Aquino: Sana umattend ang 18 bagmen sa Tulfo Blue Ribbon meeting, nagharap lahat ng grupo — ANC

[0:00] The flood control hearings, there was a perception that the former leaders under Senate President Tito Soto, [0:08] there was a perception that they chose to protect certain individuals with the flood control hearings. [0:15] Hence, there was a challenge supposedly when the partial committee report was formed and some wouldn't sign it. [0:24] And you have that today. It's not resolved. Hindi pa rin resolved. [0:28] Itong 18 former Marines or the bagmen nagbabago ang pangalan, they did not attend. [0:36] Itong Irwin Tulfo... [0:37] Sana nag-attend na lang sila. Kasi nandun na sila. [0:40] Sipin mo, Karen, nasa second floor kami. Nasa fifth floor sila. [0:44] Ba't di na lang sila bumaba at doon na kami mag-usap-usap? [0:47] In the consultative hearing, they were invited. They were invited beforehand. [0:53] Habang nag-meeting na, pinaimbitahan pa sila ulit. Di rin sila talaga bumaba. [0:57] At yung pinaka-mainam na resolution dito ay magharap-harap yung mga grupo. [1:03] The senators supporting them, the senators who are accused, and the senators who just want to find out the truth. [1:10] Magharap-harap, allow yourself to be probed, gaya ng ibang mga naging resource person sa Blue Ribbon. [1:16] At kung ano man yung lumabas doon, i-forward din yan sa ating mga justice agencies like the DOJ or the Ombudsman. [1:24] Yesterday, I reminded the Ombudsman, the DOJ, and the prosecutor general. [1:32] Sabi ko, uy, mag-iisang taon na. Next month, sona na ulit. [1:36] Mag-one-year anniversary na yung mahiya naman kayo. [1:39] At klaro naman sa tao, hindi pa resolved itong issue na ito. [1:43] This is just a few months ago, Karen. [1:45] Hundreds of thousands of people nag-rally para makuha yung resolution dito. [1:49] And I don't believe na nakalimgutan ito ng tao. [1:51] People still know that this is unresolved. [1:54] At kapag umulan na ulit, and that will happen in a few weeks, [1:58] maalala na naman ng tao yung flood control. [2:01] Na yung perang dapat napunta dyan, ninakaw lang. [2:05] So this has to be resolved. They have to work faster. [2:08] Now, yung pagtatrabaho nila, kumpleto ba? [2:12] Ito ba'y satisfactory? [2:14] Yung tao dyan yung maghuhusga. [2:15] Now, ito yung tanong ko sa kanila. [2:17] Itong mga testimony ng 18 bodyguards, no? [2:21] I think yung bodyguard might be parang fair to everybody na tawagin sila. [2:25] Bodyguard naman talaga sila ni Zaldico. [2:28] Anong gagawin ninyo sa testimony na ito? [2:30] Kasi affidavit yan eh. [2:31] Yeah. [2:32] Diba? [2:32] So may mga iba dyan, in-accused nila. [2:35] I find it very hard to believe na ang mga taong yun tumanggap ng pera kay Zaldico. [2:40] Like Father Flavi, si Lila, may colleagues, diba? [2:43] They're filing cases against them. [2:45] Pero anong gagawin ninyo? [2:47] Iimbestigahan nyo ba yan o ibabasura ninyo? [2:49] Yung sagot niyo ang bootsman, klaro eh. [2:50] Sabi niya, we have already asked for their individual affidavit. [2:55] Mahirap yung collective affidavit kasi hindi mo matukoy sino dun sa 18 yung mismong linya sa affidavit. [3:03] Ikaw ba talaga ito? [3:04] Oo. [3:04] So pinahihimay nila yung mga affidavit. [3:07] And hindi pa daw nagsasubmit. [3:09] And I'm hoping na kapag totoong Blue Ribbon hearing na talaga yan, [3:14] nagharap-harap na yung mga tao, pwede nating mahimay-himay talaga yan. [3:18] Ano yung totoo, ano yung hindi totoo, ano yung dagdag, ano yung tinanggal. [3:22] At malalaman natin yan. [3:23] And of course, at the end of the day, yung hearing naman, yung Blue Ribbon Committee, [3:28] magsasubmit rin naman yan, recommendation rin naman yan eh. [3:30] At pag-recommend, yung mga ahensya, kailangan pa rin nilang gawin yung trabaho nila. [3:34] Not to investigate further and to corroborate. [3:37] Even what we surfaced in the Blue Ribbon hearing, Karen, [3:40] kailangan pa rin yan i-corroborate. [3:42] Kapag na-corroborate yan, kapag may iba pang ebidensya... [3:44] Yung dating Blue Ribbon hearing under Senator Ping Lakson. [3:48] Kahit ano mang binigay dyan sa ombudsman o sa DOJ, [3:51] kailangan din namang ibanggayan sa iba pang ebidensya. [3:55] At dun pa lang siya nagiging kaso. [3:57] So ang mahalaga sa akin kahapon is, hindi na basura ito. [4:01] Diba? [4:02] Kasi kailangan yung bisigahan eh. [4:03] Pero yung probative value niya, kailangan malaman. [4:06] Anong porsyento dito sa testimonyang ito, yung totoo, ano yung magawa lamang. [4:10] And I think it's too early to say na lahat ng sinabi nila ay hindi totoo [4:16] o lahat ng sinabi nila ay totoo. [4:18] Kailangan itong imbestigahan. [4:19] And the best way to do this is for the ombudsman to do their job, [4:22] the DOJ and the NBI to do their job properly, [4:25] and for the Blue Ribbon Committee to have the hearing at magharap-harap kaming lahat [4:29] at ma-probe talaga natin yung katotohanan dito. [4:31] Now, the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing under Erwin Tulfo was not a hearing. [4:36] You said it was a meeting. [4:37] Yes. [4:37] And you had Senator Robin Padilla with the 18 bodyguards just a floor above you. [4:43] Three floors above us. [4:44] Three floors. [4:44] Is there a penalty for them not attending considering they were invited to attend? [4:50] Wala. [4:50] Wala because meeting lang yun eh. [4:51] Oo. [4:52] Okay. [4:52] So pag nag-hearing na, first time di ka papasok, pwede kang sulatan ulit. [4:58] Pagkatapos doon, pwede ka nang isopina. [5:01] I hope na magharap-harap talang tayo dyan. [5:03] They can have all of the senators supporting them there. [5:06] Yung ibang mga senador na akusado at yung ibang mga senador na gusto lang malaman yung katotohanan. [5:13] Pwede tayo magharap-harap tayo. [5:14] Ganyan naman yung senado, di ba? [5:15] I mean, in the past, Blue Ribbon, nag-harap yung mga tao. [5:19] At kayang questionin directly. [5:21] Kayang malaman yung katotohanan. [5:22] And to be fair to the Blue Ribbon hearings of Sen. Laxon, maraming na-surface doon. [5:28] Maraming lumabas doon, no? [5:29] I mean, doon natin alaman na, sabi ni Hernandez, na practically lahat ng kanilang proyekto, [5:37] hindi lang flood control, meron silang kinuku, meron silang ninanakaw na pera [5:42] na nag-overprice sila dun sa mga materiales and nag-overspec sila sa mga disenyo. [5:48] I mean, lumabas yun during the hearings and that already is a good lead for DPWH, [5:54] for the Ombudsman, for all of these agencies na ayusin yung mga budget ng gobyerno [5:59] para talagang matuko yung totoong presyo. [6:01] Are you seeing that right now, there's always been a divide with a majority and minority, [6:07] but now, there seems to be a polarization to a point that either you're pro-SARA or anti-SARA, [6:15] and if you're pro-SARA, you believe that there's a group protecting the former leadership [6:22] of Martin Romualdez and Zaldico. [6:24] Parang na-divide na lang siya na ganun. [6:26] Ba't alam mo, Karen, yan ang pinakamalaking kasinungalingan ngayon na binibenta sa publiko [6:32] na dalawang grupo lang, either Sara ka o Marcos ka. [6:36] Mas marami sa mga kababayan natin don't want either. [6:41] Mas marami sa kababayan natin na ganays ng mas independent na pananaw sa mga bagay-bagay [6:48] na titignan yung mga bagay-bagay per issue. [6:52] Yan kasi yung binibenta. [6:54] Ano yun? [6:55] Social media. [6:55] Ano ka? [6:56] Senate of Malacanang or Senate of the Philippines or yung mga ganyan. [6:59] May ganyan. [6:59] Okay, oo. [7:00] That's the biggest lie. [7:01] Oo, oo. [7:03] Marami sa mga senador, palagay ko, hindi naman kailangan kumiling sa kahit kaninong grupo [7:08] ang kinikilingan yung taong bayan. [7:10] But more than the senators and the officials, yung tao mismo, Karen, iba na ngayon. [7:15] Hindi na yung tipo nung Duterte time na either kampe ka sa kanila o kaaway ka. [7:20] Ngayon, yung mga tao, nag-iisip na itong mga issue na ito talagang hinihimay, iniintindi. [7:25] Eh, talagang inaalam, sino ba dito yung talagang tutulong sa akin? [7:29] Sino ba dito nagpapayaman lang? [7:30] O sino ba dito yung talagang nagnanakaw lang? [7:33] So, I think it's a mistake to say, either Duterte ka o Marcos ka. [7:39] Ngayon, mas marami mga Pilipino sa tingin ko, [7:42] syempre may mga hardcore pa rin yan na supporters, [7:45] pero mas marami sa mga Pilipino nandito sa gitna. [7:48] Nagahanap ng lunas, nagahanap ng tulong, [7:51] nagahanap ng Senado at ng gobyerno, [7:54] natutulong talaga sa kanila. [7:55] I mean, we just had the earthquake yesterday in Mindanao. [7:59] Ang hinahanap ng tao, sino bang tutugon sa mga problema ko? [8:02] Hindi yung, sino yung boss mo? [8:04] Diba, boss mo ba ito o boss mo ba yan? [8:06] Dapat kami yung boss mo. [8:08] So, for many of us, Karen, [8:10] and I think yung bloke namin, ganito naman yung pananaw, [8:13] we just want to get back to a sense of normalcy. [8:17] Bumalik tayo sa isang Senado na nagtrabaho, [8:21] na gumagawa ng mga reforma para sa Pilipino, [8:23] at hindi na yung puro conflict, puro away, puro drama. [8:28] Ah, bumalik tayo sa pagtulong sa taong bayan. [8:32] Kasi the image of some is that may pinoprotektangan ang Cayetano Block, [8:37] may pinoprotektangan itong bloke ninyo. [8:40] You get me? Parang gano'n ang perception. [8:43] Ganyan ang binibenta. [8:44] Yan ang binibenta. [8:46] Pero ang katotohanan talaga, at least ako, I can speak for myself, [8:51] and sa mga meetings naman namin, [8:53] ang hinahanap talaga namin is, [8:55] bumalik yung Senado sa pagtatrabaho para sa taong bayan. [8:59] Number one. [9:00] Number two, pagdating sa mga hearing na ito, [9:02] ilabas yung katotohanan. [9:04] Anyway, at the end of the day, [9:06] ang mailalabas namin sa Blue Ribbon, [9:07] kailangan pa namang imbestigahan pa rin yan eh. [9:10] So, ilabas natin yung pwedeng ilabas, [9:12] malaman natin yung totoo at yung peke, [9:13] and then i-forward natin for investigation. [9:16] Bantayan natin na totoo yung imbestigasyon. [9:18] But I'm gonna tell you this much, Karen. [9:20] Mag-one year na, wala pa rin resolusyon yung flood control. [9:23] Mahalagang magka-resolusyon yan. [9:25] At ano nga doon? [9:26] Yung mga... [9:26] Si Curly Disgaia. [9:27] The biggest fish. [9:28] I don't think Curly is the biggest fish. [9:30] Yung pinakamalalaking isda. [9:32] Yun yung kailangan natin makitang nakasuhan na. [9:37] At yun yung hinahanap ng tao. [9:39] Sana naman, huwag ka tayo umabot ng one year [9:41] ng SONA anniversary na hindi pa rin ito resolved. [9:45] All right. [9:46] So, right now, nakasinedie kayo, [9:49] July 6th is the impeachment trial, [9:51] and then July 24th is the SONA ba? [9:55] I'm checking the dates. [9:56] But it's not the last Monday. [9:58] Yes. [9:58] The last Monday of July is the SONA. [10:01] That's when you come together as a legislative body. [10:04] Yes. [10:05] Ipagsasabay namin siya, Karen. [10:06] Pwede ba? [10:07] Yes. [10:07] So, before the SONA, [10:10] so July 6th up to, I think, July 21, [10:14] if I'm not mistaken, [10:15] mag-impeachment court. [10:19] I think, again, I have to double-check. [10:22] Monday to Thursday. [10:23] 27 daw ang SONA this year. [10:24] Ayun, Monday to Thursday before the SONA. [10:27] And then after the SONA, [10:30] Tuesday to Thursday, [10:31] sa hapon, [10:32] sa umaga is session. [10:34] So, hindi naman titigil yung legislative. [10:36] But can you convene as a legislative body [10:38] while you're on recess? [10:41] We are not convening as a legislative body [10:43] while we're on recess. [10:43] We're convening as an impeachment court. [10:45] Okay. [10:45] But can you do legislative work? [10:47] No. [10:47] Oh, you can't. [10:48] We will do it after the SONA. [10:49] After the SONA. [10:50] So, bago yung SONA, [10:52] impeachment, [10:53] July 6th onwards, [10:55] and then may break sa SONA. [10:57] Pagkatapos ng SONA, [10:58] sabay na yung legislative [11:00] tsaka yung impeachment. [11:01] Okay. [11:02] Now, is there hope for any form of dialogue? [11:06] Because it seems the divide is getting more extreme. [11:10] You know, [11:10] we lived through Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago. [11:14] She was extreme. [11:16] But she would go to work, [11:17] debate on the floor, [11:19] participate, [11:20] and it wouldn't be about partisanship to an extreme. [11:25] This partisanship is extreme, [11:28] considering I've been a journalist for 32 years now. [11:31] Right? [11:32] So, [11:33] who among you, [11:36] you'd have to win them over at some point? [11:38] They can remain a minority, [11:39] but you'd have to win them over. [11:41] To be fair, [11:42] si Senator Sherwin, [11:43] the reason why [11:44] we chose him [11:46] to lead us [11:48] is because Senator Sherwin is known to be somebody who can dialogue with anybody. [11:54] Okay. [11:54] At noong panahon na siya yung finance chair namin, [11:57] and he did a really good job for the 2026 budget, Karen, [12:01] nakapag-dialogue naman siya, [12:03] both majority and minority. [12:06] So, [12:07] we're hoping that Senator Sherwin can be that fresh start for the Senate. [12:12] To be fair kay Senator Soto, [12:14] unang linggo pa lang, [12:15] sinabi na niya kaagad, [12:16] and ito, [12:16] natouch ako sa kanya, [12:17] sabi niya, [12:19] alam ko, [12:19] yung iba sa kabila may problema sa akin, [12:21] kaya hindi na ako lalaban for SP. [12:24] It was quick. [12:25] Wala pa sigurong two minutes. [12:26] So, [12:27] sige, [12:27] si Sherwin, [12:28] baka siya yung magandang, [12:29] maging pinuno natin [12:32] para siya yung makapag-re-reach out. [12:33] Bagnanimity. [12:34] Senator Cheez, [12:35] noong araw na pumasok siya, [12:36] sabi rin niya, [12:37] I will also try to reach out to the members of the minority [12:41] at subukan natin na mag-fresh start tayo. [12:44] So, [12:45] alam ko, Karen, [12:46] na merong rin tayong mga kasama [12:47] on both sides [12:49] who want to just get back to a sense of, [12:53] palagi ko yung normalcy, [12:54] mahirap na eh. [12:55] Kahit yung tipo na lang na nagtatrabaho tayo talaga sa session, [12:59] pwede naman tayo mag-debate [13:00] hanggang kailan natin, [13:02] gusto eh. [13:02] We can disagree, [13:03] we can vote separately, [13:05] or we can vote differently on issues, [13:07] pero dun tayo, [13:07] dito tayo magharap, [13:08] let's put everybody in the same room, [13:10] ayun yung tungkulin natin. [13:12] I would like to think, [13:13] dahil optimistic akong tao, [13:14] Karen, [13:14] na meron pa rin mga, [13:17] meron pa rin kaming mga kasamahan [13:18] na yun yung gustong unahin, [13:20] na yun yung gustong gawing primary, [13:22] na goal, [13:23] such that by the impeachment [13:24] and by the time we get back to session, [13:26] hindi na ganito, [13:27] na ganito ka gulo. [13:29] Pakiramdam ko ka rin kasi, [13:30] ngayon ah, [13:31] maraming nanonood, [13:32] Karen, [13:32] no? [13:33] I mean, [13:33] maraming talagang nanonood. [13:35] I mean, [13:35] yung sabi nga ng mga tao, [13:37] ayaw na nila mag Netflix o YouTube, [13:39] sinado nila daw yung papanood nila. [13:41] Senateflix na kayo. [13:41] Senateflix. [13:43] Maraming nanonood, [13:44] pero palagi ko walang natutuwa. [13:45] Oo nga. [13:46] I mean, [13:46] at the end of the day, [13:47] iisipin ng tao, [13:48] maybe it's entertaining, [13:50] or, you know, [13:51] gagawa ng mga memes, [13:53] or kung ano-ano, [13:54] gagawa ng content, [13:55] pero natutuwa ba talaga yung tao [13:57] na yung mga pinuno nila, [13:59] yung mga official na binoto nila, [14:00] nag-aaway-aaway, [14:01] imbis na nagtatrabaho para sa kanila. [14:03] And I think this affects the Senate [14:04] as an institution as a whole, [14:06] in terms of the ratings of the Senate itself. [14:09] Karen, [14:10] ako, [14:10] yung ratings, [14:11] di ko nga tingitingnan eh, [14:12] you look at the historical significance [14:13] of the Senate. [14:15] The Senate has always been [14:16] the last bastion of democracy. [14:18] Kapag magulo ang bansa, [14:20] yung Senate tumatayo, [14:21] tumitindig para sa tama. [14:23] I mean, [14:24] during the 90s, [14:26] you know, [14:27] Tita Corrie, of course, [14:28] wanted the bases to remain, [14:29] but the Senate stood up [14:31] and voted to kick out the U.S. bases. [14:34] And yung mga speeches nila, [14:36] Senator Salonga, [14:38] and, you know, [14:38] the other centers of that time, [14:40] lumalabas ngayon, [14:41] at dudugo yung puso mo [14:43] pag nakita mo [14:44] how they stood up for the country. [14:45] Even just recently, [14:46] the Senate stood up [14:47] against the charter change. [14:49] Di ba? [14:49] I think this was [14:50] in the last Congress, [14:51] during Senator Zubiri's time. [14:53] 24 sila doon, [14:54] nanindigan para labanan yung, [14:56] ano nga tawag doon? [14:57] Yung people's initiative. [14:59] Yung people's initiative. [15:01] So, [15:01] there were times [15:02] when we stood up [15:03] for what was right [15:03] at kaya yung mangyari [15:06] kung merong pagkakaisa [15:07] to an extent. [15:08] Hindi kailangan nag-agree [15:09] sila at ng bagay. [15:10] Pero may mga basic [15:12] na pwede tayo mag-agree. [15:13] Yung pinaka-basic doon, [15:14] pumasok tayo. [15:15] Di ba? [15:16] Let's all see each other [15:17] on the floor. [15:18] Dito tayo mag-debate [15:19] tungkol sa pangailangan ng bansa, [15:21] ipasa natin yung mga reforma [15:22] na kailangan ng taong bayan. [15:23] You know, [15:24] this is a good opportunity [15:25] for you to also explain it [15:27] because if you go through [15:27] social media, [15:29] meron din na nakalagay, [15:30] eh, nauna naman yung sila, [15:31] kayo yung nag-walkout. [15:33] Iba yung walkout, ha? [15:34] Oo. [15:34] Kasi may quorum na nun, eh. [15:35] May session na nun. [15:37] Okay. [15:37] So, Karen, [15:38] yung pag-walkout... [15:38] Parang sinimulan nyo yun, eh. [15:40] Sinasabi, gano'n? [15:41] Okay. [15:42] I know. [15:42] I've seen the content. [15:43] You've seen it, right? [15:44] Pero iba yung walkout namin nun. [15:47] Bakit siya iba? [15:48] Because pumasok kami, eh. [15:49] Nasa roll call kami, eh. [15:50] No, we actually went to work [15:52] on that day [15:52] and 3 o'clock ang session. [15:55] This was already like [15:56] 6 o'clock, 7 o'clock. [15:57] So, nakatatlong oras na kaming... [15:59] Nagde-debate yun. [16:00] Nagtatrabaho, [16:01] although nag-cocuss siya [16:02] in the middle. [16:03] So, meron ng panahon [16:04] yung nagtatrabaho. [16:05] And then, it was just [16:05] on that one motion. [16:07] Di ba? [16:07] On that one motion, [16:08] doon kami nag-walkout [16:09] as a strategy [16:10] para hindi matuloy yung motion [16:12] na pwede bumoto yung mga senador [16:14] kahit wala sila sa opisina, [16:16] di ba? [16:17] O sa plenario. [16:18] At it was one motion. [16:19] Hindi yung tipong [16:20] hindi kami magpapakita at all. [16:22] Na tatlong araw pa [16:23] na violation pa [16:24] of the Constitution. [16:25] So, ibang-ibang-iba yun. [16:26] Ibang-iba yun, kanin. [16:27] It's not the same. [16:28] Okay. [16:29] Now, the impeachment trial, [16:32] will you then choose [16:36] a presiding officer [16:37] who is a lawyer? [16:39] I'll leave that [16:40] to Senator Sherwin, Karen. [16:42] Iwan ko na yan sa kanya. [16:43] But I've used... [16:44] I don't... [16:44] I will not object to it. [16:46] It's really up to him. [16:48] The impeachment [16:48] is a high-pressure situation. [16:52] And para sa amin, [16:53] of course, [16:54] the acting Senate President, [16:56] hopefully he will be [16:57] formally the Senate President [16:58] by that time, [17:00] will be Senator Sherwin. [17:01] And then we included [17:02] in the rules, [17:03] just like the Senate now, [17:04] you can choose [17:05] someone else to preside [17:06] kung may gusto kang sabihin [17:07] or kung may mga panahon [17:09] na nais mo mag-participate. [17:11] So, we included that [17:13] in the rules [17:14] and it will be up to [17:15] Senator Sherwin [17:15] if he wants to [17:16] designate a presiding officer. [17:18] Pero technically speaking, [17:19] you don't have to be a lawyer. [17:21] Right? [17:21] You don't have to be. [17:22] There's no requirement [17:23] to be presiding officer. [17:25] The only requirement [17:25] is your Senate President. [17:28] If I were to ask you [17:29] before we go to a break, [17:30] what is your biggest frustration [17:33] other than not going [17:34] and not having sessions? [17:36] What has been [17:37] your biggest frustration [17:38] other than that [17:40] in this whole exercise? [17:42] Well, Karen, [17:43] yun na yun eh. [17:43] Yun na yun. [17:44] Alam mo, [17:44] kinaya ko yung maraming [17:47] the weeks leading up [17:48] to that week [17:48] na hindi pumapasok [17:49] yung kabilang grupo. [17:52] Kinaya namin lahat yun eh. [17:54] Diba? [17:54] Ang gulo-gulo, [17:55] raming nangyayari, [17:56] may mga bangayan na, [17:57] na-accused pa kami [17:58] dun sa putuka [17:59] na may alam kami, [18:00] may mga ganyan pa yan. [18:01] Diba? [18:02] Kakayaan mo lahat yun [18:03] kasi big boys [18:05] and big girls naman kami. [18:06] We were politicians. [18:07] We've been here [18:07] for a long time. [18:09] Pero yung hindi ka papasok [18:10] ng tatlong araw, [18:12] sobra na yun. [18:13] Diba? [18:13] That's too much already. [18:14] May utang ka na [18:15] sa taong bayan yun eh [18:16] na kailangan kang pumasok. [18:18] So, for me [18:19] and for many, [18:20] I think, [18:20] I would assume [18:21] for a number [18:22] of the other senators, [18:23] pati rin yung mga [18:24] nagtatrabaho sa Senado, [18:26] yun yung talagang [18:27] mahirap talagang tanggapin [18:29] na ganun-ganun na lang. [18:31] So, [18:32] dahil yun yung rason [18:34] kung bakit [18:35] nangyayari na nga ito, [18:36] ang ibig sabihin nun, [18:37] yung kailangan naming [18:38] ibigay sa taong bayan, [18:39] yung tamang pagtatrabaho [18:40] para sa kanila. [18:41] You've worked with [18:42] Senator Alan Cayetano before. [18:45] Maybe you have [18:45] some form of friendship as well. [18:47] We are. [18:47] We are. [18:48] Okay. [18:48] We have many [18:50] common friends [18:51] who are pastors, [18:52] actually. [18:53] That's the irony [18:54] of this. [18:55] What is your, [18:56] do you have a message [18:57] for him? [18:58] Have you tried [18:58] to dialogue with him? [19:00] No, [19:00] hindi pa kami nagkikita. [19:01] And pag nagkita na kami, [19:02] I'll talk to him [19:03] as a friend [19:04] and as a colleague. [19:06] Hopefully, [19:07] pag nagkita na kami [19:08] sa special session [19:09] or during the impeachment [19:10] or during the time [19:12] that session is back in July, [19:14] doon na kami mag-uusap, [19:15] Karen. [19:16] And hindi kailangan [19:16] lahat ng pag-uusap [19:18] tinitweet [19:18] or pinifacebook, [19:21] sometimes yung pinakamagandang pag-uusap, [19:23] yung person to person talaga. [19:25] And I hope I'll have that chance [19:27] to do that at the right time. [19:28] Okay, [19:29] that is if they attend [19:30] the special session [19:31] called by the president. [19:33] The president hasn't called it yet. [19:34] Yes. [19:35] So to be accurate, [19:37] but there are many opportunities [19:39] na magkita-kita [19:41] at magsama-sama. [19:42] We're still joined [19:44] by Senator Bam Aquino. [19:45] You have over 28 million [19:47] enrollees for this year. [19:49] Yes. [19:49] And from a quarterly now, [19:51] it's a three-term system. [19:53] What are the challenges? [19:55] Maraming challenges, Karen, [19:56] doon sa three-term system. [19:57] In fact, [19:57] nag-hearing kami diyan. [19:59] Ang pakiusap [20:00] ng mga magulang [20:01] at ng mga guro [20:02] ay bigyan sila [20:03] ng konting espasyo [20:04] para mag-adjust. [20:05] But of course, [20:06] DepEd decided [20:07] to push through with it. [20:09] So we'll continue [20:09] to monitor. [20:10] What changes about three-terms? [20:10] Can you explain, [20:11] Leymana, [20:12] anong magbabago? [20:13] Well, [20:13] imbista dalawa, [20:14] tatlong na yung [20:16] grading period natin. [20:17] And this was specifically made [20:19] para mas kumonte [20:20] yung mga araw [20:21] na walang pasok. [20:24] So in every school year, [20:27] masyado tayong maraming araw [20:29] na walang pasok [20:30] because of different things. [20:31] Whether may calling off [20:33] of classes [20:34] because of flooding, [20:36] rain, [20:36] or kung anuman, [20:38] or maraming holiday, [20:40] local holiday, [20:41] national holiday. [20:43] So para malimita yun, [20:45] they did that change [20:46] into a three-term system. [20:48] They also feel [20:49] na mas magiging madali [20:50] for the teachers din. [20:51] Now, [20:52] it's a good idea, [20:55] but I was hoping, [20:56] personally, [20:57] na gagawin muna itong pilot [20:58] bago siya gawin [20:59] throughout the system. [21:01] But Deped decided [21:02] to push through with it na, [21:03] pull the trigger already, [21:05] ituloy na ito, [21:05] we will continue to monitor [21:07] kung kumusta yung [21:08] implementation ito. [21:09] I'm curious, [21:11] is it possible to remove [21:12] holidays for all [21:13] public schools, [21:15] considering, [21:15] wag kayo magalit sa akin [21:16] sa tanong ito, [21:18] considering, [21:19] marami naman within the year [21:20] talaga na hindi pumapasok [21:22] because of [21:22] natural calamities. [21:24] You get me? [21:25] Nag-offset. [21:27] Ang national holidays [21:28] na batas [21:29] ay hindi pwedeng baguhin. [21:31] Okay. [21:31] Pero may mga holiday kasi [21:33] na hindi naman talaga holiday, [21:35] pero yung klase, [21:36] called off, [21:36] kasi meron kayong [21:37] meron kayong celebration, [21:40] meron kayong, [21:42] you know, [21:43] kunyari, [21:43] may national something day, [21:46] and then half of that day, [21:47] ubus na, [21:48] you know. [21:49] So they want to limit [21:49] all of these, [21:50] nawawala yung days of instruction, [21:52] they want to limit that. [21:53] At yung pangunahing solusyon [21:55] ng DEPED [21:56] was to convert [21:57] to this [21:58] three-term system. [22:00] Okay. [22:00] Alright. [22:00] Now let's talk about [22:02] gensang, [22:03] you know, [22:03] the earthquake. [22:04] You know, [22:05] you have so many schools [22:06] that have been affected. [22:07] Okay. [22:07] What's the latest, Senator? [22:08] In fact, [22:09] lumalabas, Karen, [22:10] na 3.2 million learners [22:12] were affected. [22:14] This ranges from [22:15] Zambuanga Peninsula, [22:17] Northern Mindanao, [22:18] Davao Region, [22:19] Soxargen, [22:20] Paticaraga. [22:21] Over a thousand classrooms [22:23] were damaged [22:24] during the earthquake yesterday. [22:26] That much? [22:27] Yes. [22:27] Isang libong classroom po yan [22:29] ang nasira [22:30] dahil po sa earthquake. [22:31] Nakita naman natin, [22:32] mga malalaking gusali, [22:34] nahulog. [22:35] There was even [22:35] one video talagang [22:38] ang samaan [22:39] ng pakiramdam ko, [22:39] yung in the public school mismo, [22:41] sa isang K-12, [22:44] at umiiyak yung mga bata. [22:45] Buti na lang, [22:46] nandun na sila, [22:47] sa labas sila. [22:47] But as they were outside, [22:50] makikita mo yung isang [22:51] parang covered court yata yun, [22:53] or isang structure [22:54] na gumuho. [22:55] Buti na lang, [22:56] walang casualty doon. [22:57] But you can imagine [22:58] the trauma na [22:59] pagdadaanan [23:00] ng mga bata. [23:01] So, [23:01] ang raming kailangan [23:02] gawin, Karen. [23:03] A thousand classrooms [23:04] ang nasira. [23:05] Of course, [23:05] 37 ang casualty count [23:07] natin ngayon [23:08] during this earthquake. [23:11] Government needs to [23:12] come in, [23:13] act fast. [23:14] Yung pagbibigay ng pondo [23:16] para ma-repair yung mga [23:17] classroom, [23:18] o para gumawa ng mga [23:19] bagong classroom, [23:20] kailangan mabilis. [23:22] And one of the priorities [23:24] of our committee [23:24] is also to check [23:26] yung nakalaan na [23:27] 67 billion pesos [23:28] for 25,000 or so [23:31] classrooms. [23:32] Kumusta na ito? [23:33] Kasi June na. [23:34] It's already half of the year. [23:36] At marami sa mga [23:37] classrooms na ito, [23:39] hindi pa rin siya [23:39] nasisimulan. [23:40] Who is building [23:42] the classrooms? [23:42] What is the target? [23:44] The target for the year [23:46] is to start [23:46] 25,000 to 30,000 [23:48] classrooms. [23:49] So pag nag-hearing na po kami [23:50] come July, [23:52] we hope na malaman natin [23:53] nasa na ba tayo [23:54] dito sa schedule natin. [23:56] May mga classrooms [23:57] dyan na [23:58] naibigay sa mga [24:00] governors [24:00] para gawin, [24:01] sa mga city mayors, [24:02] meron din sa DPWH [24:04] na isa natin makita [24:05] kung ano ba yung [24:06] schedule ng pagbubuo [24:07] ng classroom [24:08] at maaabot ba [24:09] natin yung ating [24:10] target na 26,000 [24:12] classrooms started [24:13] in 2026. [24:14] So if I were to ask you [24:15] because education's been [24:16] your advocacy [24:17] for many years [24:18] in all the years [24:19] you've been in the Senate, [24:20] education has the [24:21] highest budget. [24:23] Yes. [24:23] 1.34 trillion pesos, [24:25] Karen. [24:25] So what is our problem? [24:27] Where, [24:28] where, [24:29] what is it? [24:30] Where's the gaps? [24:31] The loophole? [24:32] Where's the... [24:32] Napakarami. [24:33] Ano ba? [24:34] May pera naman? [24:35] Yung pera, [24:36] kulang pa rin yan, Karen. [24:37] Kulang pa rin. [24:37] Kulang pa rin yan. [24:38] The spending that we need to do, [24:40] itong 67 billion, [24:42] biggest na yan in our history [24:43] for classrooms, [24:44] but we have to spend [24:45] at that level [24:46] for 8 to 10 years [24:48] para lang mapunuan [24:49] lahat ng classroom [24:50] na kulang sa Pilipinas. [24:51] Yung teachers natin, [24:52] kailangan ng support. [24:53] Many of them feel [24:54] underpaid and overworked. [24:57] Yung internet [24:57] na napakahalaga na [24:58] for our learning environment, [24:59] kailangan dyan. [25:00] Yung textbooks. [25:01] And most importantly, [25:04] ito talaga, [25:04] most importantly, [25:05] kailangan mapasa na [25:06] yung amendments [25:07] to the National [25:08] Feeding Program Law. [25:09] So, I was supposed [25:11] to sponsor this [25:12] nung May 11. [25:13] Nakuha ko na yung signatures [25:14] na kasama ko. [25:16] Maraming pumirma, [25:17] pero hindi ko ito na-sponsor [25:18] dahil nagkaroon [25:19] ng leadership change. [25:20] Pagbalik na pagbalik [25:21] sa session, [25:22] we will sponsor this, [25:23] we will push for this. [25:25] Ito yung nag-amend [25:26] sa ating [25:27] National Feeding Program Law [25:29] para ngayon, [25:30] lahat na ng [25:31] kinder to grade 3 [25:32] meron ng pagkain. [25:34] Currently, Karen, [25:34] kasi yung lumang batas, [25:36] yung malnourished [25:37] tsaka stunted lang [25:38] at undernourished [25:39] yung bibigyan ng pagkain. [25:40] After this law is passed [25:42] and we have full support [25:43] from DepEd [25:44] and from my [25:45] congressional counterparts [25:46] kina Congressman [25:47] Roman Romulo, [25:48] pag napasa na ito, [25:50] lahat ng kinder [25:51] to grade 3 [25:51] sa mga public school [25:52] mabibigyan na [25:53] ng masustansyong pagkain. [25:54] And how many are they? [25:55] How many would they be? [25:56] Because 28 million [25:57] is the total enrollees. [25:59] Yeah, that's about [26:00] 4 or 5 million. [26:01] Marami yan. [26:02] Maraming maraming [26:03] kabataan yan [26:04] na target natin dito. [26:06] Malaking pondo [26:07] yung ilalaan dito. [26:09] And we took [26:10] about 7 months [26:11] to study [26:12] how to do this properly. [26:13] Kasi hindi sapat [26:14] na bigyan mo ng pera [26:15] yung DepEd eh. [26:16] I wanted to ask you that. [26:17] So where does [26:18] the problem lie? [26:19] So eto na yung pera. [26:21] Andiyan na yung pera. [26:22] O gawin nyo yung classroom. [26:23] Eto yung feeding program. [26:25] Where is the problem [26:26] in between? [26:27] Okay. [26:27] So maraming modalities [26:28] na pwede dyan, Karen. [26:29] Unang-una, [26:30] ang pinakasimple [26:31] yung mga [26:32] pre-packaged [26:33] nutritious goods. [26:35] Mga cookies, [26:36] mga nutriban, [26:37] kung ano, [26:38] ganyan. [26:39] At unfortunately, [26:40] yung mga bata [26:41] nagsasawa rin sila dyan. [26:42] Yeah, yeah, yeah. [26:43] Ang pinaka gold standard natin, [26:45] hot meals. [26:46] Agree. [26:47] Okay. [26:47] Hot meals for our children. [26:49] Ang better pa dyan, [26:50] kung yung hot meals, [26:51] nabibili natin yung mga gulay [26:52] at yung mga karne at baboy [26:54] dun mismo sa mga local farmers. [26:55] Ito naman, [26:56] adbukasya yan ni Senator Kiko. [26:58] So there are different modalities [27:00] that we need to allow. [27:01] Kailangan natin bigyan [27:02] ng konting espasyo [27:03] yung mga local government unit, [27:05] yung private sector, [27:07] at yung dependent mismo [27:08] na per area, [27:10] baka iba-iba yung ating paraan. [27:13] Because there are some [27:14] local government units. [27:15] But is the money released as fast? [27:16] No, it's not. [27:17] So isa pa yan. [27:18] So marami tayong [27:19] local government units. [27:20] They're award winning [27:21] because of their nutrition program. [27:23] So yung mga yun, [27:25] bigay mo nila yung pondo sa kanila, [27:27] sila na mag-implement. [27:28] Yung iba naman, [27:29] na medyo hirap talaga, [27:30] maybe we can have like, [27:33] and this is in the cities, [27:34] yung prepackaged food. [27:35] Diba? [27:35] Kasi siguro mahirap yung fresh food. [27:38] So maraming iba't ibang [27:40] klaseng modality, [27:41] we have the best practices [27:42] over the last so many years, [27:44] at nabuo na yung batas na yan. [27:45] Once that's passed, [27:47] and it's funded for 2027, [27:49] there's already an increase for 2026, [27:51] but once it's funded [27:51] even more for 2027, [27:54] yung isang malaking problema [27:55] sa ating public schools [27:56] na pumapasok yung mga bata [27:58] na gutom. [27:59] Hindi sila makapagbasa, [28:00] hindi sila makapag-aral, [28:01] hindi sila nahihirapan silang matuto [28:03] dahil nagugutom sila. [28:04] This can be addressed. [28:05] Now, yung isa pang magagawa [28:07] nung batas ka rin, [28:08] yung mga gaps mapupunuan. [28:10] Ano yung gap? [28:11] Meron ka kasing tulong [28:12] sa mga pregnant mothers. [28:14] No? [28:15] First 1,000 days. [28:17] So ibig sabihin, [28:17] hanggang 3 years old yan. [28:19] Eh yung pumapasok sa skwelahan, [28:21] 5 years old, [28:22] tsaka 6 years old eh. [28:23] So meron kang 2 years na [28:24] walang pagkain yung mga bata. [28:26] So the law also fills in those gaps [28:29] para habang yung mga nanay, [28:31] buntis pa lang, [28:32] may suporta na. [28:33] Habang baby, [28:34] may suporta na. [28:34] Habang tumatanda, [28:35] may suporta na. [28:36] Tapos pagpasok sa skwelahan, [28:38] meron pang school feeding program. [28:39] So we're looking at a major shift [28:41] towards nutrition, [28:43] towards helping our children [28:45] to become healthier [28:46] para mas makapag-aral, [28:48] mas matuto, [28:49] at yung mga grades [28:50] na laging pinag-uusapan, [28:51] kulang ng literacy, [28:52] kulang ng ganito, [28:53] maa-adress yan [28:54] kung may laman ng tiyan [28:55] yung mga bata. [28:56] So this is a major reform. [28:58] And this is one of the main priorities, [29:01] pagbalik na pagbalik. [29:02] I was hoping... [29:03] Can't you make children [29:04] in the Philippines? [29:05] Honestly, I don't think it's funny. [29:07] But we don't eat enough eggs. [29:10] I mean, I know it may sound funny now, [29:12] but right? [29:13] The truth is, [29:14] eggs are everything. [29:16] Protein helps your intelligence. [29:17] Hindi ako magpapanggap na Doktor Carrera. [29:20] But why not? [29:20] So ano yan? [29:21] May nagsuggest ng eggs, [29:22] may nagsuggest ng malunggay, [29:24] may nagsuggest ng gatas ng... [29:26] Kalabaw. [29:27] Hindi, kalabaw. [29:28] Ng kambing. [29:30] Okay, maraming sinasuggest. [29:32] May mga doktor tayo [29:33] at scientist na pwede magbuo niyan. [29:35] You have the National Nutrition Council for that. [29:38] Ako lang. [29:39] Nandiyan dapat yung framework, [29:40] nandiyan yung pondo, [29:41] nandiyan yung paraan. [29:42] And then we allow [29:43] all of these local governments [29:45] and the local schools [29:46] to determine [29:47] ano yung best solution for them. [29:48] As long as the support is there, [29:50] mangyayari... [29:50] Kayang mangyari yan, Karen. [29:52] And this is a big shift [29:54] from so many years. [29:55] Nung first term ko pa lang [29:56] pinag-uusapan na ito eh. [29:57] Paano natin ito papakainin? [29:58] And now, [29:59] ako, [30:00] sa tingin ko, [30:00] we have the budget [30:01] and we need the political will [30:03] to get it done [30:03] na yung mga bata [30:04] may pagkain sila. [30:05] Okay, alright. [30:06] Other than the feeding program, [30:08] of course, [30:08] watching the budget for education, [30:10] is there another advocacy [30:12] that you want to see through? [30:14] Okay, marami to, Karen. [30:16] Okay. [30:16] Unang-una, [30:17] we have two bills in Congress [30:18] na hinihintay na lang namin. [30:21] Pasado na ito sa Senado, [30:22] hinihintay namin sa Kongreso [30:24] na may pasa naman nila. [30:25] This is the cap and cadena. [30:27] Yung cap is the [30:28] Classroom Acceleration Program [30:30] na siyang tutulong [30:32] na ma-accelerate [30:33] yung paggawa [30:35] ng mas maraming classroom. [30:36] The basic idea there... [30:37] So may budget na yun [30:38] pero wala pa yung [30:39] acceleration program? [30:40] Wala pa. [30:40] So, yung laman ng [30:42] acceleration program, [30:43] nandun naman siya [30:43] sa special provisions ng GAA. [30:45] But that's good for only this year. [30:47] I see. [30:47] Pag napasa na yung batas, [30:48] ibig sabihin, [30:50] looking forward, [30:51] may mga paraan na tayo [30:52] na nakabuilt in [30:53] na mas mabilis [30:54] yung paggawa ng classroom. [30:55] Okay. [30:55] And basically, [30:56] we are asking [30:57] the LGUs [30:58] to build [30:59] side by side [31:00] with the national government. [31:01] Sabay-sabay tayong gagawa. [31:03] Kung sabay-sabay tayong gagawa, [31:05] mapupunuan natin [31:05] yung gap na ito. [31:07] Kung isang ahensya lang [31:07] yung gumagawa, [31:09] iabot talaga tayo [31:09] ng 30 to 40 years. [31:10] We need to activate. [31:12] Ano pa yung isang maganda dito [31:13] sa Classroom Acceleration Program, [31:14] kapag maraming nagbibuild [31:16] in many areas, [31:18] yung ekonomiya natin [31:19] gumagana. [31:20] Yung construction workers [31:21] may trabaho. [31:22] So, [31:23] it will also help, [31:24] ang bilang namin, [31:25] it will help create [31:26] 100,000 jobs [31:27] if that budget [31:29] is distributed [31:30] across different areas [31:31] and we allow the LGUs [31:33] to build [31:34] alongside the national agency. [31:36] Yung isa pa, [31:36] na hinihintay namin yung kadena, [31:38] blockchain the budget. [31:39] But wasn't this a priority? [31:41] It is, but... [31:42] But I thought... [31:44] Kaya gusto natin [31:44] mag-hearing ka rin, [31:45] malaman nasaan na [31:47] ang prosesong ito [31:48] at makita natin [31:50] yung estimate [31:51] ng paggamit ng pondo. [31:52] Kailan ba ito magagamit? [31:53] Kailan ito madadownload? [31:55] Kailan tayo magagroundbreaking? [31:56] Ang goal natin [31:57] is 26,000 classrooms this year. [32:00] But ideally, [32:00] before the SONA, [32:02] that should already be, [32:03] that should have passed. [32:05] Ideally, [32:05] so that it's part of the SONA. [32:07] It's also LEDAC. [32:08] It's also part of the priority. [32:09] So, bakit nakabin-bin ito? [32:11] Yung pangalawa... [32:12] It's not a good sign. [32:13] Yung pangunahing tugon [32:15] sa mga problema [32:17] sa flood control, [32:18] yung blockchain the budget. [32:19] Diba? [32:19] You had the enforcement side, [32:21] which the Ombudsman is doing. [32:22] Pero pag-ating sa legislation, [32:24] yung blockchain the budget [32:25] and transparency push, [32:27] yun yung pangunahing [32:28] panglaban natin [32:29] sa korupsyon. [32:30] Hindi pa rin pasado sa Kongreso. [32:31] O, [32:32] ang tagal na yung pasado na yan [32:33] sa Senado. [32:33] Bakit wala pa rin sa Kongreso? [32:34] Kaya, [32:35] we're hoping, no, [32:36] our partners in Congress [32:37] can speed this up. [32:39] Hindi na siya aabot sa SONA, [32:40] Karen. [32:41] It'll have to happen [32:42] after the SONA. [32:42] Bakit na makasin nga, [32:43] kung ano-ano inatupag [32:44] sa Kongres? [32:45] Kami yung maraming, [32:46] kung ano-ano inatupag. [32:47] They had a lot of time [32:48] noong May and June [32:50] to get that passed. [32:51] So, we're hoping [32:52] it will also pass. [32:53] Dalawa lang yan. [32:54] Ano pa yung mga [32:55] in the works? [32:56] Okay, you have a minute to go. [32:57] School to Employment Program, [32:58] na siyang baka pwedeng tumugon [33:00] sa mga problema [33:01] sa K-12. [33:01] Pero wala pa noon ngayon. [33:03] Hindi pa siya [33:04] across all of the schools. [33:07] Yung School Safety Act [33:08] na pwedeng tumugon [33:09] sa bullying, [33:10] I know this is also [33:10] an issue close to your heart. [33:13] Nag-hearing na kami dyan [33:14] and maraming suggestions [33:15] on increasing the security, [33:17] creating the councils [33:19] para matigil yung bullying, [33:20] both preventive [33:21] and yung to address [33:23] or enforcement side. [33:25] Napakarami pang kailangan [33:26] gawin, Karen. [33:27] And ako naman, [33:28] ang balak lang natin, [33:30] when we get back to session, [33:31] bumalik tayo sa isang Senado [33:33] na talagang ginagawa [33:34] yung mga reformang [33:35] kailangan ng tao. [33:36] Alright. [33:36] Keywords when we get back to session. [33:39] Thank you. [33:40] Senator Bamaquino, [33:41] thank you so much for that. [33:43] Thank you for joining me live.