusob pa sa Pilipinas o mag-aatake of mag-iinvade sa Pilipinas in
the next five decades, or even 10 decades or 100 years?

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?

Francis Escudero : That's internal security. It's still not external

security.

Joel Guinto : What should the military interest lie in? What hardware
should you push?

Francis Escudero : Choppers, more personnel in the field, because they

will have a bigger budget to support our soldiers because this will now
entail a less amount of or lesser amounts insofar as salaries are
concerned because we're paying civilian personnel. Ang sweldo ng
sundalo ngayon humigit kumulang, labintatlo, labing-apat na libo. Ang
sweldo ng isang contractual, halimbawa na secretary, is about seven or
eight thousand pesos.

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.

Joel Guinto: How do you de-politicize the military?

Francis Escudero: By simply limiting its scope. Either to higher officials

only or one time lang for colonels only. I'm still not convinced insofar
as which particular option to take. At one point in time they should
pass through the Commission on Appointments. But not at each and
every stage after they are promoted to the position of colonel.
Masyado naman mahirap na dalawa, tatlong beses sila dadaan do'n.
Masyado na tala silang mapo-politicizd, kung saka-sakali.

Nonoy Espina:Magandang gabi congressman, ako si Nonoy Espina.

Marami sa nakikinig ngayon sa podcast na 'to ay mga kababayan
natin sa ibayong dagat. Du'n naninirahan at du'n nagtatrabaho at 'ika
nga mga bagong bayani, sila and they prop the economy up but it's
worse for them, kung [baga] wala ring nagbabago sa kalagayan nila,
Ano'ng maaasahan nila sa inyo pag naboto kayo?

Francis Escudero: Una sa lahat, magandang gabi din sa 'yo.

Tinatagurian at tinatawag nga nating bayani pero hindi naman bayani
ang pagtrato natin sa kanila. Halimbawa, hanggang ngayon, wala
pang pormal na opisina tayo sa ibang bansa sa pamamagitan man ng
embahada o consulado na mangangalaga lamang sa kapakanan at
karapatan nila.

Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit hanggang ngayon hinahayaan pa

rin nila na mga pribadong kumpanya ang pumasok sa mga kontratang
mangangalaga sa ating mga kababayan sa ibang bayan sa ibang bansa
at hindi ang pamahalaan natin mismo ang pumasok sa mga kontrata
para matiyak na pwede natin silang pangalagaan at protektahan
saklaw ng bandila ng ating bansa, at hindi 'yung pangaral lamang ng
kumpanyang nagrecruit sa kanila.

Bilang senador pinapasa at ipinapanukala namin at ginawa na namin

sa Kamara 'yan. Na gobyerno na lamang ang siyang makikipag
kasundo sa iba't ibang bansa at 'yung mga pribadong kontrata ay
dapat masaklaw ng pang-malawakan at bansa-sa-bansang kasunduan
kaugnay ng pagdadala at pagpapadala at pagha-hire ng mga
empleyado na Pilipino sa ibang bansa.

Pangalawa, matagal ng pinag-uusapan ang isa pang tulong para sa

ating mga kababayan na nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa. Hindi lamang
sa pamamagitan ng reaksyon kung saka-sakaling may problema na.
Kung hindi sa pamamagitan ng pagkakataon ng aktual na serbisyo ng
mga pribadong kumpanyang gumagawa ngayon. Marami sigurong
tututol na bakit makikipag-kumpitensya pa ang pamahalaan sa mga
pribadong kumpanya.

Halimbawa na nagbibigay ng serbisyong remittance. Halimbawa na

nagbibigay ng serbisyong libreng tawag o mas murang tawag sa
kanilang mga kamag-anak. Gobyerno ang dapat nagbibigay n'yan sa
kanila bilang pagkilala sa napakalaki nilang kontribusyon sa ating
bansa. May isang bagay lang na hindi natin pwedeng isabatas. Meron
isang masamang epekto rin ang pagkakaroon ang OFW sa iba't ibang
parte ng mundo.

At 'yan ay pagkakaroon ng mga kamag-anak nilang naninirahan dito

na hindi na nagtatrabaho at umaasa na lamang sa padala ng kanilang
mga kamag-anak sa ibang bansa. Dapat may kongkretong programa
ang pamahalaan para sa mga kapamilya ng mga kababayan nating
nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa. Upang sa gayon, hindi masayang ang
kanila oras at panahon at nakanganga na lamang at naghihintay na
lamang ng biyaya mula sa kamag-anak nilang napapakakuba sa
ibayong dagat.

The phenomenon of the OFWs have (sic) made our country a

consumer driven country and an economy that's consumer-driven.
Hindi maganda at tama 'yun. Marapat at dapat ma-channel ng tama
ang pinapadalang pera ng mga kababayan natin dito para hindi
lamang gamitin na panggastos sa araw-araw ng pangangailangan,
kung hindi magkaroon ng pangmatagalang investment at capital outlay
ang mga kababayan natin upang pag retire nila ay may pakinabang
naman sila sa kanilang pinaghirapan at pinagpuhunang sweldo sa
ibang bansa.
Nonoy Espina: Talking of the consumer-driven economy nga,
pinagmamayabang natin natural resources natin. We have minerals.
We have lots of minerals, yung tinatawag nating renewable energy
sources. Isa sa pinakamalaking resorts in the world. Pero bakit 'di
natin napapakinabangan 'yun?

Francis Escudero: Sinusubukan nang pakinabangan ng gobyernong ito

sa pamamagitan ng pagbenta niyan sa mga banyaga o dayuhan. Hindi
ako sang-ayon dun. Alam mo hindi naman natin kailangang
pakinabangan lahat ng 'yan ngayon. Sa araw na ito, sa buwan na ito,
sa taong ito.Kasama dapat ng responsibilidad natin ang pangalagaan
ang bahaging 'yan para sa mga salinglahi at sa mga darating pang
henerasyon. Hindi tama na ubusin nating lahat 'yan ngayon at tayo
mismo ang lumigaya dahil sa mga resources na 'yan.

Dapat bahagi ng programa't plataporma ng anumang pamahalaan ang

una, paggamit lamang ng angkop at tamang parte at halaga ng mga
resources na 'yan para sa pangangailangan lamang natin.

At pangalawa, tiyakin ang pagkakaroon ng sapat pang maiiwan para

sa mga darating na henerasyon. Ang polisiya ng pamahalaan ay di
tama sa aking pananaw patungkol sa paggamit ng resources natin o
mga likas na yaman na bukod tangi sana sa Pilipinas. Malawak ang
lupain natin pero hanggang ngayon ang naka-capitalize pa lang natin
ay humigit kumulang 12 percent.

Marami pa tayong untapped na mga resources na hindi natin magamit-

gamit dahil kulang ang puhunan at ang nagiging solusyon ng gobyeno,
ibenta na lamang 'yan sa dayuhan. Hindi tama 'yun. Dapat gumawa't
bumuo tayo ng sariling kakayahan gawin 'yan, at hindi natin ipaubaya
na lamang sa mga dayuhan ang paggawa ng bagay na 'yan.
Repatriation and domestic profits na kinikita nila ang mangyayari at
hindi rin 'yan ikauunlad ng ating bansa sa short, medium, or long
term.

Nonoy Espina: So, sa ngayon pa lang may naiisip ka na bang

panukalang batas para matugunan ang...
Francis Escudero: Uulitin ko ulit 'yung sinabi ko kanina, hindi bagong
batas ang kailangan. Ipatupad lang natin. Dati nga bawal pumasok
ang dayuhan sa pag-eexploit ng natural resources natin. Hindi ko
maintindihan bakit sa pamamagitan ng EO, ng AO, ay nabibigyan nila
ng tsansang pumasok ang mga dayuhang 'yan na nasi-circumvent o
naiikutan ang kasalukuyang batas na klaro naman ang pagbabawal.
Oversight function ng Senado, ng Kongreso ang dapat gamitin d'yan
para paalala sa mga negosyanteng it at sa pamahalaan, ang probisyon
ng saligang batas na nagbabawal at nagsasabing bawal 'yan.

Nonoy Espina: Last year, may dalawang major na issues na halos

umagaw sa eksena, 'yung Subic Rape Case at yung patuloy nga na
pamamaslang at ang anti-terrorism bill, Anu sa tingin mo ang mas
mahalaga? Natural sovereignty or International commitment. Human
rights or security?

Francis Escudero: Tao pa rin sa kadulu-duluhan. Gaya ng nasabi ko,

apat ang elemento ng isang estado. Pamahalaan, kasarinlan ng
soberenya, teritoryo o lupain, at pang-apat, tao. Timbangin anumang
araw ng Lingo, anumang oras ng araw, anumang araw ng buwan,
palagi kong, palagi mas matimbang at mabigat sa akin ang tao.

Timbangin ang kasarinlan at tao, tao pa rin ako. Timbangin gobyerno,

teritorya at tao, sa tao pa rin ako. Anumang issue na pagpipilian ng
dalawang 'yan, palaging tao ang pipiliin ko. So kung karapatang
pangtao, dignidad ng kababayan -natin ang pag-uusapan, palaging mas
matimbang sa 'kin 'yan kaysa anumang issue na pwedeng itapat d'yan.

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?

Francis Escudero: Ang pagpatay sa mga miyembro ng probisibong

grupo nagsisimpatya daw sa mga makakaaliwang grupong
humahawak ng armas para maisulong ang kanilang paniniwala ay
hindi tama, walang pinag-kaiba ang gobyerno sa kanila kung gagawin
laman nila 'yan.

Pangalawa, hindi rin tama at hindi rin ako sang-ayon na ubusin na

lamang sila sa pagiging miyembro sa Kongreso sa pamamagitan ng
pagiging at pagkakaroon ng mga party-list groups dyan. Ayan na nga't
nakikilahok sa proseso ang bahagi ng dating grupong 'yan, pilit pa
nating tinutulak pabalik sa bundok, imbes na papunta sa sentro at
papasok sa mga prosesong legal na kinikilala ng ating saligang batas.

Pangatlo, hindi rin tama na patayin ng kapwa Filipino ang kapwa

Filipino, anuman ang kanyang paniniwala. Para sa akin ang solusyon
ay iisa lamang, pinag-ibayong pagpapaliwanag at pinag-ibayong
atensyon sa mga lugar na ito sapagkat ang ugat ng anumang
insurhensiya, dito man o sa ibang bansa, ay kahirapan, kawalan ng
pag-asa, at kawalan ng katarungan kung saka-sakaling may nang-api o
may gumawa ng mali sa kanila.

Tatlong bagay na dapat tugunan ng sinumang pamahalaan na

nagnanais na burahin ang insurgency sa kanilang lugar. Hindi sa
pamamagitan ng baril. Hindi sa pamamagitan ng bala na sosolusyonan
'yan. Ang solusyon ay matatagpuan lamang sa tunay at di maikakaila
na pagbabago at pag-angat ng mga kalidad ng buhay sa mga lugar na
'yan, at, pangalawa, pagtiyak ng katarungan ay tunay na magagawad
sa kanila, sinuman ang magkasala, sinuman ang naging biktima,
simuman ang mabenipisyuhan.

'Yan ay nagawa na sa ibang parte ng Pilipinas, subalit tila nahihirapan

silang gawin sa ka-Bikulan, partikular na dahil na siguro sa kawalan
ng atensyon na binibigay sa ka-Bikulan dahil siguro para sa punto de
bista ng mga ilang mga pulitiko, kokonti lang daw naman ang botante
sa Bicol, kung iyong tutuusin, ang buong rehiyon ng Bicol na binubuo
ng anim na probinsya, mas malaki pa ang Pangasinan at malayong mas
malaki pa ang Cebu.

Marahil dahil d'yan, hindi binibigyan ng karampatang atensyon ng

mga pulitikong nasa national level, and aming rehiyon sa Bicol.
Marahil panahon na rin 'yan at rason 'yan kung bakit nararapat na
magkaroon ng kinatawan ang Bicol, hindi lamang sa Senado, hindi
lamang sa Kongreso kung hindi sa iba't ibang antas, level at opisina ng
pamahalaan.

Alex Villafania : Good evening, sir. Alex Villafania po, nagcocover po

ng Infotech sa INQUIRER.net.

Francis Escudero: Magandang gabi din sa iyo, Alex.

Alex Villafania: Sir, what are your thoughts regarding the automation
of elections?

Francis Escudero: Hindi solusyon 'yan para magkaroon tayo ng

malinis na halalan. Ang solusyon para magkaroon tayo ng malinis na
halalan ay hindi 'yung paggamit ng computer. Iyon ay pagtiyak na
laganap nating mapaparating ang resulta ng eleksyon sa lalong
madaling panahon, sa pinakamaraming tao. Upang sa gayon, kung
may kagustuhan man o motibo o plano silang dayain o baguhin ang
resulta, hindi na nila magagawa 'yan.

Our counter proposal insofar as the Automated Election Law is

concerned, was very simple. Buy a digital camera costing about 10,000
pesos, buy a printer costing about three to 5,000 pesos, and simply
take a digital image of the election return in every precint and print as
many copies as you can under the e-commerce law, that would be
considered as an official copy of the return and leave about a hundred
copies in the precints, so that anyone who might want to get a copy of
the result can easily get one.

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?

Francis Escudero: That possibility is already available to them now,

but the question will always be safeguards. The question will always
be: How do you ensure that indeed the vote that we will be counting
here by the Net is the same vote that they cast wherever they may be?

Secondly, there is problem of having a hard copy. There must be a

hard copy of the vote that a particular Filipino located anywhere in the
world cast that he gave a particular candidate. Hindi tamang walang
hard copy man lang 'yung dahil kung magka-problema o aberya,
paano mo pa malalaman kung talagang nanalo nga 'yung pinroklama
o hindi s'ya dapat pinroklama dahil talo naman talaga.

Alex Villafania: Sir, related na naman po sa IT, meron pa ba kayong

plano, panukalang batas na isusulong pagdating sa information and
communications technology sa Pilipinas?

Francis Escudero: Pagpapalawak lang siguro pag update ng ating E-

Commerce Law. Upang sa gayon ay magkaroon ng legal nabasehan
anumang kontratang pinasukan, anumang kasunduang pinasukan sa
pamamagitan ng Internet. Iyon siguro ang magiging konsentrasyon ko,
kasi iyon ang naiintindihan at nalalaman ko bilang abugado at bilang
dating teacher na nagtuturo ng abogasiya sa mga kaeskwela ko noon
sa UP. Ang konsentrasyon ko ay patungo sa direksyon na 'yan insofar
as e-commerce law is concerned.

Alex Villafania: Sir, sa tingin nyo po ba, 'yung sa E-Commerce Act po

ngayon, medyo kulang pa po 'yung nangyari?

Francis Escudero: Kulang pa 'yon, dahil napakaraming development,

napakaraming technological advance sa Internet na hanggag sa ngayon
ay hindi pa natin lubusang naiintindihan o nakikilala o nakikita 'yung
legal na implikasyon nyan. Siguro konting pagdaloy pa ng taon about
three to five years, bago natin mahabol ang kasalukuyang
technological development; but when that time comes, balik ka na
naman, mag-aaral ka na naman, maghahabol ka na naman sa bilis ng
maari mong magawa at gawin sa pamamagitan ng Internet.

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.

Alex Villafania: Citing what factor sir?

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.

Francis Escudero: Ang aking pong taos-pusong pasasalamat sa

pagkakataon at tsansang ito upang sa isang makabagong paraan,
mapakinggan ang boses at tinig ng lahat ng mga kumakandidato sa
pagka senador, administrasyon man o oposisyon.

Nais ko lamang pong ipabatid na sana sa darating na halalan,

mabigyan ng pagkakataon at tsansa ang mga nakababatang kandidato
mula sa magkabilang panig sa paniniwala't paninindigan na ang
kabataan sa ngayon, hindi lamang dapat ituring pag-asa. Ang
kabataan sa ngayon dapat ituring maasahan na ng bayan dahil hindi
po kapansanan ang kawalan ng edad at hindi kapansanan din o
kakulangan ang kawalan ng karanasan.
JV Rufino: You're welcome congressman Escudero. Good luck in the
campagn.

Francis Escudero : Likewise, thank you.

(clapping)