Press Briefing by Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda:

On the planned trip of the four representatives to the Spratlys, the directive of the President to the secretaries to incur savings in their departments or agencies, the investigation of the Lintang Bedol and Col. Mariano testimonies, and other topics

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

July 19, 2011; 1200 hrs. EST

SECRETARY EDWIN LACIERDA: Good afternoon, Marie. Good afternoon, members of the Malacañang Press Corps.

I hope you got a mouthful this morning. You had your day of work filled up already. So, this is going to be, hopefully, a short briefing. I have a 1:30 meeting with the President. So, let’s proceed with the questions.

Mia Gonzales [Business Mirror]: Sir, we understand that yesterday, the President gave a directive to certain Cabinet secretaries in order to incur savings for the government. May we know these …

LACIERDA: This was a suggestion of Secretary Butch Abad. As you know, we buy a lot of office supplies and number of government employees and officials travel a lot within the country. So, the suggestion was to buy in bulk because we understand, according to Secretary Abad, that we can, in fact, generate a savings of around 35 percent. So, that was a suggestion made, and the President directed the economic team—Secretaries [Cesar] Purisima, Abad, and also Secretary Mar Roxas, in so far as the airline tickets are concerned—to discuss with the entities and to come up with a national procurement for us to generate savings.

Gonzales: Sir, we understand that they are also looking at having a special rate where government employees’ subscription to cell phones.

LACIERDA: That is being studied because we need the legality of that. We do not want all the information data base to be under one provider. So, that is—the legality being studied.

Joel Guinto [Bloomberg]: Sir, magkano iyong 35 percent?

LACIERDA: Hindi namin alam. It was just mentioned by Secretary Butch Abad na based on their studies, we can generate around 35 percent of savings kaya pinapaaral kay Secretary Abad. In fact, the groundwork is already being done.

Guinto: Anu-ano iyong mga items na iyon, sir—plane fare, utilities, may office supplies?

LACIERDA: Office supplies, primarily, ang dami naming ino-order na mga office supplies, and then also, air fares. Secretary Mar Roxas volunteered to discuss it with airline companies. Primarily, those things. And doon naman sa cell phone naman, that’s being studied.

Gonzales: Sir, does the Malacañang share the concern expressed by Mr. Manny Pangilinan and also the Philippine Stock Exchange regarding the Supreme Court decision on redefining the definition of capital in the constitutional provision on foreign ownership?

LACIERDA: Mia, we will leave that to the Supreme Court to interpret the meaning of capital. As you know, their decision, their original decision was that the capital refers to the voting stock. And I understand they filed a motion for reconsideration. So, that’s subjudice for now. So, we will leave it with the Supreme Court.

Gonzales: Sir, but Mr. Pangilinan and also the PSE, they expressed concern that—Mr. Pangilinan, in particular—expressed concern that this may lead to economic collapse. And the PSE said that it may result to as much as 630 billion in loss foreign investment.

LACIERDA: Well, as far as the Supreme Court is concerned, I do not wish to speak for the Supreme Court, but I think they would interpret the law as they see it.  So, we’ll just leave it with the Supreme Court. And I’m sure that would be part of the pleadings of Mr. Pangilinan.

Reymund Tinaza [Bombo Radyo]: Sir, doon sa nakatakdang biyahe ng some partylist congressmen sa Spratlys tomorrow—sir, although you’ve mentioned na it’s their independent move, however, dahil sa sensitivity ng issue ngayon, did they ask permission from the President to go to …

LACIERDA: None that I know of. Kaya nga independent iyon eh. Naging decision na lang nila iyon, nila Congresswoman Kaka Bag-ao, nila Congressman Bello, primarily, Akbayan and also si Congresswoman Aglipay of another partylist. So, they did not ask permission from us to do so.

Tinaza: So, you’re confident na hindi magkaroon ng, well, any effect doon sa ongoing dialogue with our China counterpart?

LACIERDA: Hindi naman kasi the Chinese naman deals with the Executive Branch through the DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs] and patuloy naman ang pag-uusap nila. In fact, you’ve noticed that there are some disagreements. But, what’s more important is for us to continue to hold the dialogue with them.

Tinaza: But their security is assured?

LACIERDA: Security ni?

Q: Ng apat na [pupuntang Spratlys].

LACIERDA: Kung lilipad lang naman, Reymund. Madali naman iyan. It won’t be a problem; that won’t be a problem for the congressmen.

Tinaza: With the latest incursions and even …

LACIERDA: I don’t think it’s going to be an issue, Reymund.

Rowena dela Fuente [NET 25]: Sir, just a follow up on the Spratlys na rin, sir. Kasi, some columnists are quoting the President as saying he doesn’t trust China. That statement was  made daw following  the visit of Secretary [Albert] del Rosario in Beijing. Would you care to comment, sir?

LACIERDA: There was no such statement made by the President. If you’re referring to sa sinabi po ng isang kolumnista na, “I don’t trust China”, wala siyang sinabing ganoong statement po. So, there’s no truth to that statement na may sinabi siyang ganoon. So how can you answer something which was not even stated?

Dela Fuente: Pero, sir, iyong the bold statements of the President pertaining to the issue of Spratlys somehow, parang, doon po sila kumukuha ng mga …

LACIERDA: Hindi, consistent naman ang  statements  namin sa DFA. Presidente siya, so we follow the lead of the President. And that’s very, very clear; the President has not made any statement which would rile the relations between China and the Philippines.

Dela Fuente: Sir, on another issue na din. How does the Palace take the paglutang po ni Lintang Bedol and what are your expectations?

LACIERDA: Our expectations are based on what has been stated in the press con, that he knows of some information on the 2004 and 2007. We expect him to, of course, reveal these details. But, we just have to wait for them to substantiate the claims that he made. And according to Secretary Leila De Lima, a while ago, she’s going to, again, assess, and evaluate the testimony of Mr. Bedol.

Dela Fuente: Sir, on the issue na din on election fraud. Would you care to comment on reports that the President daw made a secret visit to Camp Bagong Diwa to meet with Zaldy Amptuan?

LACIERDA: The President did not meet with Zaldy Ampatuan.

Dela Fuente: Sir, what do you think why this issue keeps coming up very persistent despite the position of the government that there is no deal between the government and the Ampatuans?

LACIERDA: I think they are trying to stain this administration and to make it appear that we are coddling the Ampatuan, and that is something that we will never do. We have made that clear, especially to the families of the Maguindanao massacre victims.

Q: Sir, about lang po kasi Bedol, gaano po kayo nakakasiguro na mayroon siyang ipapalabas na dokumento o ebidensiya, sir?

LACIERDA: Hindi namin alam po kung may ilalabas siya. In fact, we are waiting for him—allegedly, mayroon na raw siyang nagawang affidavit. So, hindi pa namin nakikita iyong affidavit. Hindi po namin alam kung ano ang ilalabas niya [o] ipapahiwatig sa sambayanan.

Q: So, sir, paano kung sinabi niya, magsasalita siya pero ang kapalit noon is kalayaan ni Zaldy Ampatuan?

LACIERDA: I think it’s something na, unang-una, separate issue si Zaldy Ampatuan. We’ve already mentioned our position there. And I think, it’s not even something that we can even think about. Hindi namin ine-negotiate iyan—ang Kalayaan ni Zaldy Ampatuan? No. I don’t think that’s possible, even probable. Hindi puwedeng mangyari iyon.

Willard Cheng [Patrol ng Pilipino]:  Hi, sir.  Is the Palace studying the possibility of having other cases filed against Bedol in connection with the 2004 and 2007 elections considering that he is only serving penalty for contempt?

LACIERDA: I  think , number one, Secretary Leila De Lima has mentioned this a while ago and, number two, I spoke to her precisely after the pre-SONA [State of the Nation Address] forum and she mentioned again that she is going to assess the affidavit of, if any, of Mr. Bedol and from there  proceeds.  So, right now, we can’t say one way or the other if a case will be filed. It will all depend  on the testimony of Mr. Bedol.

Roices Sibal [TV 5]: Sir, according to COMELEC Chairman Brillantes, hindi na raw po mahahabol iyong poll fraud na sinasabi noong 2004 kasi tapos na raw iyong   prescribed period. So paano po ngayon hahabulin kaya ng administration iyong sinasabing  fraud?

LACIERDA:  Well, again, kung may prescription na po iyan, eh, ‘di obviously tapos na po iyan. Pero kung sa mga kasong hindi pa ho prescribed, pag-aaralan po ni Secretary Leila De Lima kung ano ang  affidavit ni Lintang Bedol at doon ho babasehan ang kanyang recommendation kung magfa-file ba o hindi. Pero, hindi pa namin nakikita iyong affidavit ni Mr. Bedol. So, there is nothing to say whether we will file a case or not.

And another thing that you should  remember is that according to  Chairman Brillantes also,  and which I think  is also very good to know, is that if there was fraud, notwithstanding the fact that there is, let’s say, prescribed na po iyong electoral fraud—the important thing is to know the truth  pa rin. Especially in  the 2004,  if he has any knowledge of any electoral fraud  during the 2004 elections, and it’s something I think he owes the Filipino people  to reveal.

Sibal: OK. Sir, going back kay Zaldy Ampatuan— sir, kung hindi siya magiging  state witness doon sa case …

LACIERDA:  Massacre case? Hindi na nga.

Sibal:  Yes, sir.  Kung  hindi nga siya  magiging state witness, is  it possible na  magkaroon ng plea bargain agreement  and  if is it legal?

LACIERDA:  … Based on the defense that he presented,   I don’t  there is a  plea bargain  there.  So, how can you plea bargain when he’s admitting that he  has no participation in the crime.  When you say plea bargain he is going to admit to the crime.  So, since he is admitting that he had never participated  in the crime, how do you expect a plea bargain from  that—legally speaking.

Rose Miranda [Abante]:  Sir, may clarification si Col. Mariano na hindi naman daw siya nanawagan para sa ouster ni Presidente. Ang gusto lang daw niya ay baguhin iyong system of government. Reaction lang, sir, ng Palasyo?

LACIERDA:  Unang una, may narinig po kami na parang naloko lang siya. I don’t think he was auditioning as a broadcaster noong ginawa  niya iyon. But, he mentioned that—may mga binitawan siyang salita na “itong kasalukuyang pamahalaan.” So, iyan ay ipaliwanag niya. Although, hindi niya nga minention [mentioned] nang specifically si Pangulong Aquino pero doon naman sa statement niya kita mo naman kung sino ang tinuturingan eh.  So,  ipaliwanag na lang niya at  mahalaga doon ay ang AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] po at saka  ang DND [Department of National Defense] na lang ho ang bahala sa kanya.

Miranda:  May balak din daw ho siyang mag-apologize?

LACIERDA:  Magpaliwanag na rin ho siya.  Kung gusto niyang gumawa ng sulat, nasa sa kanya po iyon.  Mag- apologize  kay  Pangulong Aquino? Nasa sa kanya po iyon. Hindi ho namin siya inaalisan ng karapatang gawin what he thinks is proper.

Miranda:  Tatanggapin ninyo ba, sir, iyong apology niya kung saka-sakali?

LACIERDA:  We’ll ask the President if he sees a letter.

Miranda: But whether kung mag-apologize siya o hindi, tuloy iyong investigation, sir?

LACIERDA: I understand from AFP and DND na tuloy iyong investigation on his statements.

Celerina Monte: Sir, regarding pa rin kay Col. Mariano—so, if ever ba iyong mga benefits niya ay hindi muna mabibigay or what?

LACIERDA:  I understand based on the spokesperson ng navy, i-hold muna. I don’t know the procedure there but that’s what I gathered from the Navy Spokesperson.

Q:  Sir,  going back kay  Lintang Bedol,  pinag-aaralan ng  COMELEC kung  saan siya ide-detain—sa NBI, Crame, and Camp  Bagong Diwa. Sir, kung kayo ang tatanungin saan ba   talaga dapat  i-detain ang isang Lintang Bedol?

LACIERDA: I think ang naging desisyon na—and I can no longer speculate on the matter—the decision was to detain him in Camp Crame.  So, I think that’s no longer subject to my personal opinion.

Q: Sir, sa tingin n’yo ba safe siya doon?

LACIERDA: Yes.

Christine Avendaño [Philippine Daily Inquirer]:  Sir, so the  President will never meet with Zaldy Ampatuan? Will he never go to that level of, you know, meeting him?

LACIERDA: Well, as far as I know. As far as I know.

Avendaño: There is no need  for him to, you know …

LACIERDA:  There is no need for him to meet with Zaldy Ampatuan. Why should there be a need to meet with Zaldy Ampatuan. I cannot fathom the reason why he needs to meet  with Zaldy  Ampatuan.

Avendaño:  Sir,  just on the SONA, mine-mention ba ni Presidente iyong  problem in Spratlys  in the SONA?

LACIERDA:  We are still coming up with the SONA speech yet. So, nothing is final yet.  So, let’s wait for the SONA speech to be delivered on Monday.

Roma Agsalud [RPN 9]: Sir, do you see the appearance of the Bedol as a welcome development, sir?

LACIERDA:  We don’t know yet if his testimony would add anything to what is being claimed right now.   So, we will just have  to wait and see, Roma.

Michael Fajatin [GMA News]: Sir, nagpahayag po  si Chairman Brillantes  na baka nga  mas madami pa nga daw  alam pa si   Ginoong Zaldy  tungkol dito. May ibang concerns naman po na baka iyong pag-iwas niya hindi iyong  pagkakaroon ng deal kundi pagpasok  niya sa Witness Protection  Program at magkaroon siya  ng … at ‘di siya makulong at all. Mayroon na po bang   pagpaparamdam si Ginoong  Zaldy  na pumasok under the Witness Protection Program  kaalinsabay  naman dito sa mga testimonya  niya kaugnay ng eleksiyon?

LACIERDA:  Mike, ang alam ko lang, humingi lang siya ng proteksiyon, but  as to kung nag-apply na siya  to  avail of  the Witness Protection Program, I would have to verify with  Secretary Leila de Lima but  mukhang wala pa e. Mukhang wala pa siyang planong mag-apply. So, we know that he is applying  only for protection  for himself and his family,   but as to  WPP, we are not aware of any.

Fajatin: In  case na siya ay mag-apply, bukas po ang Palasyo dito?

LACIERDA:  We would have to leave that with the Secretary of Justice to determine kasi may mga  qualifications—may requirements  po iyan. So that should be followed and, again, it’s up  to the assessment  of the DOJ to do so.

Fajatin:  So, iyong legalities maliwanag naman po.  Pero,  concerned  po ba ang Palasyo tungkol  dito naman  na  magkaiba nga  itong massacre at  itong mga  election fraud pero iyong pagharap niya  sa hustisya naman, iyong pagkakakulong at pag-under the Witness Protection Program, may  conflict  po ba rito kayong nakikita kung saka-sakali pong mag-apply na siya?

LACIERDA: Conflict as to?

Fajatin: Conflict as to being in jail,  as to being under the Witness Protection Program having some perks?

LACIERDA: I think, right now,  the fact is that  he has been afforded protection—and that’s the  only thing that  he has been  asking for.  Again, I cannot comment on the  application—if any—  of Zaldy Ampatuan under the Witness Protection Program because none  has been made so far.  So, we will just leave it at that  and  we will not   speculate on  any other   than what’s  available under the circumstances.

Q: Sir, iyong congressmen ba, do they have to ask iyong blessings of the Palace?

LACIERDA: No. The legislature’s independent from us.  Why do they have to ask our permission? They may have to coordinate with the AFP, the Navy, but as far as asking permission  from the Executive branch,  I don’t think  it’s required.

Q: But since it involves in relations between two countries, our relations to China …

LACIERDA:  Well, apparently, you learned about it earlier than we did. Obviously, they didn’t even bothered to inform us that they were going to Spratlys. Permission was not even sought from us …

I am not sure what part of Spratlys  they are visiting . So, I don’t know if  it’s a disputed area or the Recto Bank.  But again, I don’t think  it will affect in the long-term our relations with China. Again,  the disputes has always been there  and that is why we are dialoguing with them.

Sibal: Sir, kasi mayroong lumalabas na balita or sabihin na nating haka-haka na script daw ng administrasyon iyong paglabas ni Bedol right after noong pagbaligtad ni Zaldy Ampatuan tungkol naman doon sa poll fraud. Kasi, sir, medyo nakukulayan iyong isyu dahil noong sa Clark, noong event ni Pangulo, mayroon siyang sinabi doon na parang papasok na tayo sa huling yugto ng mga ganito which is the filing of cases. So parang saan nanggagaling iyong confidence ng Pangulo na finally mabibigyan na ng closure iyong mga questionable ano noong nakaraang administrasyon, sir, kung talagang walang kinalaman iyong administration sa paglutang ni Bedol?

LACIERDA:  Let’s not focus on the Zaldy-Bedol angle. We’ve been filing cases even prior to that. In fact, PAGCOR [Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation] has filed cases already on the former PAGCOR officials, PAGCOR Chairman, Pichay has been sued. So, ito lahat eh, sinasabi nga namin na maraming sinasabi na panay batikos kay Gng. Arroyo at sa kaniyang administrasyon, pero ito ngang isang taon po, naghahanap po kami ng ebidensiya. As we’ve said already, the President has tasked the Cabinet Secretaries and Heads of Agencies to look into their own departments and see.

And so these things are coming up and it’s inevitable that we cannot investigate forever without filing a case. So these are cases that—the cases that were filed are product of investigating the respective departments.

 And by the way, mayroon ding sinasabi na porke’t parating na ang SONA—but the SONA is not the end-all and be-all of this administration, it’s the constitutional mandate of the President to report to the legislature, the State of the Nation. With or without that, we will be filing cases. So it’s not because we’re going through the—palapit na po ang SONA. As if naman kapag nag-SONA kami ay iyon na ho ang pinaka-peak ng aming administrasyon, hindi po. Trabaho iyong SONA’ng ho iyan. So tuluy-tuloy ho ang aming imbestigasyon; tuluy-tuloy po ang pagpa-file ng kaso at siguro marami na rin nagsisilabasan eh, gusto na rin nilang ilahad ang katotohanan. And ito po ay isang patunay na itong administrasyon ay seryoso po sa kaniyang campaign slogan na, “kung walang kurap, walang mahirap” that we will investigate the wrong doings and put closure to all these things.

Sibal:  Pero, sir, is the Palace aware even prior na—doon sa paglutang ni Bedol? Aware na ba kayo na lulutang siya eventually?

LACIERDA:  I don’t know—I wouldn’t know that. Personally, we were not aware of that, so I would have to ask sila Secretary Robredo kung—when did they know that, because apparently, we were—at least, kami nakita rin namin iyong interview ni Zaldy Ampatuan kay Anthony Taberna. Hindi rin namin alam kung ano sasabihin niya.

Avendaño: So, sir, sabi niyo kanina, mandate na ipahayag sa tao iyong accomplishments ng Pangulo sa SONA …

LACIERDA:  No, state of the nation.

Avendaño:   State of the Nation, sorry. So, sir, mga accomplishments, programs, and positive sigurado iyon sir? Mai-e-expect ba ng public na hindi lang puro paninira’t batikos sa dating administrasyon ang sasabihin ng Pangulo Aquino?

LACIERDA: Alam mo, tinanong ni Gil iyan sa akin sa text, so humingi ako ng pasensiya kay, Gil. Sinabing embargo muna iyong sagot sa SONA dahil pinag-aaralan pa iyan at ginagawa pa. So, I beg your indulgence if I do not answer any queries on the SONA.

Avendaño:  Sir, paano iyong paghahanda ng Pangulo sa speech niya?

LACIERDA: Well, number one, marami pa rin siyang mga meetings leading up to SONA but—any free time that he has—he looks at the SONA speech and discuss with the speechwriters.

Guinto: Sir, can we say that the—this planned sovereignty mission by AKBAYAN in the Spratlys does not have the blessings of the President?

LACIERDA:  Again, they don’t need it, Joel. It’s not something that they have to get the blessings of the Executive branch. Again, this is the legislature working. They chose to do that and they don’t need to get permission from us.

Guinto: Sir, si Congressman Bello said he was among lawmakers who paid courtesy call on the President yesterday afternoon, and before that, he hosted the press conference on that sovereignty mission. So, he didn’t inform the President?

LACIERDA: I wasn’t in that meeting with the Congressmen—I thought it was all Congresswomen yesterday—No, I wasn’t in that meeting yesterday.

Fajatin:  Sir, last na po. Sir, noong nakaraang taon po, tinanong ko po kayo kung ano po ang SONA ninyo sa nation, naaalala po ba ninyo iyon?

LACIERDA: I don’t remember.

Fajatin:  I asked you what is your SONA and you said …

LACIERDA: [laughs] Don’t ask me that again. No more.

Fajatin: Sir, kung kayo po tatanungin—ilang segundo; tatlo pong segundo siguro—ano pong tunay na kalagayan po ba ng ating bansa ngayon, sa inyong pagtataya?

LACIERDA: The confidence of the government—the confidence of the people towards government institutions have been restored. The attitude of apathy among the people has been removed. That’s the important thing.

Evangeline Fernandez [Police Files]:  Sir …

LACIERDA:  I heard that you have suitor among the pre-SONA forum this morning.

Fernandez:  Sir, [that’s] hearsay only.

LACIERDA: [laughs] I heard you don’t even remember the name. [laughs]

Fernandez: The first name, sir, but the last name I can’t.

Sir, my question: COMELEC Chairman Sixto Brillantes said that it can no longer undo the proclamation of the former President Gloria Arroyo even if it’s proven that she rigged the 2004 Presidential Election and they don’t have any—I mean rather—no jurisdiction to annul any proclamation. Now, sir, ano po ba ang puwedeng legal action na gagawin kay the former President, at kung kakasuhan, puwede bang makulong kung anong charges?

LACIERDA:  Ay hindi ko po ano—I would leave that to the—number one, tama sabi ni Chairman Brillantes eh. What we’re after now is the truth talaga—kung sino po talaga ang nanalo. As to kung ano ang legal remedies, I understand the family of the late FPJ [Fernando Poe, Jr.] wants the electoral officials or those involved to be punished. I don’t know if that is still possible. I would leave that to the legal minds, election lawyers, and experts to venture an opinion on that.

Fernandez: Sir, question—Human Rights Watch said, the lack of on the part of the Aquino government is further fuelling military abuses. No justice just adds to the pain, killings, disappearances, and impunity in the Philippines. No suspects were also prosecuted under his administration. Palace’s reaction, please.

LACIERDA:  That’s not true. I mentioned last Thursday with the—and that’s I think also the question of, Mia—the fact that our—the Chairman on Human Rights is a human rights victim herself: Etta Rosales is proof that we do not condole torture and human right abuses and the relationship between the military and the Human Rights Commission has, in fact, been further strengthen with a number of ongoing discussions among them. So, it’s not true that the military has—is being abusive. In fact, General Oban has made sure that the Human Rights Desk be emphasized in the training orientation of the soldiers.

Fernandez: Sir sabi po ni Lambino, iyong poll fraud kay—the former President, sasagutin daw nila sa tamang forum. Ang ayaw daw nila, ginagawang trial sa pamamagitan ng media. Any comment on this?

LACIERDA: Anong gusto niya? Anong gusto ulit ni Raul Lambino?

Fernandez:  Sir, you’re not listening eh. [laughter in the audience]

LACIERDA:  Ipagpaumanhin mo po, Ginang Vanz Fernandez. [laughs]

Fernandez:   Attorney Lacierda …

LACIERDA:  Yes, Miss Fernandez? [laughter in the audience]

Fernandez:   Sige na nga, sir, election fraud kay dating Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, sabi niya, ni Lambino, sasagutin daw sa tamang forum. Now, ang ayaw lang daw nila, ginagawa daw nila na sa pamamagitan daw ng trial by media.

LACIERDA:  Sasabihin niya magsasalita siya sa tamang forum. Eh akala ko inabisuhan na niya si Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo huwag magsalita kahit saan. So medyo inconsistent yata ang sinabi ni Raul Lambino. He already advised the former President not to speak anymore. So, even if you put her in the proper forum or the appropriate forum, I don’t think that she will speak out already as advised by her legal spokesperson. That’s kind of inconsistent for him to say so.

Fernandez: Sir, last question. Ano pong agenda niyo yesterday sa Cabinet meeting?

LACIERDA: Sorry?

Fernandez: Cabinet meeting ninyo yesterday, iyong agenda po?

LACIERDA: Wala lang, ano lang po iyon, assessment lang po noong—mid-year assessment lang po. So, ongoing ho iyon.

Avendaño: On the—iyong Spratly, what’s this …  So does the Palace approve this, sir?

LACIERDA:  Whether we approve it or not, it’s a done deal; they’re going. So nandoon na iyon. What’s important is that—what we would like to emphasize is that China and the Philippines maintained a dialogue with each other.

Guinto:  Sir, is that trip necessary in furthering our claim to the Spratlys?

LACIERDA: The necessity of the trip is subject to the discretion of those who are going or who will be going. So it’s not something for us to dictate on them.

Gonzales: Sir, what they did should not … Philippine government?

LACIERDA: What they will do will not reflect in the relations between China and the Philippines.

Gil Bugaoisan [Daily Tribune]: So, it’s really an official trip?

LACIERDA: As far as the legislature is concerned, it’s an official trip. It’s their trip. I’m sure that they informed the House Leadership of that trip.

Fernandez: Sir, Col. Mariano is trying to cop-out—palusot, sir—kasi he will not receive any benefits from his retirement and no one supported him. At this time, parang nagsisisi siya. Now, ano pong magagawa ng Malacañang dito aside from na sinabi niyo na AFP and DND to investigate this matter?

LACIERDA:  Hinahayaan na po namin sa AFP at saka DND, bahala ho sila mag-investigate.

Fernandez:   Kasi, there were damages against the administration.

LACIERDA:  Mukhang wala. It’s a unilateral statement. So, it’s up to—ikaw na nagsabi walang sumunod. So, it’s up to them; it’s up to the leadership of AFP and DND whatever is necessary.

Fernandez: So, he’s not pertaining to the administration that took up last June 24, 2011—the video clip.

LACIERDA: Oh, he’s claiming he wasn’t referring to this administration? Again, that’s a matter of reviewing the tape and seeing the statement that he made and that’s up to the DND and the AFP to evaluate.

Q:  Sir, regarding doon sa Spratlys pa rin—mayroon bang plan if ever na even if it’s not in the near future or within his administration that the President will visit itong Kalayaan Group of Islands just to strengthen our claim over those islands?

LACIERDA: I wouldn’t know. I wouldn’t know if that’s going to be part of the plan.

Q:   So, right now, wala?

LACIERDA: Right now, wala, none that we know of.

 

ENDS