ATOM President: Nakakakilabot ang nangyayari sa Senado under Cayetano leadership — ANC

[0:00] Senator Cayetano said he is or he was a unifier. [0:06] He said he was able to unify the left, the yellows, the pinks, [0:10] and the former activists who are now all united on the side of Malacanang. [0:15] Have you seen any unification whatsoever in the past days? [0:19] There is no... Well, I don't think... [0:22] You know how it is with Senator Cayetano, [0:25] especially in the last few weeks or so. [0:28] Ever since he took over the Senate, it has been chaotic. [0:33] I have never seen the Senate as chaotic as it is right now, [0:37] that its legacy is really suffering. [0:40] And we should not believe everything that comes out from his mouth right now [0:46] because it was under his jurisdiction when a senator was supposed to be arrested [0:52] because of a warrant of arrest. [0:54] They allowed it to escape. [0:56] He was able to escape under his jurisdiction [1:00] in spite of the fact that he should have made sure that that should not have happened anyway. [1:11] And I pity the legacy of his father right now [1:14] because you know how his father was. [1:16] In fairness to Senator Rene Cayetano, [1:20] he respected the institution. [1:22] And the Senate right now is a ghost of its previous image right now. [1:27] The legacy has been really tarnished. [1:30] In a statement yesterday, [1:31] Senator Cayetano said his message last June 12 [1:35] was actually meant to honor heroes, their families, and their sacrifices. [1:40] And he only wanted the truth. [1:43] He also said, [1:44] Gising, may laban pa tayo kahit nasa kanila ang lahat ng kapangyarihan at kayamanan sa mundo. [1:50] Laban lang. [1:51] What is your reaction to that, Sir Vald? [1:54] Everything that he has been doing lately, [1:57] especially those regular video lives on Facebook, [2:04] they are all propaganda for me. [2:08] That's what I see. [2:09] The fact that there was already a move by his colleagues [2:14] to really reorganize the Senate, [2:17] and he has not been recognizing it, [2:20] even if there was already a precedent. [2:22] I'm referring to the move to install [2:26] some acting Senate President, Wynne Garchalian. [2:31] In the previous history of the Senate, [2:36] this has never happened. [2:37] When someone will really not honor something like this, [2:41] that's why, like I said, [2:43] it has become a mess under his leadership. [2:45] And I've read in some of our news articles lately, [2:50] in our media, [2:51] that there was a precedent for Senator Alan Peter [2:55] to be behaving like this. [2:58] Because in Congress, [2:59] somewhat there was a similar event [3:01] where he sort of was behaving [3:05] almost the same as how he is behaving now. [3:08] I just don't know the entire context, [3:12] but it looks like he has a history of doing such things. [3:16] You're referring to the term-sharing agreement [3:18] with Representative Lord Alan Velasco. [3:21] Yeah, he did not, you know, [3:23] he doesn't really recognize immediately [3:28] whatever the, you know, [3:31] what should, you know, [3:33] he should be respecting. [3:35] In other words, [3:35] he should be respecting [3:36] what his colleagues did in the Senate [3:40] so that they can go back to work. [3:42] A lot of work has to be done. [3:44] We are still in a crisis. [3:46] If you will crisis it, [3:47] our people are still suffering. [3:48] But Senator Cayetano and his group, [3:51] Senators Pia Cayetano, [3:52] Senator Lauren Lagarda, [3:54] are arguing that the Gachalian bloc [3:56] violated the rules [3:58] when they declared all seats vacant, [4:01] even that of the Senate President [4:02] and Senate President pro tempore, [4:04] because you need 13 votes or 13 members. [4:08] They only have 12. [4:10] As a civilian, as a Filipino, [4:11] what's your take on all of this? [4:13] But there was a precedent. [4:15] Remember, it came out of social media, [4:17] even in our media outlets [4:18] during the time of Senator Frank Drillon. [4:24] It's the, what they did, [4:26] I understand, [4:27] it's not as if it was unprecedented. [4:29] There was a precedent. [4:30] And all that they have been doing right now, [4:33] perhaps, [4:33] I don't want to call them blocked [4:34] because I don't want to add to the division [4:38] that is now happening in the Senate [4:39] because they are supposed to be one body [4:41] working for the welfare of the people. [4:43] But it's all about politics. [4:46] That's what I see right now. [4:47] It's all about propaganda, [4:48] trying to win the people, [4:50] trying to get their sympathy to their causes, [4:53] you know, [4:53] and impure causes, [4:56] shall we say. [4:57] And you have also called for the resignation [4:59] of Senator Cayetano, [5:01] Alan Peter Cayetano. [5:02] Kailangan po bang umabot sa resignation? [5:04] Only because, [5:06] like I said, [5:08] I have, [5:08] this is, [5:09] I have never seen the Senate [5:10] in such state right, [5:12] poor state right now. [5:15] Especially during the post-edsa, [5:16] we have never seen something like this. [5:19] Even during the impeachment [5:20] of the President Joseph Estrada, [5:23] you know, [5:23] there were a few, [5:24] of course, [5:25] historical events that happened there, [5:27] the walkout of the prosecutors [5:29] and everything. [5:29] But it has never come to a point [5:31] where the senators themselves [5:33] are not anymore [5:34] giving due respect [5:37] to their own institution. [5:40] I think not, [5:41] hindi lang po ako nag-iisa [5:42] sa paniwala na ito. [5:45] And this is what our observations are. [5:47] And it shouldn't continue. [5:49] It shouldn't continue. [5:50] Why? [5:50] Because this has reached [5:53] the international community. [5:54] It has been a source of [5:56] really nakakahiyana po tayo [6:01] ang bayan natin. [6:02] to see the Senate [6:03] of the Republic of the Philippines [6:05] in such state. [6:06] But former Senate President Alan Cayetano [6:08] has also argued that [6:10] he hasn't been given the chance [6:12] to prove himself. [6:14] Fresh start na raw agad [6:15] yung hinihingi. [6:16] Hindi pa siya nagsisimula [6:18] sa kanyang termino. [6:19] Would that be... [6:21] Is it unfair for Cayetano? [6:23] For people to call [6:24] for a fresh start already [6:25] even if he is just beginning? [6:28] It was... [6:29] I don't think it's unfair. [6:30] In the first place, [6:35] during his first day [6:36] as Senate President, [6:38] there was already chaos there [6:39] with Senator Bató [6:40] being chased [6:42] on the stairs [6:43] of the Senate building. [6:45] That in itself is, [6:46] you know, [6:47] wow, [6:48] really, [6:49] inside the Senate [6:50] and then [6:51] a couple of days [6:53] or a day later, [6:55] there is suddenly [6:56] that [6:56] unnecessary gun [6:59] gun, [7:00] you know, [7:01] barilan ka agad [7:02] under his jurisdiction [7:07] or under his term [7:08] as a president. [7:09] And that was the first time [7:10] you've seen something like that. [7:12] It's so, [7:13] ano, [7:13] nakakaano yun, [7:14] nakaka... [7:15] nakakilabot yun nangyari. [7:17] I'm sorry, [7:18] I palagay ko yung Tagalog word [7:20] is much more appropriate [7:22] to really [7:22] send what I'm feeling right [7:25] and what a lot of Filipinos [7:26] are feeling right now. [7:28] Nakakakilabot yun nangyayari [7:29] sa Senado. [7:30] And I'd also like to [7:32] get your comment [7:33] on the statement [7:34] of Sen. Cayetano [7:36] saying na [7:37] hindi naman exclusive [7:40] yung paggamit [7:41] ng laban sign [7:42] to a certain group. [7:43] Anyone can use it. [7:45] Definitely. [7:46] I would agree with him. [7:47] I would agree with him. [7:48] Most, [7:49] especially that, [7:50] you know, [7:51] it's been 10 years [7:52] since this was [7:53] the laban sign, [7:55] Ninoy Aquino. [7:56] Their camp [7:57] were actually [7:58] the ones [7:59] who actually [7:59] lumped [8:01] all those symbols [8:02] into one corner [8:03] when in fact [8:04] we believe [8:05] that it belongs [8:06] to all Filipinos. [8:08] Well, [8:08] regardless of [8:09] your political leanings [8:10] right now, [8:11] but, [8:12] I'm saying but, [8:14] you can't just use it [8:15] just to push [8:16] your own political [8:17] selfish [8:19] goals, [8:21] you know, [8:21] for your camp [8:23] or for your patrons, [8:24] political patrons. [8:26] Like I said earlier, [8:27] to see them [8:29] and re-embracing [8:31] the symbol [8:31] that they have [8:32] tried to bury [8:33] to the ground [8:33] and to destroy [8:34] for 10 years, [8:36] that alone [8:37] is a sign [8:38] or that alone [8:39] should actually [8:40] be realized. [8:42] But a lot of people [8:42] that I don't think [8:44] these people [8:44] are really sincere [8:45] in using this. [8:47] So do you have [8:48] a message [8:48] for Senator Cayetano? [8:50] I just hope [8:54] that he remembers [8:55] his father, [8:56] how much his father [8:57] respected the institution. [8:59] And I pity [9:00] the legacy [9:01] of his father [9:02] so much. [9:04] But if you can't [9:06] really do [9:06] something like that [9:07] and, [9:08] you know, [9:08] think more [9:09] of the welfare [9:10] of the Filipino people, [9:11] especially with [9:12] the current [9:13] ongoing crisis [9:14] that our country [9:15] is having, [9:16] it's best for you [9:17] to just, [9:18] you know, [9:19] just resign [9:19] from your post [9:20] as a senator [9:21] because [9:21] we Filipinos [9:24] do not deserve [9:24] someone like you [9:26] in the Senate. [9:27] Senator Joel Villanueva [9:28] recently, [9:29] or was it yesterday, [9:30] said that he will [9:31] be joining [9:32] if a special session [9:34] will be called. [9:35] What's your take [9:36] on this? [9:37] Do you think [9:37] this will be the answer [9:38] to the impasse [9:39] in the Senate? [9:41] Well, I hope so. [9:42] I hope so. [9:43] You know, [9:43] you know how it is [9:44] in our politics lately, [9:46] even in the Senate [9:47] or Congress, [9:48] until it really happens, [9:49] you can't take [9:50] their words for it. [9:52] You know, [9:52] but I really hope so. [9:53] I'm keeping our fingers crossed [9:54] and I hope that [9:55] our people [9:57] will continue [9:58] to really speak out, [9:59] to call out our senators [10:00] if they are really [10:01] not doing their job well. [10:03] At ako na po ang babawi. [10:06] Laban lang po tayo [10:07] mga kababayan [10:09] at huwag po tayong susuko [10:11] na ipaglaban [10:13] ating democratic values [10:14] and help the senators [10:16] to really redirect [10:18] their priorities [10:19] to the priorities [10:20] of our country. [10:21] And finally, [10:22] amidst all of the issues [10:25] at the Senate, [10:25] there is also [10:26] the pending [10:27] or impending [10:28] impeachment process, [10:30] impeachment trial [10:30] against the vice president. [10:32] What's your hope? [10:33] What does Atom hope to see? [10:35] Or what are your expectations [10:36] regarding this? [10:37] We hope that it really [10:39] proceeds forthwith [10:40] this time around. [10:41] We all know that [10:42] last year it did not. [10:44] And I believe, [10:45] we believe in the organization, [10:46] all of these side quests, [10:48] we call it side quests, [10:49] for gamers. [10:51] These are all being done [10:53] as a diversionary [10:54] from the main issue [10:55] which is the impeachment trial. [10:58] I think they're trying [10:59] to divert [10:59] all our attention [11:00] from that. [11:02] All right. [11:03] Thank you so much, [11:04] Atom President [11:04] Walt Bohol [11:05] for joining us this morning. [11:06] Thank you very much. [11:07] Good morning. [11:08] Good morning. [11:08] Thank you very much.