PART 5 (LAST PART), PRESS BRIEFING OF SEC. LACIERDA, JULY 2, 2014 BENJIE/DZBB: Whether 175 billion or a certain amount from that money, wala pa ring mananagot dahil nga lumabas na unconstitutional. SEC. LACIERDA: Let’s wait for a decision of the Supreme Court. The question is, does it speak of liability? We don’t know that because we don’t have a copy of the decision, Benjie. That handicaps us from answering fully the issues on liability that you are—your question. Resource persons can speculate; members of the legal community can speculate as to liability, but until such time that the Supreme Court issues the full resolution, we won’t be able to know exactly was there any discussion on liability or not. What we have, a discussion based on the dispositive portion is the unconstitutionality of certain acts on the DAP. NIKKO DIZON: Sir, a lawyer whom I looked up just texted and said that actually oo nga, when you say unconstitutional, it is not necessarily illegal, and it is for other courts to decide whether someone is liable for this, or ganoon sir iyong tema exactly ng mga tanong namin kanina. Given that sir, at the very least, wala man lang ba ngang parang—is this a learning experience for the administration or, at least, the legal team na, as you said sir, EO 1, nasabi na unconstitutional, RH—well, and then DAP. SEC. LACIERDA: Well, for instance in the Truth Commission, it’s like the court telling us “don’t do it again,” so we did not form another Truth Commission. In the DAP, for instance, again, it’s hard for us to say, “Are we going to file a motion for reconsideration?” We’ll take a look first, and maybe, you will determine our actions in the next few weeks as soon as we received the copy of the decision. NICO DIZON: Yes sir. Given that the President has defended DAP so vigorously, is he taking this personally, the decision of the Supreme Court? SEC. LACIERDA: The President hasn’t seen the entire decision yet eh, so… well, let’s wait for the entire decision. REYMUND/BOMBO RADYO: Same question with my katokayo sir. Taking off from your argument, iyong sinasabi nga you did that all in good faith, with integrity and faithfulness. Ang nagdidiin kay Gloria Arroyo now is her marginal note doon sa PCSO fund alleged misuse para sa OFW na mabibitay; also, her call to a certain Comelec official on election sabotage case; also, iyong pirma naman ng mga senators now in jail dahil for various scams. Taking off from your argument sir, would it be fair to say na kung sila ay nagsabi rin na they did just in good faith, so palayain na natin sila? SEC. LACIERDA: You know, there are some cases where practices have been going on that are later challenged and deemed as unconstitutional. In cases where, for instance, when the court says—and this is from a jurisprudence— in cases where the court says it is in good faith, it tells the people don’t do it again. But again… but it does not necessarily mean someone committed a crime. REYMUND/BOMBO RADYO: At hindi naman po kayo lang iyong may karapatan na magsabi na… kahit na, “We did it in good faith,” okay na. I mean, the point is hindi lang naman kayo iyong may karapatan at hindi kayo iyong parang mayroon lang kapangyarihan na gawin isang bagay na sa tingin namin na medyo mali na ay tama pa rin. SEC. LACIERDA: Iyon po ay magiging—hintayin na lang natin iyong decision ng Supreme Court. Kung mayroong ganoong klaseng—they discussed that also. CHARMAINE DEOGRACIAS/NHK: Yeah, after the cross border disbursement, cross border relations naman tayo sir. Sir, on the Japanese Cabinet’s approval of the change, the amendment of the interpretation of the law of Japan adopting a collective self defense, we’d like to get the Palace’s reaction or statement on this. SEC. LACIERDA: In the meeting of the President with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, he supports the idea of Japan revisiting their constitution for the simple reason that if it can help Japan meets its treaty obligations or international obligations, then the better for it. In fact, there was a discussion on, for instance, if Japan was part of a convoy, and an ally was attacked in that convoy, under their present constitution, they are not allowed to assist or help that party that was attacked. In the case also of the peacekeeping troops, Japan used to have peacekeepers also. The same constitutional interpretation would have prevented Japanese peacekeepers to help another country’s peacekeepers if those peacekeepers were attacked. So the basis for our support is enable Japan to meet its international obligations. And for that particular reason, we certainly support the idea of Japan revisiting their constitution. CHARMAINE/NHK: Sir, what role does the Philippines expect Japan will play now in regional security, given the tensions in the South China Sea which Japan also has stakes in? SEC. LACIERDA: I think everyone who has a stake in regional stability would certainly support any action that would move towards promoting peace in the region. Clearly, our belief is that Japan will, by revisiting its constitution, enable it to meet its international obligations; that is to, in the case of South China Sea, to promote and to ensure peace and stability in the region. CHARMAINE/NHK: Sir, the Philippines has strategic partnerships with only two countries, Japan and the United States. From the Philippine perspective, what is the impact of this to the security partnership that we have with Japan? Can we now readily call on Japan to aid us? SEC. LACIERDA: I think we’re looking into that arrangement. We don’t have yet one because primarily of the limitations in the Japanese Constitution. There have been discussions, but for instance, Japan will be assisting us in the acquisition of patrol vessels. So, you will see assistance coming from Japan as well, and these are at the level of being discussed with. And so far as the patrol vessels, we are looking into it right now. CHARMAINE/NHK: Sir, when the President had a meeting with Prime Minister Abe recently, did the Philippines or did the President ask Japan’s help in the context of collective self defense, should there be an untoward, or when the situation at the South China Sea go out of hand? SEC. LACIERDA: There was no discussion to that effect. There were only a discussion on, for instance, how the Philippines approach the situation in the South China Sea. He mentioned the 3-tiered approach of the Philippines: the immediate, intermediate and the final approaches. By the way, those are in Official Gazette. It spells out how the Philippines should—our resorting to international mechanisms. At the same time, Japan also mentioned the importance of the rule of law. So both countries agree on the primacy of the rule of law in promoting peace and stability in the South China Sea. CHARMAINE/NHK: Sir, this change will enable Japan to extend military assistance to allies, given that we have a strategic partnership with them. Is the Philippines tapping Japan on a certain military aid, for example? SEC. LACIERDA: Right now, Japan’s Cabinet is still discussing, I think on the—I think they’ve approved very recently, but we don’t have the specific details yet, so I cannot speak for Japan, in that case. IVY/SOLAR NEWS: Sir on another issue. Has Malacanang replied to the letter of San Miguel to reverse disqualification from bidding on CALAX? SEC. LACIERDA: We have no update yet. We’ll let you know. RG/ABS-CBN: Sir, I understand that there was a protest of the employees of the People’s Television Network. Apparently, among their grievances are there’s no salary increase for the last 8 years, and the remittance of their contributions to the GSIS have not been done regularly, and retirees are also not getting their incentive package. They’re asking for the President’s help. What is your response to them? SEC. LACIERDA: May I defer to Secretary Coloma? I think he was interviewed this morning. I don’t have the transcript, but I can give you the answers. Again, but Secretary Coloma asks for understanding. They are currently addressing the situation. NATASHA GUTIERREZ/RAPPLER: Hi sir, on other issue. The President last week said he was hoping to meet with MILF Chief Murad this week, or, at least, you know, with their side. And he also said that he was gonna use all of Sunday to read the BBL draft. Can we get a feedback? SEC. LACIERDA: The meeting has not taken place yet. But yes, he did go through the draft BBL. NATASHA/RAPPLER: Any comments? SEC. LACIERDA: There were some discussions with OPAPP, but I don’t have the details on the discussions with OPAPP. NATASHA/RAPPLER: So it hasn’t happened, but is there a meeting scheduled for this week? SEC. LACIERDA: I have not been informed yet, but as soon as there is, we will let you know. BENJIE/DZBB: Sir, on the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, there were I think about 150 employees, hindi raw po na-renew iyong kanilang contract. Is Malacanang aware of this? Kasi sir, they are concentrated more on relief operations and also operations dahil nga, because of what we call… iyong magiging problema natin dahil may bagyo or anything. SEC. LACIERDA: Can we get back to you on that? I will ask Executive Director Alex Pama on that point. We don’t have the details yet. TERESA/GMA7: Sir sorry, on a different topic. Can you brief us about iyong bottom up budgeting? Kasi I think there was an article saying na it’s a new scheme na parang papalit na doon sa PDAF. There are concerns na baka magaya din daw ito na kwestiyunin ng mga anti-pork crusaders. SEC. LACIERDA: It’s not a new scheme. There were a number of columns that tried to depict BUB in a bad light. It’s participatory governance budgeting. All the projects of BUB, by the way, are found in the GAA, in the… nasa budget po silang lahat. I can show you the projects. Essentially what you do is you engage sa civil society organizations or individuals in the community. You ask them to an assembly, and they identify, together with the local government, what are the projects that will benefit you. There is a process of going through it. The local government council is—the municipal councils are involved in the process of identifying together with the CSOs kung ano iyong mga projects that are worthwhile. Then it goes up and then it passes through—eventually aabot iyan sa—kung na-approve sa local level, aakyat iyan sa DBM as one of the budgets proposed. So, it’s been ongoing since 2013 yata or 2012. Let me check lang. TERESA/GMA7: It’s not a resurrection of the PDAF? SEC. LACIERDA: No. Definitely it’s way, way before. It’s grassroots participatory. You engage the civil society, engage the people and the community, what do you think are the projects that are worthwhile that we need to? So you have rural health units, you’ve got water facilities being built. These are based on the needs of the community by engaging the citizens on the local level. REYMUND/BOMBO RADYO: Sir, bagamat nagsalita na ang Pangulo, meron lang kasing paglilinaw ‘yung abogado ni Madam Nora Aunor kahapon na hindi naman daw convicted, as mentioned by the President, si Nora Aunor doon sa U.S. Hindi ba parang ill advised or misinformed ang Pangulo dahil sa issue ng drug use or drug abuse conviction? SEC. LACIERDA: I think—you know, it’s—by the way Noranian ako (laughs). I think si Miss Nora Aunor pleaded guilty, kaya—because she pleaded guilty, nag-deferred entry of judgment. Sa batas ng Amerika, meron ganoong proseso na, hindi tulad sa atin sa Pilipinas. ‘Pag dito nangyari iyan, pag nag-plead ka guilty, may karampatang parusa na. Sa Amerika, nag-plead siya ng guilty, tapos nagkaroon ng deferred entry of judgment provided that you undergo rehab. Iyon po iyong nangyari sa situation ni Miss Nora Aunor. But, I think the overall purpose really of the President is ‘yung sinabi niya kahapon. What is the message I’m saying? if on one hand I am against drug use, and this will happen? So naging… ang ano niya, there are—I suppose iba iyong pananaw niya sa iba. REYMUND/BOMBO RADYO: Naiintindihan po namin iyong prerogative of the President and also ‘yung basehan nga niya po at iyong kaniyang dahilan. Pero, ano po iyong reaksyon niyo sa mga sinabi ng mga Noranians naman na wala naman daw sa kanila ay naging addict dahil sa pag-idolize kay Nora, at the same time, hindi ba parang mensahe nito ay parang, kung ikaw ay addict at ikaw ay nalubog at nadapa, wala ka nang karapatan bumangon at makamit iyong ganoong titulo? SEC. LACIERDA: I think let’s just leave it at that (laughs). The prerogative has been exercised, so— VANZ FERNANDEZ/DZRJ: Sir, Will the Palace ask prosecutors to speed filing versus admin lawmakers also named in COA findings, have misused their PDAF to erase fears of selective justice? SEC. LACIERDA: We have to ask DOJ for that. I know that they are preparing, evaluating a lot of affidavits, a lot of cases so I don’t know the processes inside involved. But certainly they’re looking into the cases and that COA report. VANZ/DZRJ: So sir, will the Palace also ask its lawyers to file a motion to reconsider Supreme Court ruling on DAP? SEC. LACIERDA: We have not yet received the decision. Let’s wait for the decision and—let’s wait for the release of the decision. and the legal team will look into it. VANZ/DZRJ: Sir, another issue na lang. Did the President meet with the DBM Abad regarding this lumabas na unconstitutional ‘tong DAP? SEC. LACIERDA: I’m not sure. I can’t—hindi ko alam. I was in another meeting yesterday so I wouldn’t know. Wala sa schedule ‘no? VANZ/DZRJ: Wala sir. SEC. LACIERDA: Meron ba? Ah okay. On another matter? VANZ/DZRJ: Okay. Thank you sir. SEC. LACIERDA: Okay. Thank you very much. MARIE/DZRB: Thank you Secretary Edwin Lacierda, thank you Radio-TV Malacañang, back to main studios of PTV4 and Radyo ng Bayan.
Posted on: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 05:35:49 +0000
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