Press Briefing by Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte:

On the midyear budget review, the order of dismissal of Prospero Pichay from the Office of the Ombudsman, the West Philippine Sea discussions with China, the statements of Lintang Bedol and Zaldy Ampatuan, the statement of Col. Mariano, the kidnapping of an American woman and her son in Zamboanga, and other topics  

Briefing Room, 2/F New Executive Building, Malacañang, Manila

July 18, 2011

UNDERSECRETARY ABIGAIL VALTE: Magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat. At pagpasensiyahan ninyo na po kung medyo umiiling po tayo nang kaunti.  Kaunting epekto lang po ng kaunting pagtanda.

Dalawang balita po muna. Una, ongoing po ang Cabinet meeting ni Pangulong Aquino sa kaniyang Gabinete. Ang tinatalakay po nila is iyong midyear budget review po natin. At so far, noong bumaba po ako dito ay ongoing pa po ang Cabinet meeting. Mamaya po, kung gusto ninyo pong magkaroon ng kaunting update, maybe, perhaps, you can ask Secretary [Edwin] Lacierda who is currently sitting there now to update us on what happened during the Cabinet meeting.  And secondly, iyong utang ko po sa inyo, I have checked with the Office of the Executive Secretary, and ES [Paquito] Ochoa has written to Secretary Enrique Ona of the DOH [Department of Health] about the transmittal of the order of the Office of the Ombudsman for the dismissal of Chairman [Prospero] Pichay. I have checked with the office of Secretary Ona, and they have written to the Acting Administrator of LWUA [Local Water Utilities Administration] giving instructions to effect the order of dismissal by the Office of the Ombudsman.

So, iyan po ang dalawang utang ko sa inyo at nabayaran ko na. Puwede na po tayong sumagot ng inyong mga tanong.

Celerina del Mundo: Ma’am, regarding po doon sa dismissal ni Mr. Pichay, would it mean na it’s final and executory or could he still appeal it to a higher court or what?

VALTE: Puwede pa po siyang umapila sa korte. Ngunit, ang mga desisyon po kasi ng Office of the Ombudsman na mayroon pong ganitong penalty ay immediately executory even pending appeal.

Del Mundo: So, ibig sabihin talagang matatanggal siya sa puwesto?

VALTE: Matatanggal po siya pending his—but that does not foreclose his availment of legal remedies available to him. That includes seeking relief from higher courts.

Mia Gonzales [Business Mirror]: Good afternoon, ma’am. Ma’am, there’s a US House resolution supporting the Philippine position for peaceful and rules-based solutions to its dispute with China in the South China Sea. Can we get Malacañang’s reaction to it and is Malacañang hopeful that this can, in any way, persuade China to subject the dispute to UN arbitration?

VALTE: Well, Mia, we welcome, as Secretary Albert del Rosario has said, we welcome the resolution by the US lawmakers supporting our position, calling for a peaceful resolution to this dispute and a rules-based approach on the resolution. However, whether the persuasive value of this resolution, whatever persuasive value it may or it may not have on China to alter their position is something that we cannot judge.

Gonzales: … Is Malacañang at least hopeful that this can, in any way, persuade China to consider UN arbitration?

VALTE: China has also echoed our position. I think everybody, all the claimants, are in agreement that the dispute has to be settled peacefully and diplomatically in everyway possible.

Joanna Poblete [Business World]: Ma’am, since nakausap n’yo na po the Office of ES, regarding the DOTC Undersecretary, kanina may lumabas na balita na napirmahan na po ni Presidente; gusto ko lang pong i-validate iyon?

VALTE: We have not received any confirmation from the Office of Executive Secretary Ochoa kung napirmahan na po. Usually, they advise us now twice a month whether there have been new appointments that have been made. So, wala pa naman pong naging advice.

Poblete: On another issue po. The incoming CBCP [Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines] President Jose Palma has announced that on July 23 ay magkakaroon po ng mga rallies against RH [Reproductive Health] Bill again. How does the Palace intend to address this issue again? Kasi po, ma’am, dati you were hopeful na baka puwedeng mag-dialogue with the new leadership. Apparently, ma’am, they are not amenable.

VALTE: Well, I wouldn’t jump to that conclusion, but certainly, iyong pagra-rally po nila is in the free exercise of their freedom of expression, their freedom of speech. And that is part of our democracy.

Poblete: Have you sent out “feelers” po? Do you intend to convince them po to have a dialogue?

VALTE: Not that we are aware of—regarding the fillers—not that we are aware of.

Jess Caduco [IBC 13]: Good afternoon, ma’am. Ma’am, may marching order na ba ang Pangulo sa DOJ [Department of Justice] on how to investigate the election fraud noong sinabi ni Lintang Bedol and [Zaldy] Ampatuan?

VALTE: Well, wala pa naman pong nababanggit si Pangulo regarding this. But I believe na si Secretary [Leila] De Lima has already spoken on the matter.

Q: I would just like to get a reaction on about iyong $10 million na demand ng mga kidnappers doon sa—iyong kumidnap doon sa American woman and doon sa anak niya. So, ano iyong action na puwedeng gawin ng government to save iyong mga na-kidnap na victims?

VALTE: Well, ang ano po ng gobyerno diyan is that we don’t pay ransom. Iyon po ang policy natin, and that is something that the local crisis committee knows. At this point, they are on top of the situation. And we will have to see kung ano po iyong magiging progreso. Hopefully, magiging maganda po ang outcome nitong sitwasyon na ito at wala pong masasaktan.

Q: Another question—Isa sa mga gusto ng government is to improve, ‘di ba, iyong military system natin, especially on the equipment side. How about on the strategy? Is there any, parang, improvements para maiwasan iyong mga ganitong kidnapping especially sa southern part of the Philippines?

VALTE: Well, essentially, peace and order issue po ito, and I will leave that to our forces to speak about. I will not pretend to be an expert on strategizing. But however, we are looking to upgrade our defense capabilities especially po iyong equipment natin.

Rowena dela Fuente [NET 25]:  Ma’am, may report na someone from the MILF [Moro Islamic Liberation Front] splinter group iyong responsible doon sa kidnapping. Are we going to, parang, discuss with the MILF po?

VALTE: I do not have any information to that effect, Weng. I will have to check, but as of the moment, wala po tayong impormasyon ganyan.

Dela Fuente: Ma’am, on another issue na din. Attorney [Raul] Lambino, the spokesman of the former—the legal spokesman of the former President—has challenged the government to prove iyong allegations na the former President or the camp of the former President was behind the—iyong sentiments or iyong pagbubunyag or threat ni Col. Mariano.

VALTE: First things first. I think si Atty. Lambino should read the transcript of that particular interview because kung nabasa po niya iyan at nakita po niya iyong konteksto, hindi na po natin kailangang sagutin. Hindi po siguro magkakaroon ng tanong na ganyan at hindi po magkakaroon ng statement  na ganyan mula po kay Atty. Lambino.

Ang inulit lang po natin is that we are confident that our soldiers know their duty. Two things: one is to uphold the Constitution, and second is to protect the people. Hindi po kasama sa kanilang trabaho, while in active duty, iyong pag-e-engage po in partisan politics.

Dela Fuente: But categorically, ma’am, wala po bang ganoon talaga—iyong information leading to the effect na sangkot iyong dating administrasyon?

VALTE: Well, if you remember, yesterday, ang napag-usapan po natin, how the conclusion was drawn was if you compare and contrast his statements to the statements of the allies of the former President. Pare-pareho po ng linya. Minsan down to the word, pareho po sila. And I left it up to the public to draw their own conclusions.

Dela Fuente: Ma’am, relatedly, Atty. Lambino is somehow indicating or mayroon siyang sabi na baka the government is behind …

VALTE: The government is behind who?

Dela Fuente:  To Col. Mariano.

VALTE: Certainly not. Hindi po tactic. That is not a tactic that is up the sleeve of this government. We will not employ—we will not resort to such a ploy.

Rose Miranda [Abante]: Ma’am, follow up lang po doon sa poll fraud. Sinabi rin kasi ni Secretary De Lima na ready siyang imbestigahan sa oras na mai-submit na ng legal team ng Palace iyong assessment. Mayroon ho bang specific timeframe kung kailan natin matatapos iyong assessment?

VALTE: Wala naman pong nabanggit si Secretary De Lima kung ano po ang timeframe nila for that particular assessment.

Miranda: Hindi, ma’am, sa legal team ng Palace, iyong assessment sa poll fraud noong 2004?

VALTE: I’m not aware of any timetable for that, Rose.

Miranda: May urgency ba, ma’am, na bilisan or is this a priority iyong ginagawang assessment natin sa 2004 poll fraud?

VALTE: Well, mainit po iyong issue ngayon, and as such, the legal team will act accordingly on that particular matter.

Miranda: Is this a priority, ma’am?

VALTE: Well, I cannot tell at this particular point in time dahil hindi pa naman po lumalabas lahat. Ang nangyayari po kasi is what we are all acting upon are the statements of Lintang Bedol doon po sa kaniyang naging interview, sa kaniyang naging panayam. And siguro po, nagsisimula pa lang po iyong kaniyang mga alegasyon. Mukha naman pong—nobody has really gotten a hold of him yet. Siguro po, at this time, medyo premature pa to say.

Julie Fernando [DZEM]: Hi, ma’am. Ma’am, iyon hong suggestion ng mga senador na bumuo na lang ng fact-finding committee para doon sa poll fraud. Okey lang po ba iyon sa Malakanyang? Ano po ang nakikita ninyo doon?

VALTE:            We have not yet discussed that particular suggestion with the President. Kasi po ngayon, ang nangyayari mayroon pong some congressmen from the House who are supporting  an  investigation  doon sa mababang kapulungan; mayroon namang mga senador, gusto doon sa kanila; and also the are opinions to the contrary.  We will have to let our Congress settle that particular matter and that is something that we have to discuss with the President.

Fernando: Ma’am, sa iba pong isyu.  Gaano katotoo iyong lumabas na report na ang sinasabi doon sa interview na ginawa  para sa susunod na Ombudsman ay para mapaboran po  si  Commissioner Mosquera kaysa  po kaysa kay Morales?

VALTE: I am sorry, Julie. I have not seen that particular interview—sorry, that particular report. But as to the announcement, ang sinabi po sa inyo ni Pangulong Aquino is before the SONA [State of the Nation Address]. So, I think everybody is eagerly awaiting that announcement.

Fernando: Ma’am, one last po. Ang sinasabi ng ilang grupo ay mas magiging maganda daw po iyong SONA ng Pangulo kung ia-announce ng Pangulo na aalisin na iyong VAT [value-added tax] sa SONA  bagama’t  paulit ulit na po iyon, ma’am. Ano po ang msasabi ninyo?

VALTE: Iyong VAT po sa mga petroleum products? Well, nasabi na po natin  iyong posisyon po natin diyan. Kapag nagtanggal po kasi tayo ng E-VAT doon sa mga produktong ito, maaapektuhan naman iyong perang malilikom ng pamahalaan mula po doon at dapat ay pupunta naman sa ibang proyekto ay tatamaan din.  So, iba naman iyong naging paraan natin doon sa pag-address doon sa  isyung iyon.

Reymund Tinaza [Bombo Radyo]: Ma’am, kasi ang sinasabi ni Secretary De Lima, they are waiting from the legal team iyong assessment, iyong go-signal before they could start the investigation. So, talagang hinintay pa? Kailangan talagang mayroong go-signal from your end?

VALTE: I will have to check  kung ano iyong naging internal arrangements nila because I am  also not  privy to that. So, itse-check ko po kung ano iyong dapat naging proseso  nila kung magbibigay po ba ng go signal galing po doon sa legal team or DOJ can proceed; hindi po ako klaro doon.

Tinaza: Ang ilang concern lang po ng ilang sector is baka magkaroon lang daw ng grandstanding, kasi ngayon pa lamang, parang nag-aagawan na ang Congress, iyong Senate, and at the same time, iyong ibang mga—pero si Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, he is not inclined na sa Senado gawin, habang sa Lower House naman, sila iyong parang gusto nila na doon gawin. From your end, parang, which do you prefer na gawin para ma-reach iyong end ng investigation?

VALTE: We have no preference one way or the other.  Bahala po iyong ating mga mambabatas kung paano ho nila ise-settle iyong isyu dahil sa  amin ding pagkakaintindi, sinabi po ni Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile na baka daw hindi na kailangan na doon sa Senado, while si Senator [Chiz] Escudero naman ang nagtutulak na gawin  ng Senado iyong imbestigasyon.  That is something that we will leave  for them  to decide.

Tinaza: Ma’am, on the other issue. Aside from uprightly dismissing iyong sinasabi ni Col. Mariano, wala ba kayong parang balak na to look into iyong concerns na ni-raise doon sa video?

VALTE: Iyong concerns po kasi na ni-raise niya are general in the sense na iyong tumataas daw po iyong—at least, the ones that I can remember—tumataas   po iyong presyo ng langis. Alam naman natin iyong dahilan para po doon, but wala po kasing  specific concerns that are personal to him in the sense na, “kasi po hindi po ako na-promote” or—of course, I’m giving examples. But at this point, I think we have said all that we should on this particular matter. And we leave it up po doon sa pamunuan ng AFP [Armed of Forces of the Philippines] at ng DND [Department of National Defense] to determine the appropriate sanctions, if any, to address the statements of Col. Mariano.

Tinaza: Kasi ang sabi ni Col. Querubin, at the same time,  Senator Guingona na although premature iyong call of  Col. Mariano, baka daw kailangan naman na tingnan iyong basehan ng kanyang ilang mga points raised doon sa video?

VALTE: Well, again, iyong  mga points po kasi na ni-raise niya are motherhood statements eh. Wala po siyang  specific na pinunto talaga na dapat  iyong  sa health care  ganito ho ba iyong gagawin.  Of course, these are all just my own personal examples.  But  apart from that, he will have a venue  to explain his statement kapag—ang pagkakaalam ko po kasi, wala pa ho yatang abogadong dumadating for him at  sa Wednesday pa daw po dadating, and that is according to  our  counterparts in the military.  So, makikita po natin kung ano iyong magiging explanation niya doon sa mga dinadaing po niya.

Roices Sibal [TV 5]: It seems na parang ang dating po ng mga statement ng Palasyo, “minamaliit” iyong mga concern ni Col. Mariano. Ganoon po ba ang trato doon sa  mga ni-raise niya na issues?  Is that how you see it?

VALTE: Alam mo kasi, again, if he could cite something specific, madali naman po nating  tingnan kung ano iyong basehan noon. But again, motherhood ho kasi iyong statements na ibinigay niya na kailangan daw palitan. And from what I understand, there seems to be a bit of back stepping on this particular issue. But, ano po kasi, the way we look at it is that it’s an isolated statement.  Iyong mga concerned po na sinasabi niyang disgruntled, nagsalita po ang liderato ng AFP, ng Navy na masaya po sila kay Pangulong Aquino doon sa ating  pamamalakad.  Siguro, we don’t have to go any further than that. It’s an isolated case.

Sibal: Pero nakarating ba ito  kay  Pangulo, ma’am?

VALTE: Yes.

Sibal: Ano po ang naging reaksyon?

VALTE: Opo. I will have to ask. Hindi po ako iyong nagpaabot ng balita.

Jill Beltran [Sun Star]: Ma’am, clarification  lang  on   Col. Mariano po. Was he sacked or he really retired last Sunday?

VALTE: Retirement age na po siya kahapon. He was not sacked. He was asked to explain his statement. And iyong retirement date nga po niya—birthday po niya kahapon.  So, iyon po iyong retirement  niya talaga.

Jess Caduco: Ma’am, hindi kaya tinaon lang niya na sa retirement niya ito gawin para at least hindi  hindi maapektuhan iyong kanyang—or nagamit lang siya, doon na gawin sa kaniyang retirement age para hindi maapektuhan iyong kaniyang  mga  benefits?

VALTE: Iyong personal motives po niya, we cannot judge.  We would not venture on opinion on why the statement was made at the particular time.

Caduco: So, walang political motive or whatsoever?

VALTE: Well, if you want confirmation, then you better ask him that, not me.  Siya lang din po iyong makapagsasabi. We can venture on opinion, but that is different from confirming from the source kung ano po iyong motibo.

Roma Agsalud [RPN 9]: Ma’am, good afternoon. Going back doon sa poll fraud, kaunting clarification lang. But is the investigation within the authority of the Department of Justice, if ever there will be no need for the congressional, the joint congressional probe on this, ma’am?

VALTE: Well, certainly, kapag nagka-violation talaga ng batas, it’s within the purview  and the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice. Except in cases where the law specifically provides, nasa ibang ahensiya po na nakalagay iyong kapangyarihang iyon.

Agsalud: Ma’am, on the Spratlys naman po. While you said na you wouldn’t judge if may persuasive value iyong House resolution, but do you at least  see the chances of the government’s position na  mas parang umangat po siya kumbaga?

VALTE: Well, iyong sa atin  naman po, with or without that  particular resolution, we have always been adamant that our proposal is really to iyong rules-based approach po natin for the settlement of the dispute.

Joel Guinto [Bloomberg]: Ma’am, so, what will the government do to convince China to agree to an arbitration because the President said that it’s our only recourse?

VALTE: Well, you will continue to speak to our counterparts in China. Tuloy lang po iyong  pakikipag-usap po natin.

Norman Bordadora [Philippine Daily Inquirer]: Ma’am, we will continue to speak with China to—just a categorical—to press for this, to ask them to submit to you an arbitration?

VALTE: Well, iyon po iyong posisyon natin kasi that we are submitting. Katulad nga po ng sinabi ni Pangulong Aquino, it seems to be our only recourse. And we will continue to speak to them on how we can arrive at the a peaceful resolution of the dispute.

Bordadora: Ma’am, will the government  call on China to submit to this UN arbitration a bit these, perhaps, rising  calls from the international  community to submit to the UN?

VALTE: Well, again, we are all signatories to—iyong tribunal na po na iyon kasi ang  in-charge of  settling the disputes under the UNCLOS [United Nations Conference on the Laws of the Sea]. And, again, we are also signatories to the declaration of the code of conduct on the South China Sea. So, we will have to see and go from there.

Of course, we will just continue to speak to them about that particular matter. Bukas naman po tayo sa lahat ng nagiging concerns about the issue on the West Philippines Sea.

 Bordadora: But  with this most recent call by the US lawmakers, does the administration think na this is the way to go for China because of the increasing calls for China to submit to UN arbitration and not just engage the Philippines bilaterally?

VALTE: Well, ang panawagan po kasi natin talaga ay dapat multilateral iyong approach natin sa pag-resolba ng dispute.

 Celerina Monte:    Ma’am sa Spratlys pa rin—pero can we just go directly to UN Tribunal iyong regarding doon sa—to settle that dispute without asking China’s permission for instance?

VALTE: I will defer to the DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs] on that particular—kung doon po sa question niyo—because I’m also not an expert pagdating po doon sa procedure sa United Nations.

(Joyce, may sinasabi ka? Answer … ah wala. Akala ko may response si Joyce doon sa question.)

Gonzales: Ma’am, kasi there’s an observation iyong US and China, parang they’re kind of inimical towards one another when it comes to foreign policy. With the support that we’re getting from the US, do you think that China would accede to our request for UN arbitration?

VALTE: Again, that is something that we cannot be the judge of.

Poblete: Ma’am, but are we bringing pressure to bear on China by not just going to our allies like, for example, US but other countries, other claimants?

VALTE: Well the claimants are one and all the interested parties are one in saying that the dispute again should be solved multilaterally and that there needs to be a very open discussion on this particular issue.

Poblete: But is seems that the Philippines, Vietnam, and the US are the most vocal po. So, I’m wondering po, ma’am, can we count on other countries to join in this cause—kumbaga—to appeal to China to the …

VALTE: Well, [it is] better to ask Secretary Del Rosario. But of course, we, the Philippines has to be very vocal considering that we have a stake in the issue and we have long been of the position that we will—we stand by our claim, but however, we, despite the smallness of the country, we stand by our claim and that we will continue to pursue the resolution of the dispute in the most peaceful way possible.

Poblete: Trial by media po, ma’am?

VALTE: Sorry?

Poblete: Almost—it’s almost as if po ma-propaganda—iyong propaganda machine ng gobyerno, it’s functioning here, are we trying …

VALTE: I wouldn’t call it propaganda, Joanna. It’s just furthering the claim. I wouldn’t call it propaganda.

Q: Ma’am, lilinawin lang po iyong kay retired Col. Mariano na pati ba iyong benepisyo ibibigay sa kaniya? Bale hindi naman siya …

VALTE: I will leave that to the AFP, to the Navy to—ano po kasi, they’re asking him to explain and makikita po natin kapag natapos ho iyong prosesong iyon kung ano ho iyong magiging outcome.

Evangeline Fernandez [Police Files]: Lambino is questioning why is the Aquino administration allying itself with a multiple-murder suspect such as Ampatuan just to pin down former PGMA [former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo]. He might be getting special treatment and may soon be placed under hospital arrest?  Any comment on this, please?

VALTE: OK. That is statement is loaded with mistaken assumptions. Hindi po kami nakikipag-alyado. Pangalawa, iyong request po na iyon is something—iyon pong sa hospitalization po ni Zaldy Ampatuan is up to the court to decide. Hindi po sa atin iyong—hindi po sa Executive Branch iyong request po na iyon. That is something for the sitting judge to pass upon and not Malacañang.

Fernandez: Ma’am, on another issue. Partylists want FOI [Freedom of Information] bill prioritized. Now, Partylist AKP Manuel Dayrit, “The fate of FOI bill would test the Aquino Administration determination to fulfill its ‘daang matuwid’ pledge to pin down—to rid government of corruption.” But Speaker [Sonny] Belmonte says, “He wants economic measures.” Ano pong masasabi natin dito?

VALTE: Hindi po ako doon magkokomento, sa statement na ni  Speaker Belmonte. That’s an entirely separate issue. But iyong sa FOI po kasi, we are continuing to work with—patuloy po iyong trabaho natin doon sa Freedom of Information Bill. Nakikipag-coordinate po tayo Rep. Erin Tañada at doon po sa mga ibang advocates. At para ma-address din po iyong concerns ng pamahalaan at iyong concerns po ng mga advocates when it comes to the Freedom of Information Bill.

Fernandez: Ma’am, being a lawyer, Mariano could be charged with violation of Articles of War 96: Conduct Unbecoming Officers and 97 Prejudicial to Good Order and Good Discipline. How will you rate this?

VALTE: Mahirap na pong magkomento. Alam niyo naman pong nandito po ako sa harapan niyo hindi bilang abogado ngunit bilang tagapagsalita ni Pangulo. Iiwanan na po namin iyan doon sa AFP at sa DND kung papaano ho ide-determine. I’ve also heard na iyan po iyong mga possible charges nga daw po sa kaniya.

Fernandez: Ma’am, DOJ says, “Plea deal with Zaldy Ampatuan is an option.” Palace’s reaction, please.

VALTE: Saan pong part—in reference po to what? On the …

Fernandez: Maguindanao Massacre.

VALTE: Sinabi po na malinaw na po iyong pag-deny po ni Secretary De Lima doon sa sinasabing posibilidad na maging state witness daw po si Zaldy Ampatuan doon sa massacre case. Malinaw po iyong pagsagot ni Secretary De Lima doon.

Agsalud: Clarification lang. While sinabi niyo earlier na the lawyer of the former President claimed na Ampatuan and Bedol are not credible witnesses, do you see this assessment as premature to consider both of them as polluted resources, ma’am?

VALTE: Well, hindi pa ho natin nakikita iyong magiging—iyong lahat po ng impormasyon na gusto daw po nilang isiwalat and the credibility of the witness is something for a sitting judge to decide.

Fernandez: Ma’am, aside from iyong nilalabas na—again, about the SONA— magkakaroon po rin po ba ang Pangulong Aquino ng mga—kagaya ng ginawa po ni former PGMA na may pinapakitang mga taong natulungan niya para i-presenta doon sa SONA?

VALTE: Wala po. Wala pong magiging ganoon.

Thank you at magandang hapon. Alam ko pong may mga deadline kayo. We’ll see you again tomorrow.

ENDS