Press Briefing by Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda:

On President Aquino’s survey ratings, the Coco Levy Funds, the performance of the Communications Group, the Stradcom issue, the glitch on the Pantawid Pasada Program, US Senator John McCain’s statement, the government infrastructure spending programs, and other topics.

Press Working Room, 1/F New Executive Building, Malacañang, Manila

June 22, 2011

Q: Sir, can you give the Palace’s statement on the latest Pulse Asia Survey that 7 out of 10 Filipinos trust the President?

SECRETARY EDWIN LACIERDA: OK, let me the read the statement on the Pulse Asia Ulat ng Bayan Survey result. [Reads the statement on the June 2011 Pulse Asia Ulat ng Bayan Survey results]

Q: Sir, do you think these results should dispute the claim of the Opposition that the President’s approval ratings are eroding because of his lack of leadership?

LACIERDA: There is a difference of the way survey results are being handled by both survey firms. SWS would report also on net satisfaction rating. But if you look at the gross satisfaction rating or the gross approval, they are almost near the same. SWS has 64 while Pulse Asia has 71 so, we believe that this would disprove the Opposition’s attempts to convince the public that people are no longer behind the President and this just proves otherwise.

Q: Sir, can you just comment kasi iyong sa latest SWS survey yesterday, di ba, ang comment naman ng Presidential sister na si Kris, feeling daw po niya messaging iyong problem kaya medyo bumababa iyong ratings  ng kapatid niya.

LACIERDA: I think depende iyan. The survey is always a snapshot of events on that particular period that was taken. So, it clearly shows that kung titingnan mo iyong gross satisfaction numbers, hindi nag-iiba iyong Pulse Asia at SWS. That’s what we’ve always been saying na kapag sa survey—and we respect the numbers of SWS, what we would like to, perhaps, dispute the way they do the net satisfaction. We believe that you don’t have to do the net satisfaction because the numbers, separate numbers of satisfaction and dissatisfaction should remain as is. Kasi tulad ng […] as I was explaining, kapag sa isang kuwarto nagtanong kayo ng survey kung satisfied ba kayo sa X brand of coffee, lima nagsabing oo; tatlo nagsabing hindi. Ang tatanungin, ilan ang satisfied sa X brand of coffee? Hindi puwedeng dalawa lang kasi doon sa kuwarto sa sampung sinurvey, sinabi mo lima eh. So, the number should stand, the gross number should stand. Kaya nga kung susuriin mo, above 50 pa rin ang satisfaction ng mga tao. So, sa Pulse Asia is 71 which is near historical high. His highest was, I think, 80 or 79. So, mataas pa rin, so hindi nag-iiba masyado sa SWS gross satisfaction numbers.

Q: Sir, could […] a difference because the SWS was conducted June 3 to 6 as opposed to the Pulse Asia which was on May?

LACIERDA: It would have a difference because it would depend on the events that were taken up during those periods. For instance, sinasabi nila Mikey Arroyo, kaya bumaba ang numbers eh KKK. But our research shows that iyong KKK only came up last June 9, so, that was beyond June 3 to 6. So, depende po kung ano iyong mga circumstances doon sa survey, so, it has an effect or bearing on when the survey was taken. Pero top of mind, tinatanong ng tao, when you are surveyed, tinatanong kaagad, “Ano ba ang nangyari?” So, it does have a bearing on the survey period. But ang survey period po ng Pulse Asia is much longer, from May 24 to June 4 yata eh. But either surveys, we respect their numbers and they are more or less consistent if you look at the gross numbers.

Q: Pero, sir, hindi ba magkakaroon siguro ng improvement pagdating doon sa strategy ng Communications Group para hindi man ma-maintain, medyo mas gumanda iyong numbers?

LACIERDA: I think, we’re beginning to see—unang-una, ang first year talaga, kumbaga, if this was an analogy to farming, we are really investing, we are really planting. Pangalawa, you must remember that pumasok kami na we have to clear a lot of land mines. Marami kaming dapat ayusin muna. Isang halimbawa dito iyong infrastructure spending na maraming bumabatikos bakit matagal. And the reason why it took us sometime because we have to plug the leakages sa infrastructure spending. So, ngayon na medyo maayos na—in fact, si Secretary Singson, we were able to save at least – subcontract price lang – we were able to save at least 20 to 30 percent, and then we have savings around P7 billion. So, ganitong mga klaseng bagay, pinag-aaralan muna iyong proseso, nililinis and that’s why it took sometime. But we believe that umuusad na iyong CCT program, umuusad na iyong infrastructure spending, maghihirang na kami ng bagong Ombudsman at dalawang Supreme Court Justices. I think that would show our efforts towards poverty reduction and curbing graft and corruption.

Q: Sir, on another issue, regarding sa San Miguel. I believe the Supreme Court has already ruled with finality regarding doon sa Coco Levy Funds na it should go to Danding Cojuangco. Can the government do something about it? Or how can we avoid iyong similar circumstances na iyong other claims natin on some of the alleged properties or wealth during the Marcos time ay hindi mapupunta sa wala, na mahahabol pa rin natin?

LACIERDA: Doon po sa decision, we have not seen the decision yet. And we would have to defer to the Office of the Solicitor General to what decision they will be taking. They will have to confer with the Presidential Commission on Good Government. So, sila ang mag-uusap kung ano ang susunod na hakbang kung meron pa. Sila po ang magdedesisyon noon.

Doon po sa sinasabi ninyong kaso, kung ano ba ang gagawin natin to make sure this will be avoided. You must remember that this case has been ongoing for more than 20 years, if I’m not mistaken. So, this happened even before our watch. But in so far as the cases that will be filed within our administration, the instructions of the President are very, very clear: we should not be satisfied only with filing cases, but we should make sure that the filing will lead to a conviction. So, iyon po ang thrust natin. But pagdating po sa mga kaso nila Marcos, matagal na po iyan, so we’re just inheriting and adopting all these cases. So, we are bound by the strategy and also the theories as proposed by the former lawyers of the case.

Q: Sir, ‘di ba, parang may timeframe yata ang PCGG, iyong existence at two years na nga lang ba?

LACIERDA: I’m not sure of that.

Q: Parang merong ganun na—

LACIERDA: I would have to clarify that with Chairman Bautista of PCGG.

Q: Sir, when you said that […] which legal remedy to take or is it studying whether or not to still pursue the cases—

LACIERDA: I don’t know yet. Normally, we would leave it with the PCGG and the OSG. They will have to decide what’s the next course of action to take. Joel, as to options, as to remedies, we will leave that to the OSG to make a statement.

Q: Sir, so we haven’t decided yet whether or not we will pursue the ownership of—

LACIERDA: Kahapon lang, lumabas iyong desisyon, Joel, so we would have to discuss with the OSG.

Q: Wala pang desisyon, sir, whether we will give it up?

LACIERDA: Wala pa. I don’t know yet. We have to discuss—the PCGG will have to discuss it with the OSG.

Q: Sir, going back to the survey. Somehow mataas pa rin po iyong satisfaction—

LACIERDA: Mataas talaga, hindi somehow. Mataas pa rin.

Q: Pero, sir, the fact is medyo bumababa siya from the previous na mataas. Are you concerned?

LACIERDA: Hindi naman. Again, it is a snapshot of the time when it was taken. And also, one year has passed, and we believe that what we have planted, we will soon be reaping. May mga gains, accomplishments na po kami na nagagawa katulad ng CCT, mag-uumpisa iyan, patuloy po ang CCT program. We’re going to register the 2 millionth beneficiary within this month. We have a target of 2.3, and next year ang target namin sa CCT is 3 million households. So, patuloy po iyan. Ngayon pa lang nila mararamdaman ang benefits po ng CCT. Some of the beneficiaries have been enjoying it, but it’s going to be a conscious effort, a campaign to really make sure that our poverty reduction programs would reach those who should be benefitted.

Q: Sir, Senator Chiz Escudero in a radio interview earlier said na isa din daw na nakakahila  pababa ay iyong pagkakaroon ng ano – iyong sa Communications Group hindi daw nakakabuti iyong tatlo ang naghe-head ng Communications Group.

LACIERDA: Well, iyan ang pananaw nila. But nag-usap na kami ni Pangulong Aquino tungkol diyan. Klaro po ang mandato ng bawat trabaho. Si Secretary Coloma is in charge of media infrastructure, of dissemination. Kung ano ang mga balita meron o kung ano ang ginagawa ng Pangulo, si Secretary Coloma po through Philippine Information Agency at mga different media stations natin, television at radio, siya po  ang bahala doon. Si Secretary Carandang po ang in charge of messaging, and ako lang po ang tagapagsalita. We are very clear with our roles. And contrary to whatever perception is being foisted, the last episode where there was a not consistent communication was during the time of the hostage taking and after that, hindi na po nagkaroon ng miscommunication. Ang posisyon ngayon, every time na magkakaroon po ng interview po sila Secretary Coloma at saka si Secretary Carandang ay nag-uusap po kami.

Q: Sir, a year after the existence of the Communications Group, how would you assess your performance?

LACIERDA: Well, it was a learning experience from the start.  But we have learned the ropes and we have started a number of programs to make sure that the message of the President is carried forth. We have the Good News which are now going and seeping through the various media outlets. We have issued more statements on particular issues. And the President is more than approachable. You know very well that compared to the last President, si Pangulong Aquino ay nagpapa-ambush, nagpapa-interview at nagkakaroon siya ng briefings. So, patuloy lang po ang paglabas – hindi lamang po ng Communications Group – may I emphasize  po, trabaho rin po ng mga Cabinet secretaries ilabas po ang mga magagandang  balita sa kanilang mga kagawaran. In fact, iyon po ang utos ni Pangulong Aquino na huwag lang iiwan sa Communications Group, sila dapat meron din silang responsibilidad ilabas ang mga good news. Katulad po ni Secretary Alcala, naglabas siya ng bumper harvest. Si Secretary ng DILG, iyong mga ginagawa ngayon sa fishkill. Si Secretary Paje on environmental. All these things–they have a responsibility also to disseminate these information to the public.

Q: Sir, just your reaction. Kasi mayroon statement si Rep. Mitos Magsaysay. Sinasabi niya po na hindi naman daw babagsak iyong rating ng Pangulo kung tinutugon nito iyong mga concerns ng taumbayan, and at the same time, firm and fair leadership will sustain President’s rating.

LACIERDA: We don’t have a negative rating by the way. We never had a negative rating. Our approval ratings remain high. I think she is referring to her—

Q: Not negative, will sustain firm and fair leadership will sustain a President’s rating.

LACIERDA: Number one, we are not after the ratings. Ratings, again, is a snapshot. And number two, I think that particular statement would apply more to her patron rather than to this present President. The rating of this President remains to be high. The second term pa lang po ng kaniyang patrona eh mababa na po ang kaniyang rating. But we are not after the ratings per se. We do our job regardless of what the ratings are.

Q: Stradcom says yung hindi daw po pagbabayad sa kanila sends a negative signal to investors that will discourage them from investing here in the Philippines because of disregarding contracts. What actions will the Palace—

LACIERDA: I think that is a legal issue that is still being discussed. I’m not privy to the contract itself, so that’s being discussed right now with DOTC as to the payment. That is a legal issue that needs to be threshed out. We are still waiting for the study made by DOTC. And since Secretary Mar Roxas is taking over, I would assume that he would be making a study on the Stradcom conflict as well.

Q: Does the Palace share the same view as Asec Torres that she’s willing to go back to manual just to review this Stradcom issue?

LACIERDA: There was a recommendation by Secretary Ping de Jesus on that point, but it’s still far down the road. We’re still looking at reviewing the contract, so there’s still no decision either way on the Stradcom contract. Number one, with respect to Asec Torres, the fact finding body is still being reviewed by the chief presidential legal counsel as to, again, the legal issues surrounding the Stradcom contract that is being reviewed right now by the DOTC.

Q: Don’t you see the urgency since parang naaapektuhan na yung service ng LTO?

LACIERDA: I think they are obligated to perform their service regardless of what the issues are right now. They have a responsibility to the public to provide the services that they are obligated to do. With respect to, again, the legal issue, that is something that they can thresh out in whatever forum they choose.

Q: Is there any deadline para ma-solve yung issue dito sa Stradcom?

LACIERDA: ‘Yung kontrata buhay pa rin, kaya pinagaaralan ngayon, di ba? Yung Stradcom contract buhay pa, pinagaaralan pa iyon so may kontrata pa ngayon. That should be observed.

Q: Are we ready to take over just in case Stradcom would decide to just shut down and stop operating?

LACIERDA: I don’t want to speculate on that, number one. Number two, there is a live contract […]. As long as the contract subsists, that is something that they should provide the service for.

Q: Theoretically, what if they…

LACIERDA: We don’t dwell on theories kasi. I don’t want to answer theoretical questions. We will face it when it’s there. Suffice it to say that Secretary Ping de Jesus has some recommendations, which I’m not familiar with. But I was told that there were some recommendations towards that.

Q: The Senate is set to probe daw the PCSO because 30+ kidney patients set for transplant namatay dahil tinigil ng PCSO yung assistance para sa kanila. Mayroon gagawin po ba ang Palasyo dito?

LACIERDA: I‘ve heard that from Kryss. We are not privy to that, but I think Chairman Margie Juico will be more than able to sufficiently explain the side of PCSO with regard to that. I don’t know when it happened, but I’m very, very confident that Chairman Juico can explain their side.

Q: Kaya daw bumababa ang rating ng Pangulo, dahil naka-focus daw siya sa mga kaso ng mga Arroyo. Isa ho iyon sa dahilan?

LACIERDA: Number one, tulad ng sinabi ko po, kung talagang iha-harass namin ang pamilyang Arroyo, noon pa ginawa naming number one kaso si Mikey Arroyo sa kanyang tax evasion case. Number two, you must remember kung saan po kami galing. We adopted an administration of government that was—we needed to play up with all the landmines, mga obstacles; maraming graft and corruption na aayusin. Nakita namin maraming mga kagawaran na dapat linisin. Hindi mo matatanggal na—it will take us some time to fix the problem. We have cleared most of the landmines; we’re still in the process of doing that. But to say that we are focused on the past without moving forward, that is completely untrue. We have our CCT; we are doing all our services right now for the poor; and we have just come up with new laws to benefit the public. We have our Pantawid Pasada. Mga concerns po natin ay ina-address po natin. So hindi po totoo na we are focusing only on the past. Part of our reform measure, yes; if we need to clear the landmines, if we need to file cases against those who erred, then we will do so because that’s part of our reform measure.

Q: Sir, ang PSG, naipaalam na ba sa Pangulo itong nangyaring […]

LACIERDA: [...] ang tanong niya yata kahapon na he was already asked yesterday. And, in fact, he deferred to Col. Chito Dizon and Col. Chito Dizon promised full cooperation.

Q: Any directive sa lahat-lahat ng PSG?

LACIERDA: I think I’ll have to talk to—number one, you are supposed to be men and women of uniform. You have to observe and conduct yourselves in a gentlemanly way. So this conduct, if proven to be true, is worth the penalty it deserves.

Q: ‘Yung M/V Princess, hindi pa rin nabibigyan ng justice until now. Any directive from the President to Mar Roxas pag-upo niya sa puwesto?

LACIERDA: Well, iyong directive po niya, ginawa na po niya noon pa, noong hiningi niya ang tulong ni Senator Mar Roxas na maging DOTC secretary, nagusap sila. And I think the mandate is clear to pursue the reforms within DOTC.

By the way, si Rudy asked me kanina pala kung na-transmit na po ng JBC iyong listahan po ng Supreme Court justices. I received word from the Office of the President hindi pa.

Q: Will the President call for a LEDAC meeting since he is asking that more laws be passed for the benefit of the people?

LACIERDA: We have a LEDAC meeting on July 12.

Q: Will there be new measures to be submitted […] LEDAC?

LACIERDA: We will ask the executive secretary if there are any new bills that we would like to push for.

Q: Iyong RH, sir, kasama na?

LACIERDA: It’s ongoing right now, for debate na ngayon.

Q: FOI?

LACIERDA: We have a draft. It’s with Secretary Butch Abad. We have to discuss with Secretary Butch Abad the status of our FOI draft.

Q: May mga nagrereklamong ibang driver na wala daw laman yung smart cards na Pantawid Pasada.

LACIERDA: It’s just a computer glitch. It does not mean na wala kaming pondo. We have sufficient funds for that. Marami po tayong pondo doon. In fact, I told you the last time it can last more than two months. Kung kailangan, may pondo po tayo para dyan. Nagkaroon lang po ng computer glitch.

Q: Dati, si President Obama ay bumagsak ding yung kanyang rating. Ngayon, ang redeeming factor niya si Hussein,yung namatay, […] si bin Laden. Ano kayang bin Laden mayroon tayo para umangat uli yung hindi naman masyadong mababa yung kay Presidenteng performance […] babawi uli yung kanyang […]

LACIERDA: The next survey will be done three months from now. We hope to improve our—magkakaroon po tayo ng infrastructure spending. Ang sabi po nga kanina sa akin makita lang may nakatayong waiting shed, malaking bagay na po iyon. But we’re doing the infrastructure spending. Simula po ito ngayong ginagawang underpass sa Araneta Ave. at saka sa Quezon Ave. Iyan po, malaking project po iyan; it will take us 420 days po iyong project na iyon. So uumpisahan po ang infrastructure spending natin. Like I said, we were plugging the leakages po before, but now that we have more or less plugged the leakages, we are pushing through with our infrastructure spending. Expect more infrastructure spending.

Q: Baka magsisikip na naman yung trapiko. Baka maka-apekto din kay Presidente?

LACIERDA: Well, sisiguraduhin din natin na yung trapiko po ay magkakaroon ng supisyenteng MMDA personnel para alagaan po ang trapiko at hindi magalit iyong taong bayan. Pero gayunpaman, humihingi kami ng paumanhin sa mga maaapektuhan po ng trapiko dahil ito po ay isang mahalagang proyekto.

Q: According to Monsod, kailangan daw hanggang medyo mababa pa ang rating ng ating pangulo na pataas, na mataas—kasi sinasabing political capital. According to Monsod, si PNoy daw honest but not competent, pero si GMA daw competent pero corrupt.

LACIERDA: I think Professor Monsod is just half correct. We have seen the competence of the President. Just wait for all these projects that will come out. We are making sure that all the projects, whatever we spend at the expense of taxpayers’ money will be spent properly. Hintayin na lang niya. Ang nakikita lang nila kasi ngayon ay yung mga hindi pa tayo nag-i-infrastructure spending. Pero yung programang CCT, malaking bagay po iyon. Maayos ang paggugol po ng pera ng CCT. And given the judgment, after six months, si Professor Monsod, makikita niya for this year  yung mga kailangang ayusin ay ginagawa po. So, reserve judgment po.

Q: Sir, mayroon daw po inilabas na travel warning ang Australian government sa Philippines, na wina-warningan nila ang tao nila from terrorist attacks and severe criminality.

LACIERDA: I […] the improvement. There has been an improvement on the travel warning from the Australians. I was briefed about the travel warning. My understanding, it was an improvement over their previous travel warning. It’s an indication also and a recognition of the security preparations that we’ve been doing on a regular basis.

Q: Can you just describe the scale of the infrastructure spending that you meant? By how much will you increase it from that?

LACIERDA: We have a road improvement program. We have several programs set. I think Nonong Paderanga already came out already with a press release. We have the road improvement program; we have that underpass project going on; our PPPs will be launched. I think by July, we’ll be launching the first PPP, or, at least, we’ll be bidding out the first PPP project. […] give you the list of infrastructure projects on […].

Q: Senator John McCain is urging the US government to expand military and political support to Southeast Asian nations to stand up to China regarding the South China Sea dispute. Do we feel assured by such statements coming from someone from a superpower?

LACIERDA: Personally, we don’t know what audience Senator Mccain is addressing. But as far as the Philippines is concerned, any call for stability, any call for peace, any call for a peaceful resolution on the West Philippine Sea is something that we would appreciate. But again, I really don’t know what audience Senator John McCain is saying, but it’s similar to the call of the ASEAN calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the West Philippine Sea. And that’s something that we certainly would appreciate.