Speech at the 4th Pahinis Festival

PHOTOS: At top photo, Senator Panfilo M. Lacson (left) appaluds one of the highlights of the 4th Pahinis Festival in Laua-an town in Antique province on January 29. With him are Mayor Aser Baladjay and Antique Gov. Salvacion Perez. The lower photo shows Lacson, the gust of honor at the event, deliver his address.

(Speech delivered by Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson on January 29, 2009 in Laua-an, Antique)

You know, on the way here, I was talking to several people. Nagtanung-tanong din ako about Laua-an, and I came to a conclusion, if only Laua-an is the Republic of the Philippines, siguro masaya ang mga Pilipino.

One reason – I learned na walang utang ang munisipyo pero mayroon pang surplus na P13 million for this year, kaya sinabi ko, kung itong Laua-an ay Republika ng Pilipinas, sana wala tayong binabayaran na trilyon taun-taon sa WB, sa IMF, sa mga creditor banks kung saan-saan, year after year. 

We’re suffering a budget deficit of at least P200 billion, ang ibig sabihin nito, not only us but our children, our grandchildren will have to pay for the deficit, for the debt that wala naman silang kinalaman, na wala tayong kinalaman, ito’ y hiniram ng ating mga iba’t ibang administrasyon, tayo ngayon ang nagbabayad, tayo ang nagsa-suffer.

Whenever I’m asked by foreign media, by local media, foreigners, anyone, ‘Mr. Senator what is the number one problem of this country?’ I have consistently replied, ‘The number one problem of this country is government, but it is also government that is the solution.’

A government that is badly governed, badly led, ang magsa-suffer yung mga taong bayan. You know, kade-deliberate lang namin sa budget for 2009, it is worth P1.415 trillion, of course minus P200 million that I have consistently given up year after year, my pork barrel allocation.

Sa kaalaman ng mga hindi pa nakakaalam, ang pork barrel, ito po ang ibinibigay, ina-appropriate sa bawat senador, sa bawat kongresista para ipagpagawa ng mga kalsada sa kanilang mga distrito, para ipagpagawa ng mga tulay, ipagpagawa ng mga eskuwelahan.

Ito rin ang ginagamit, o bahagi nito ay ginagamit para pantulong sa mga mahihirap para bigyan ng gamot, bigyan ng serbisyo ng duktor ang ating mga kababayang mahihirap pero what is really happening with the pork barrel system?

We hear about 20-percent commission, 35-percent commission, 40-percent commission, and to those greed is beyond imagination, yung iba 100 percent ang kinakaltas sa kanilang pork barrel allocation, ghost delivery na ang umaabot sa kanilang constituents, and people seem not to mind anymore, kasi they see it on a day-to-day basis, parang pangkaraniwan na lamang ninanakaw ang kaban ng bayan.

I was telling the good governor, may provision, special provision in the 2009 budget that we are fighting against, ang sinasabi doon, if a local government unit is capable of building their own schoolbuildings or classrooms at ‘yung budget manggagaling doon sa 2009 GAA as provided, kailangan pa raw ng concern ng congressman, why? And who put it there? Naturally, the congressmen.

They are fighting progress in that manner, kaya na nga ng munisipyo ng Laua-an for example, to build a schoolbuilding, kaya na ng probinsiya ng Antique to build a schoolbuilding or schoolbuildings in the entire province using government funds, using the national budget, pero hindi sila makakagalaw without the concurrence of their congressman or congressmen. Is that fair? No! And we are fighting against it, I filed a resolution calling for an investigation as to why that particular provision or special provision was inserted in the GAA bill, which is now enrolled bill to be submitted to the president for her veto or approval.

I was telling the good governor, labanan ninyo!

If you can talk to the other governors, if you can talk to the other mayors, tell them be united, stand as one and fight that particular provisions and many other provisions because there are so many insertions in the budget na hindi natin nakikita.

They deducted P50.1 billion from the debt service interest payment.

On the surface, that’s good. Babawasan ‘yung pambayad utang, but where would the P50.1 billion go? That is the bigger question, pupunta ito sa mga additional pork barrel allocations ng mga congressmen, ng mga senador.

Mabuti na lang sana kung ‘yung pork barrel allocations, the entire amount minus the profit of the contractor, minus VAT and minus the incidental expenses lamang ang mababawas, but the reality, kakapiraso lang ‘yung umabot sa ating mga kababayan.

That is why in this country, unlike in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, and the US, dito pag may kaunti kang naipon, pag nagkasakit ka o any member of your family gets sick, ubos ang inipon mo, and kung wala kang perang naipon at ikaw ay nagkasakit o maski na sinong miyembro ng iyong pamilya ay magkasakit, patay ka! You will never have the opportunity to even see a doctor! To even take a tablet of medicine. Why? It’s not because the Philippines is poor. We are rich in resources, we are rich even in human resources, kapag nagpupunta ang ating mga kababayan sa abroad, they excel in their own field, but why are we poor until now?

Thirty, forty, fifty years ago, the Philippines was number one in all of Asia, or number 2 next to Japan, but now we’re number one but not in progress, not in the economy, we’re number one in corruption.

And that is why we remain poor, that is why our countrymen are suffering. But a good government, a government that is properly led, that is the solution for problems, for all our problems!

And the number one problem in our government is corruption, that is why I and some of my colleagues, we fight corruption no matter what the cause, kapag mayroong anomalya, we really don’t care kung sino ang tatamaan sa aming expose, I for one, I’ve been at the receiving end of a massive negative campaign because of my stand against corruption and the only way they can fight it is to destroy the character of the person, of the messenger. But I will go on and continue bringing to the attention of our countrymen the shenanigans in government, this bad governance that we have. I will not tire informing our people kung mayroon talagang corruption at anomalies na nangyayari.

That is the only we can serve our people, that is the only way we can render the necessary social services – health, education – ito ‘yung nade-deny sa ating mga kababayan. You know, I was born to poor parents. That’s why it’s a great feeling to go to the countryside like Laua-an.

The moment I set foot in Laua-an, bumalik ‘yung alaala ko when I was a child, mahirap din ang buhay noon, you know. But the public school system, ‘yung pampublikong edukasyon could very well compete with the most popular universities and schools in Metro Manila dahil ‘yung pondo para sa education bumababa para mag-provide ng libreng public education sa ating mga kabataan. When you get sick, when you need your tooth to be pulled, nariyan mayroong dentista, mayroong doctor, kung hindi man doctor, paramedic. But they rendered the social services that need to be rendered to our people. Over time lahat nawala, everything has deteriorated.

Noong araw, patas ang laban.  Even if you’re poor, maski you’re born poor, you are accorded the equal or equal opportunities na ibinibigay noon sa mga anak mayaman, you can compete, and that can only be the result of a good governance, a good government, but a bad government cannot provide the social services and the opportunities na kailangang ibiga sa ating mga kababayan.

Noong araw, patas na patas ang laban, equal ang opurtunidad, kung mayroon kang talento, kung mayroon kang talino, you will excel and you will reach what you are aspiring for. Kung mayroon kang pangarap, matutupad. Ngayon, napakahirap mag-compete because the opportunities are unequal.

Pag mahirap ka parang wala nang pag-asang makabangon sa kahirapan, parang wala nang pag-asang makaasenso. That can only be changed, if we the Filipino people will get united and stand at once in bringing to the attention of our leaders the wrongdoings in our government and Laua-an is a very good role model.

I was talking to the good mayor, pati ‘yung mga isda na siguro naging extinct na sa ibang mga lugar, they continue to swim in your rivers, because of citizens’ participation. Pati ‘yung kagubatan, ‘yung bantay gubat, naandiyan ‘yung mga kababayan, they are one in reporting kung mayroong nagsusunog sa inyong kabundukan. Kung mayroong nagpo-poaching, hinuhuli pinangungunahan mismo ni mayor at hindi sila makakapag-ulit pang manghuli within the municipal waters, and that is the kind of governance that this municipality, that our country needs.

There’s no other way. Ang tawag namin doon when I was still studying in the PMA, leadership by example. There can be no other way, there’s no substitute to leadership by example, and leaders cannot impose on his subordinates, on his subalterns what he himself cannot practice, hindi puwedeng preach ka lang ng preach, sabihin mo ‘wag niyong gawin ito, masama ito pero nakikita nila ‘yung lider nila kabaligtaran ang ginagawa. It won’t work, you will be found out, the leader will be discovered in sooner or later.

Kanina nabanggit ni Sangguniang Bayan Member Sarmiento, when I was Chief PNP, I was not stealing from the PNP funds, I was downloading, binababa ko ‘yung resources down to the front units, yung mga stations, the result was nag-triple ‘yung pondo or even nagdoble. Nag-quadruple even the gasoline allocation, but if the leader of the country is stealing from the government coffers, ano ‘yung bababa doon sa mga LGUs, wala, aasa sila sa sarili nilang income.

Again, I’d like to express my appreciation for the privilege given to me by the honorable mayor for being a part of the 4th Pahinis festival and the 94th foundation of the municipality of Laua-an.

Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat!

*****

Lacson Moves to Toughen Procurement Law vs Blacklisted Contractors

In the wake of contractors being allowed to bid for government infrastructure projects despite being blacklisted by the World Bank, Senator Panfilo M. Lacson sought to toughen the government’s procurement law.

Lacson pushed to amend the implementing rules of Republic Act 9184, where the blacklisting of a prospective contractor by a foreign agency will be enough to disqualify it from the bidding.

“Under Section 23.6(d) of the present implementing rules and regulations, a bidder is qualified to join the bidding, if it is not ‘blacklisted’ or barred from bidding by the Philippine government. We should toughen our procurement law by making a blacklisting by a foreign agency like the World Bank a basis for disqualification. This is one way to protect our procurement system from corruption,” he said.

Lacson lamented that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) allowed some World Bank-blacklisted firms to continue bidding in government projects, saying this gives the Philippines yet another black eye.

He said that even if the government invokes the implementing rule to justify the continued participation of the blacklisted firms, this will send the wrong signal to the world that the Philippines tolerates – if not encourages – corruption. “This is especially glaring considering that one of the contractors who was blacklisted but still allowed to bid has been shown to be close to very powerful personalities,” he said.

During the Senate hearing on alleged collusive practices among contractors that marred World Bank-funded projects, Lacson cited entries from an appointments book of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo showing Atty. Arroyo met at least 20 times in 2002 alone with Eduardo de Luna – a contractor who along with his firm the World Bank permanently barred from bidding for WB-funded projects.

On the other hand, he said the Ombudsman should be taken to task for sitting on the case of the Filipino contractors blacklisted by the World Bank.

Documents reaching Lacson showed the World Bank transmitted its findings to the Department of Finance (DOF) on November 16, 2007. The DOF forwarded this report to the Office of the Ombudsman on November 19, the next working day. “Had the Ombudsman performed her task, the firms could have been blacklisted and the story would have been different,” Lacson said.

Also, Lacson said this should be all the more to continue hearings on the mess involving World Bank-funded projects, “with or without eyewitnesses” to a P70-million bribery attempt in April 2003.

“There is now more reason to continue the hearings instead of terminating the same since there is an obvious flaw in this provision of Republic Act 9184. Besides, we should not be insensitive to the findings of the World Bank. It will be our own misdoing if we ignore the same,” he said.

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Lacson Bill Lets People Monitor Budget Process

The "scheming and scamming" that allowed corruption to creep into the budget will soon be countered with a bill allowing ordinary people to keep watch over all aspects of the budget process.

Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson filed Senate Bill No. 3020, which not only aims to stop corruption but also institutionalizes people's access to information on how taxpayers' money is being spent.

"Now is the time for Congress to recognize the importance of the direct participation by POs and NGOs in the budget deliberation.  We should now institutionalize the practice of legislature-civil society collaboration in order to achieve a people-oriented budget as well as establish transparency and accountability in the budget process," Lacson said in his bill.

He lamented the lack of transparency that allowed corruption to creep into national budgets in past years, even in the national budget for 2009.

In the 2009 budget, he said the bicameral conference committee met only once but the chairmen passed the budget for ratification without calling a second meeting. The resulting budget bill turned out to include questionable provisions, including one requiring the local congressman's concurrence before building a school.

Lacson said his bill institutionalizes people’s access to information regarding how taxpayers’ money is being spent. "In a way, this is likewise an anti-corruption measure," he said.

He also noted Philippine societies can learn from countries such as Brazil, South Africa and India, where mechanisms of citizens’ participation in the budget process has become both law and tradition, and improved the delivery of basic social services and improved many lives.

In the Philippines, he said many civic society groups have already moved forward and gotten involved in the budget process by submitting alternative budgets highlighting much-needed appropriation for social services.

"In fact the efforts of these groups have made such a remarkable difference in the 2007 General Appropriations Act, wherein there was an increase of P22.7 billion in additional proposals for Millennium Development Goal (MDG) related activities, and an approval of the P5.5 billion for social services, according to NEDA’s MDG Report in 2007," he noted.

Under the bill, the Senate, House of Representatives and local legislative bodies recognize registered people’s organizations and non-government organizations and allow them to participate in budget deliberations.

An accredited NGO or PO can participate in public meetings and hearings, and submit own alternative or proposed budgets or position papers. They will have access to the copies of the bills, budget proposals, and other pertinent documents filed with or coming from both Houses of Congress and local government units concerned, free of charge.

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Lacson Seeks Senate Probe of P12.5-B SSS Funds for Stimulus Plan

A Senate investigation looms over a plan to channel some P12.5 billion in private sector workers’ pension funds for the government’s “economic resiliency plan.”

Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson filed Senate Resolution 850, directing the Senate committee on government corporations and public enterprises to investigate the use of Social Security System funds.

“To use the hard-earned money of its members to finance the government’s programs for the poor as well as to help private companies tide over the consequences of the financial crisis is nothing more but a slap to the faces of the 27 million SSS members who are being cheated of what is rightfully theirs,” Lacson said in his resolution.

Lacson also voiced suspicions such a big amount may eventually find its way to administration coffers in the 2010 elections.

“Questions should also be raised as to the timing of the release of the said funds which is perilously close to the campaign period and even to the actual election itself such that said funds might be used only to further the political ambitions of the administration’s allies to the detriment of the SSS members,” he said.

Lacson pointed out the SSS’ main function as decreed by its charter is to extend social security protection to workers and their beneficiaries.

Yet, he voiced dismay that SSS president Romulo Neri claimed the SSS will “contribute” P12.5 billion to the P300-billion economic stimulus fund of the present administration;

Neri claimed the said SSS funds may be allocated to products with sovereign guarantee as provided in its charter.

Lacson reminded Neri that the SSS administration’s “first and foremost” duty is to protect the interest and welfare of its members, who in the first place are the source of its funds.

On the other hand, Lacson noted that Neri’s predecessor, Corazon dela Paz, had urged all SSS members to be vigilant against groups and individuals who may want to use their pension funds especially “for an agenda not legally allowed under the SSS Charter.”

“The arrogant move by SSS President Neri to give P12.5 billion of private pension funds to the stimulus program of the government is made without the knowledge of the SSS members concerned, when in reality these fund owners should have a say as to how their money should be spent,” he said.

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Lacson Bares Scheming, Scamming in Budget

Billions of pesos in funds for schoolbuildings are held “hostage” to congressmen in the P1.41-trillion budget for 2009, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson bared Monday.

Lacson told a media forum this was one of the many instances of “scheming and scamming” in the budget, whose ratification by the Senate he opposed last Thursday.

“A special provision in the DepEd budget says schoolbuildings need the concurrence of the local congressman. What does the local congressman have to do with building the school?  If the local government has the capability, why do you need the congressman’s concurrence?” he said.

With such a provision, he said a subcontractor building a school may need to offer bribes to “intermediaries” to get the approval of the congressman involved.

As a result, he said the resulting structures will become substandard and be easily damaged or destroyed, often in months.

“The national budget is the lifeblood of the country. But unlike human blood that goes through an anatomical process of cleaning and cleansing, the budget process in this country goes through a lot of scheming and scamming,” he said.

Earlier, Lacson questioned the speedy ratification of the 2009 budget, where the bicameral conference committee submitted the budget for ratification after only one meeting.

During the first bicameral conference committee meeting, Lacson said they allowed the chairmen of the Senate and House finance committees, Sen. Edgardo Angara and Rep. Junie Cua, to iron out between themselves the disagreeing provisions in the Senate and House versions of the budget.

But he said no notice was given to the bicameral conference committee members for another meeting, with the budget being submitted for ratification only last week.

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Lacson Will Hear Ethics Cases Simultaneously

Putting brawn on the Senate committee on ethics, Senator Panfilo M. Lacson today said he would conduct concurrent hearings on at least three complaints pending before the Senate body.

Interviewed over radio, Lacson said he will meet with the members of the committee at 1 p.m. Wednesday to discuss the rules and procedures to be adopted for the swift and impartial conduct of  the hearings. He said the rules have to be updated and published anew in the official gazette. 

Lacson said the preliminary hearings would probably start by first week of February and if probable cause is found, the proceedings will be elevated into a full-blown trial in accordance with the committee’s adjudicatory function.

Presently pending before the committee are resolutions filed by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago regarding the November 2007 Manila Peninsula siege involving fellow Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

Also with the committee are resolutions filed by Lacson and Senator Joker Arroyo seeking to unmask who was behind the alleged leak of information during the executive session with former National Economic Development Authority chairman Romulo Neri in connection with the $329.48-million ZTE broadband deal mess.

Third is the ethics case against Senator Manuel Villar which stemmed from a complaint lodged by Senator Ana Consuelo Madrigal over alleged conflict of interest involving the C-5 road extension project between Parañaque and the South Luzon Expressway.

Lacson said that while the subjects of the complaints will have due process, he will not let the minority bloc’s “snub” of the ethics committee stymie the investigations.

“The decision of the Senate in the plenary is we can proceed and we cannot be held hostage (by the minority).  I have sent a notice to minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., being an ex-officio member, and it is up to him to attend. I did not send notices to the minority members anymore.  We cannot be kept from functioning just because the minority refuses to name representatives to the ethics committee,” he said.

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Random Drug Testing Should Help Curb Drug Menace

Saying it is an effective part of a one-two punch against the drug menace, opposition Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson threw his support Thursday behind government plans to conduct random drug testing.

Lacson, a former Philippine National Police chief, said random drug testing should bring down demand for drugs by discouraging its use, especially among students and youths.

“Random drug testing will eventually constrict the market for illegal drugs, thus adversely affecting the supply and its manufacturers. It is likewise so provided under the Dangerous Drugs Act as amended,” he said.

He said that when he headed the PNP, he adopted a two-pronged strategy to combat the drug menace – reducing demand and constricting supply.

Under the strategy, while law enforcers go after big-time drug dealers and their suppliers, they will also mount efforts to discourage people from using drugs.

“(Thus), random drug testing is one effective component of a longstanding two-pronged strategy in combating the drug menace in the country, namely the demand reduction aspect,” he said.

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Peralta Went Through the Proper Process

Amid questions surrounding his appointment, new Supreme Court associate justice Diosdado Peralta went through the proper screening process and deserves a chance to prove his worth.

Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson pointed this out as he said Peralta passed a “tedious and unprecedented transparent” screening process by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

“If there are doubts to his competence and integrity, those who question the same should have raised the issues while he was under scrutiny by the JBC as it is the right forum for such arguments,” Lacson said.

Besides, Lacson said Peralta’s selection by Malacañang to the high court did not appear to involve any shortcuts.

Some sectors had questioned Peralta’s appointment, saying it was a reward for convicting former President Joseph Estrada for plunder in 2007.

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Lacson Throws Full Support Behind Chief Justice Puno

Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson on Thursday threw his full support behind Chief Justice Reynato Puno, who he described as the beacon that moral forces are looking for as a leader of the nation.

Lacson said he is willing to defer to Puno, who had shown his independence from Malacañang on several occasions, and convince his supporters to shift their bedrock support to the Chief Justice.

“I myself will unequivocally exhaust all my energy, talent and resources to support his bid, and all the way. I firmly believe that only when the righteous are in authority that people can rejoice. But if we allow the wicked to rule, we will always hear our people groan in suffering and disgust,” he said.

Amid talk of moves to impeach him, Puno on Wednesday stressed the need for a “moral force” to manifest itself.

Puno said the main problem of the country is not so much the legal system but the moral decadence of the people.

Lacson said he is willing to support Puno all the way should he decide to lead the country.

“In God’s time, if and when he decides to rise up to the challenge, I shall under any circumstances defer to him right away and convince my solid followers to shift their bedrock support to the Chief Justice,” he said.

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Sen. Lacson's Interview on Pasada 630, dzMM (January 10, 2009)

Q: May balak po ba kayo tumakbo sa 2010?

A: Tama, may balak ako pero wala pang decision.

 

Q: Kailan kayo magdedesisyon?

A: May mga factors kasi. Siyempre lahat na nababanggit namumustura pero sa takdang panahon may factors na iko-consider, (tulad ng) opportunity at ang tinatawag na resources, or organization. Kasama na yan. Hindi lang ang intention tumakbo o lumahok ang kinokonsiera ko, pero marami pang iba.

 

Q: Tumakbo kayo noong 2004.

A: Tatapatin ko kayo. Ang malaking balakid, resources. Ang ibang binanggit na tatakbo, puno sila ng resources. Wala akong pork barrel, advocacy yan (at) talagang hindi ko gagamitin yan maski ma-deny ako ng resources at pakikisama ng local government units.

 

Q: Nag-e-expose kayo ng corruption, may mga kaso pa bang darating?

A: Hanggang hindi natatapos ang corruption, hindi natatapos ang expose. Ang pinakamalaking problema ng bansa, ang gobyerno. Kung tinama ang gobyerno matatama ang buong bansa. Kung ang gobyerno at ang namumuno mismo ang nagnanakaw (sa) bayan kaya malakas ang adhikain ko laban sa corruption, ito ang kumikitil sa buhay ng ating bansa. Ang budget, kung paglalaruan at sasamantalahin, ang P1.415-trillion budget sa 2009, kung ito hindi iayos ang pag-allocate ng resources, maski ang paggamit, hindi tama sa dapat puntahan, maswerte na tayo kung 40 to 50% lang ang mapupunta sa dapat puntahan. You can just imagine ang pork barrel ia-allocate sa paggawa ng kalsada, ang kontratista walang pag-aabonohan kung magbibigay sa mayor, sa DPWH, COA, sa DBM. Bilangin ninyo kung magkano ang maiwan kay Juan dela Cruz na dapat silbihan. Substandard kasi walang pagkukunan ang kontratista.

 

Q: Ang kaso ng subdivision road ni Sen. Villar?

A: Pwedeng tulay, iskwelahan o infrastructure o social services, o gamot ... ang textbook ganoon din. Ang fertilizer ghost pa.

 

Q: Walang exception?

A: Sa nakikita natin.

 

Q: Wala na bang malinis na ahensya?

A: May departamento siguro na exception pero kilala natin kung ano ang department na talamak sa katiwalian. Kita ng mga mata natin na tumutulo ang bubong ng iskwelahan, lubak-lubak ang mga kalsada, ang tulay bumabagsak agad. Walang napaparusahang kontratistang pwedeng tumuro.

 

Q: Ano ang unang dapat gawin?

A: Dapat i-correct ang government.

 

Q: I-correct dapat ang gobyerno.  There are only 1.5 million government officials and employees. Kung tinama natin ang governance from bad to good, ang 88.7 million Filipinos, susunod. Kaya hindi sumusunod ang population at large, ninanakawan sila ng dapat nila sundin. Ako very clear ang vision ko kung paano suplin ang problema. Gobyerno ang problema. When you correct government you will be able to solve a lot of problems in this country.

 

Q: Paano ninyo gagawin iyan?

A: Kasi ang government employees, subject sa administrative sanctions. Ang presidente, sa Pilipinas ang presidente napaka-powerful.  Dito sa Pilipinas, napakatibay ng poder ng pangulo. Kung magamit ito sa pag-correct ng tiwaling opisyal marami ang pwedeng gawin. At hanggang hindi pa naitutuwid ang asal pagka namumuno, pinapayagang magnakaw sa ilalim, lahat magnanakaw. Leadership by example. Yan ang basic. Hindi pwedeng pinuno ng ahensya o pangulo sasabihan ang subordinate na huwag magnakaw pero kung ang mismong pangulo at malapit sa pangulo ang nangunguna sa pagnanakaw, do you expect ang mga subaltern na sumunod? Hindi eh.

 

Q: Martial Law na ba ang kailangan?

A: Ang ima-Martial Law, ang gobyerno, hindi ang tao. Kasi ang taong gobyerno subject to administrative sanctions, hindi lang criminal aspect ang pwedeng ituwid kundi pwedeng i-suspend, i-discharge, marami, pero hindi ginagawa kasi naging talamak, nagsimula sa itaas ang pag-commit ng katiwalian. Kung hindi ganyan ang situation maraming career official na matino. Sa COA, maraming matino. Kaya lang nafu-frustrate sila. Halimbawa sa COA, sa fertilizer scam halos nagtatawanan kami kasi helpless sila sa situation. Sino lang ang pwedeng mag-disburse ng P728 million? Hindi ba Malacañang lang? Ang puno’t dulo, hindi pwede gawing accountable. Pero kung ang puno can account for his or her action, palagay ko maraling pasunurin ang sa gobyerno kung nakita ang sinusundan at susundin tama ang ginagawa. ... Kaya dapat magsimula sa taas. Leadership by example. Without it, down the line, yung pinuno ng department o bureau o maliit na branch sa ahensya, leader din yan. Pero dapat magpakita ng magandang ehemplo ang leaders. Noong Chief PNP ako, I led by example (kaya) wala silang reason para hinddi sumunod sa akin.

 

Q: Pag nandoon ka na kinakain ka ng sistema.

A: Totoo yan.  Pero nasa iyo ang lahat na power. At papasunurin mo naman hindi ang 88.7 million Filipinos, ang pasusunurin mo 1.5 million government employees, mas madaling i-manage yan kesa sa ima-Martial Law mo ang Pilipinas, hindi yan ang solution. Sa akin ang ima-Martial Law ang gobyerno, ang taong gobyerno. Covered sila ng rules and regulations, civil service law, at administrative procedures.

 

Q: Kamusta na ang budget?

A: Naghain ako ng motion noong unang meeting ng bicameral conference committee, adopted ito unanimously. Ang budget dineliberate sa Senado na may media at may gallery, bakit tinatago sa bicameral conference committee?  Kaya ginawa ko unang meeting for the 2009 budget naghain ako motion we should not keep it from the public view. Dapat bantayan ng media at taong nakakaintindi ng budget.  Sino ang nag-insert, sino ang nagdagdag ng pork, sino ang may interest? Itong budget nagbawas ng P14.7 billion sa interest payments ang House. Pagdating sa Senate nagbawas pa ng P10 billion, pero may pinaglagyan. Saan ito napunta? Dapat manood kayo, kung sino ang representative ninyo sa Senate and Congress para maintindihan ng publiko. ... Pinagaralan ko. P14.7 billion sa House. Pag binawasan mo debt service lalaki ang deficit, it doesn’t make sense. Out of the P14.776 billion for debt service, nagbawas uli ng P3.5 billion galing sa miscellaneous personnel fund. Nagbawas uli P1.6 billion from DAR. So ang total P19 billion, almost P20 billion. Ang debt servicing P14 billion sa Senado, may P10 billion pang binawas. Saan ito napunta? Sa DPWH, P8.1 billion.  Bakit DPWH? Infrastructure. Bakit infrastructure? Yan ang gagagamitin sa election. Another P3.5 billion, napunta sa LGU. Bakit? Election na naman ... Ano iyan? Ito dapat maliwanagan sa deliberation at hindi sa amin lang. Ang nangyayari sa bicameral conference committee bulungan lang. Hindi ko papakialaman ang in-insert mo, huwag mong pakialaman ang in-insert ko. Ang talo ang taxpayer. Kayo, may withholding tax kada 15-30 babawasan ang tax ... E pag nakakarinig ka P8.7 billion napunta sa public works di ba nakakasama ng loob? Kinontak ko ang mga advocacy groups, pumunta kayo pag naka-schedule ang bicameral conference committee, pumunta kayo. Pag nandoon ang media palagay ko open ang discussion. Walang magbubulungan. Itong budget nga ang dugo ng bayan eh. Lahat yan dadaan sa motion. Pag mag-amend ka at sa disagreeing provisions, open. Hindi pwede ang tago. Ako member parati sa bicameral conference committee. Bukod sa main group nandoon lahat na members, may small group na papasok sa maliit na kwarto at maguusap-usap. Pero kung open lahat ito, nandoon ang kung sino ang gustong pumunta, palagay ko mahihiya ang kongresista at senador. Kaya ang mga ko-cover pag tumawag ng meeting ang bicameral conference committee, sana punuin ninyo ang lugar, bantayin ang deliberation. At kung mag-take notes, malalaman natin sino ang malakas humataw sa insertion. P200 million na ng (ang pork) sa senador, P70 million sa congressman, sa iba di pa kasya, hahataw pa.

 

Q: Ang mga pulitiko, mga commission na hinihingi 40%...

A: Ang 20% maliit, ang iba aabot ng 60%. Kung ang tulay na P10 million, hihingi ang legislator ng 40%, nawala agad ang P4 million, P6 million na lang sa project. At magbabayad ng VAT ang contractor, minus 12%, hihingi pa ang mayor ng building permit, hanggang sa barangay at NPA. Anong maiiwan sa project? Maswerte kung P10 million na bridge ... at ang VAT mababawasan ng commission, ang tulay babagsak sa isang taon o hindi aabot ng anim na buwan. Ganoon ang kalsada natin ngayon.

 

Q: Ang ibang kalsada hindi matapos ang construction.

A: Baka hindi rin matapos ang paghingi. Naghihintay ng lagay

 

Q: Ang iba, bubutasin ang gagawin uli.

A: Pwedeng ireklamo yan. Ang buhay ng pondo sa isang project, two years pinakamahaba.

 

Q: Ang iba sinasagad ng dalawang taon.

A: Iba na yan, repairs na siguro yan ... Kasi nga may kita. Kung matino ang paggawa, sandali lang, tapos na yan. Yan malaking problema natin kaya it’s about time bantayan ang budget. Pera natin yan... (Baka sa bulungan), dadadagdagan ang ibang departamento at babawasan sa iba pero nagusap sila. Magdadagdag ng P100 million pero ako mag-identify ng project.

 

Q:  Sino ang mga senador na suportado na bantayin ang budget?

A: Meron naman. Pero pag sinabi ko kung sino lalabas ang hindi.

 

Q: Sa kaso ng Alabang Boys, nasasangkot ang DOJ dahil sa corruption.

A: It boils down to corruption. Ayaw natin maging judgmental pero ako naintindihan ko ang sentiment ng PDEA. Isang buwan mo ibi-buildup ang kaso, tapos nahuli mo at nariyan ang ebidensya ... ang probable cause madaling i-establish yan.

 

Q: Maraming hanga kay Maj. Marcelino.

A: Yan dapat ang nasa gobyerno. Despite poverty at napakalaking temptation hindi siya bumigay. Marami pang (tulad niya) pero di nilalathala. Pero maraming Maj. Marcelino sa loob ng gobyerno. Kaya mainam na pinaguusapan siya kasi ang iba nagde-derive ng inspiration sa kanya... Darating ang panahon di mo akalain ma-recognize ang credibility ng isang tao. Pinagpupurihan natin ang PDEA without casting aspersion sa DOJ, di natin nakita ang resolution.

 

Q: Gaano kalala ang problema ng droga?

A: 6.7 million Filipinos are users, hindi ba malala na yan.

 

Q: Sabi sa isang study, RP has the most number of drug users in Asia.

A: Number 1 tayo sa corrption at drugs, di ba pwedeng Number 1 tayo na maganda pakinggan?

 

Q: Mas malala ang Pilipinas sa China sa droga?

A: Kung numero ang paguusapan, hindi siguro tayo makalampas sa China and India. Per capita- siguro or percentage-wise siguro, mataas ang Pilipinas. Ang 6.7% of 88.7 million, how many among 1.4 billion Chinese or 1billion Indians? Kung numero mas mataas siguro sila pero percentage mas mataas tayo.

 

Q: Ang iba social user lang daw?

A: Siguro hambing sa social drinker. Pero sa drugs walang social user. If you’re a user, you’re a user, period. Siguro social drinking, kung may occasion di na kaghahanap. Sa droga di pwede social user. Kung nag-iisa ka at ikaw adik maghahanap ka.

 

Q: Hindi raw sila adik.

A: Kung gumamit ka, adik ka na talaga.

 

Q: Ang corruption sa sistema, isang dahilan ng patuloy na pagpasok ng droga sa Pilipinas?

A: Ang batas sapat naman. Binaba ang quantity na mahuli ka, 200 grams na lang ang sa shabu. Dati kilo ang pinaguusapan. Binawasan na, pinasa namin last Congress.

 

Q: Martial Law sa droga?

A: Malinaw ang strategy ng paglaban sa droga, demand and supply reduction, constriction of supply.

 

Q: Pero tuloy pa rin ang pagpasok ng droga.

A: Siguro ang Pilipinas ginawang laboratory kasi maluwag ang institution. Halimbawa ang Bureau of Customs, tapos ang haba ng coastline di matitingnan kung dadaong ang may dala ng droga. Minsan regular port pumapasok dahil sa corruption.  Kung nakarinig ka ng kwento ng pulis nahuli nila, nag-file ng kaso, pero nasasalubong pala ang suspect na na-release na kasi nagkalagayan somewhere. Malaki ang frustration kaya dapat implementation ng batas ang dapat ipatupad.

 

Q: Mas marami bang mayaman o mahirap ang nagdodroga?

A: Depende. Ang rugby boys (sumisinghot) sa ilalim ng tulay.

 

Q: Kahirapan ang naguudyok sa kanila.

A: Ang iba, thrill naman. Ang iba, ecstacy, gigimik sila, enjoy sila doon at tingin sa sarili may social stature. Ang kabataan, ang thrill (ang hinahanap).

 

Q: May deboto ng Nazareno na maraming ex-addict.

A: At least yan nagbagong buhay.

 

Q: Ang iba nagdodroga para makalimutan ang problema sa buhay, ano ang pwedeng gawin?

A: Ang iba na rugby boys para makalimutan ang gutom. Mag-high sila hindi sila gutom.

 

Q: Pabor ba kayo sa random drug testing ng DepEd?

A: Tama yan pero aangal ang human rights groups. Sasabihin nila mag-iinfringe sa civil rights ng tao, aabalahin mo, random test ang nananahimik e di naman tumitikim ng droga.

 

Q: Baka rin kasi taniman sila ng droga?

A: Oo.

 

Q: Sa tingin ba ninyo, si Gen. Santiago is he doing a good job?

A: I think so at saka pagpili ng tao. Ang pagpili, malaking challenge. Ang Magdalo krea-release sa kulungan pero pinagkatiwalaan niya kasi may idealism sila. Kinuha niya ngayon, he was proven right.

 

Q: Napaganda ito sa Magdalo.

A: That’s one way of looking at it. Pero Magdalo o hindi Magdalo, yung integrity ni Maj. Marcelino immaterial kung Magdalo. Kung si Gen. Santiago nakita nila, hinuhuli pero pinapakawala (ang suspect), sa tingin mo susunod ba? Maganda ang pamumuno ni Gen. Santiago.

 

Q: Pabor ba kayo na irevive ang death penalty?

A: Ang death penalty malaking deterrent, kung walang death penalty, paano ang criminal sa heinous offenses? Kung may death penalty sa ulo nila, palagay ko kung magiisip ng dalawang beses nung walang DP, 10 to 20 times mag-iisip ang tao bago mag-commit ng offense ... Mainam pagusapan uli at weigh lahat na dapat ikonsidera ... Ang personal experience ko as Chief PNP, after ang Echegaray execution dinagsa ng complaints ang pulis, siguro kung may death penalty deterrent yan.

 

Q: Paano ang firing squad?

A: Sa Middle East, sa Saudi Arabia ginagawa nila, pinuputulan ang ulo ... Sa China sa pamilya mo dadalhin ang bill ng bala.

 

Q: Baka raw maging diktador ka kung manalo ka?

A: Siguro magiging diktador ako pero sa gobyerno, taong gobyerno. Kailangan patinuhin ang gobyerno para tunino ang bayan natin.

 

Q: Manila-Cavite Coastal Road Project matagal nang nakabinbin.

A: Matagal na yan. Taga-Cavite ako, nirereklamo pagkatagal-tagal na project, di alam ano nangyari riyan.

 

Q: Bakit mga citizen ang magbabantay ng budget?

A: Naghahanap kami ng katulong. Baka maisahan kayo kung kami-kami lang ang nagbabantay. After all, pera ninyo yan.

 

Q: Ang opposition dapat magkaisa na/

A: Ako may suggestion ako. Sinabi ni Mar na maari na sya magpakasal, kunin niyang ninong si Erap, best man si Villar at kami abay ni Loren, hehehe.

 

Q: Divided ang opposition ngayon.

A: Marami pang alignments and realignments na mangyayari. Hopefully ang suggestion ni Sen. Pimentel magkakatotoo. Ang nangyari sa akin noong 2003-2004 sa LDP, pinagkait ako ng fair selection process ... Dapat magusap-usap para magkaroon ng convention para piliin ang standard bearer.

 

Q: Maraming senador at presidentiable sinabi nila desidido na sila.

A: Marami pang mangyayari, January 2009 ngayon, May 2010 pa ang election. Malay mo magkaisa ang opposition at mamili ng isa.

 

Q: Ang iba marami na ang nagastos.

A: Napakaaga pa ngayon. Noong isang taon pa may nangangampanya na. Parang di magandang pangitain yan, wala pang campaign o election period, ang aga na mangampanya. May disadvantage yan. Pag nagdeklara ka lahat na gagawin mo kukuwestyunin.

 

Q: Mananatili ka bang independent?

A: Bilang legislator ... mas mainam kasi mas flexible at malaya mong nagagawa ang gusto mo gawin sa Senado.

 

Q: Kung nag-unite ang opposition sasama ba kayo?

A: Oh yes. Basta maayos, transparent and fair ang selection process at nakapili kung sinuman yan dapat suportahan namin yan kung magkaroon ng ganoon.

 

Q: Paano kung tumakbo si Erap?

A: Ang tanong, tatanggapin ba ng Comelec ang certificate of candidacy? Ayokong magdunung-dunungan pero malinaw ang Constitution na ang president na elected, hindi pwedeng tumakbo in any election. Hindi naman lang sa susunod na election. Any election. Nakapag-serve ka noong after 1987, covered ka, baka di pwede. Pero iwan natin ito sa expert sa Constitution. Nasabi ko lang yan, ang tanong, what if di tanggapin ng Comelec? We might be committing a violation of the Constitution.

 

Q: Baka maghanap ng excuse si Erap na tumakbo, paano kung nanalo na siya at hindi pa naka-decide ang Korte Suprema?

A: Paano ka tatakbo kung walang certificate of candidacy at paano ilalagay sa balota kung di ka official candidate? At ang Korte Suprema hindi gagawa ng decision kasi walang question sa batas o Constitution, hindi pa siya kandidato.

 

Q: Magse-settle ba kayong tumakbong VP?

A: Masyadong maaga pa, maraming alignment and realignment na mangyayari. Masyadong maaga sa ganyang specific na sagutan.

 

Q: Kamusta na kayo ni Sen. Villar?

A: Okay naman. Sa budget hearing hindi kami nagkikita sa floor, kasi sa budget deliberation sino lang mag-interpellate ang nasa floor. Pero kami maski may differences sa issues, mag-remain yang difference sa issue. Si Sen. Villar maganda ang personality, nakakausap nyo rin siya na hindi nyo kaiinisan. Hindi ko sinadya na natisod ko ang P200 million na nadoble, anong magagawa ko? Alangan na kung kasama ko sa Senado ipipikit ko ang mata ko at Malacañang lang? Mali naman siguro yan... Hindi ko alam na siya yan pero it turned out na kasamahan ko pala sa Senado. Pero kung tumahimik ako, double standard na yata iyan.

 

Q: Kung kayo si PGMA, anong gagawin ninyo in your last 500+ days in office?

A: Siguro kung ako sa situation niya na masyadong unpopular? Siguro ang pinakamaganda, isipin niya ang legacy na iiwanan niya. Mahaba ang 500 days to correct, i-correct mo nang katotohanan. Ngayon ang nangyari parang hostage siya ng kongresista, hostage niya ang mga kongresista, hostage siya ng maraming tao, hostage niya ang maraming tao. Maraming institution na nagwatak-watak dahil sa kanya, kahit ang Korte Suprema hati-hati rin. Ito mainly due sa mga pagkakamali noong 2004 election, Hello Garci, tapos kung anu-anong lumabas. Kailangan alagaan niya ang boboto sa impeachment. There was a time iniimbestiga namin ang ZTE, naalala ko si Chairman Neri, (sabi niya) there was a time he was DBM secretary, ganoon ang feeling na kaimportanteng tao, ilang beses tawagan siya ng pangulo para mag-dispense ng favors. And on the day mismo na magkakaroon ng botohan tinawag siya, ‘Dito ka sa tabi ko ... Mabilisan na, kailangan ni kongressman ng ganito bigyan mo’ ... Lumawig ng lumawig ang weaknesses at kailangang i-sustain... Ang 500 days marami siyang pwedeng gawin. Two budget years iyan para ma-correct niya at ipakita niya na, ‘ako pwedeng purihin pag-alis ko dahil may gagawin akong maganda sa ationg bansa’

 

Q: Inaatupag ang Cha-cha.

A: Kasama yan sa naging overprotective siya sa sarili niya, kino-cover niya ang likod niya, kasi baka pag-alis niya baka katakot-takot na kaso ang haharapin niya. But 500 days is a long time, kaya mo i-correct.

 

Q: Ano dapat ang i-correct?

A: Hindi ko na sasabihing magsauli. At least makita niya na from this day on pasensyahan na. Ako walang gagawing masama pero from this day forward dapat tama ang gagawin natin o kung hindi mananagot kayo. Kung consistent siya for the next 500 days palagay ko papatawad siya ng kababayan natin.

 

Q: Will there still be elections in 2010?

A: Kung malakas ang salungat ... Sinubukan na nila since administration ni President Ramos pero sa lakas ng pagsalungat, hindi natuloy. Ito, kung hindi nagkakaisa ang religious at grupo at sector matagal na tayo nag-Chacha.

 

Q: Kung mapunta lang sana sa taxpayer ang taxes?

A: Wala dapat tayong budget deficit. Ang hataw kasi sa taxpayers, doble. Sa revenue generation, sa pagbayad ng tax, may lagayan. Hindi papasok ang dapat pumasok sa Treasury. Then may smuggling, tax evasion, leakages, revenue pa lang yan. Sa expenditure side pa, kung ang buwis mapunta sa tama, budget surplus na dapat tayo. Kung napunta ang pera sa dapat puntahan ang saya na sana ng Pilipino, pwede na magbigay ng libreng hospitalization sa mahirap. Sa Canada and Australia maski sino sa pamilya mo wala kang aalahanin ... Sa atin ang pinakamalaking fear, paano ito, walang savings, kung nagkasakit ang member ng pamilya saan ka kukuha ng pera? Kung napunta sa tama, kaya natin magbigay ng libreng hospitalization. Umpisa natin ang mga nasa poverty line. Kung okay na, bawa’t citizen ng Pilipinas libre sa hospitalization at education. Pero hindi natin mabigyan kasi sa ibang bulsa lang napupunta. Kaya doble taga ang inaabot natin sa pagkalap ng buwis at paggastos.

 

Q: Sa Dacer case, di Dumlao at Mancao ie-extradite?

A: Umpisa 2001, nang kumandidato ako na senador I’m being hounded. But I can look you in the eye, wala akong involvement dito. I wish I could tell you more information, but I’d rather not. Pero ito isusumpa ko sa inyo hindi ko alam ito.

 

Q: Sinabi ninyo you welcome the extradition?

A: Kung magbabasa tayo between the lines, may statement si Dumlao, may statement sa FBI sa immigration case niya. Kung may kinalaman ako lalabas yan kahit very subtle pero sabi niya ilang beses, tinanong nila exact ang taga-PAOCTF, alam ba ni 71 or Gen. Lacson? Ang sagot sa kanila, ‘bahala sumagot ang Malacañang sa kanila.’ Walang sinasabi sa akin ang Malacañang. In the first place, assuming for the sake of discussion nanggaling somewhere ang kautusan, di ba dapat sabihin sa akin kasi ako ang pinuno? Bakit sabihin ni Dumlao bakit siya sasagutin na, bahala sumagot ang Malacañang? Whatever that means, it says a lot. At sinasabi ko rin if you read between the lines marami kang makukuha.

 

Q: Ginamit ang tao ninyo?

A: Hindi ko alam, ayoko mag-speculate. How many years now nang kumandidato akong senador then tumakbo ako in 2004, yan na naman. Ngayon nagkaroon ng extradition case ako naman binubugbog, ang sabi ko lang dito wala akong involvement.

 

Q: Maraming gusto magsumbong sa inyo, ano ang hotline ninyo?

A: May accessible ako na cell, 0918-9116573, doon pwede itext o itawag para pagusapan. Kung paano ire-report, arrange na lang namin yan ... Malaking bagay sa akin kung may magbibigay ng information sa anomalies. Sa ZTE kung di na-expose P16 billion yan na babayaran natin, yun pala $130 million lang halaga noon.

 

Q: (Maraming umaalis para maging OFW)

A: Ang dami na nagpupunta sa abroad kasi hindi patas ang laban. Sa Alabang Boys kung patas, dapat matagal nang convicted yan. Sa Pangandaman, bakit sa golf course may bugbugan? Sa Pilipinas, mapahusitisya maski anong buhay, hindi patas ang laban. Kaya naman gawing patas, kailangan ayusin ang gobyerno. Pag naayos ang gobyerno magiging patas ang laban dito.

 

*****

Lacson Pushes Probe of Sin Tax Funding Delay for Health Programs

With added funding for health programs held up for more than four years, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson sought an investigation into the delayed implementation of the sin tax law.

Lacson filed Senate Resolution 826 inquiring into why the implementation of the sin tax law’s provisions on funding for the health programs have yet to be implemented since 2004.

“Due to the delays, reports show that there is no fund for the disease prevention program of the Department of Health while the universal coverage of the National Health Insurance Program is being implemented on a snail pace,” Lacson, who chairs the Senate committee on ways and means, said in Resolution 826.

The resolution sought an investigation headed by the Senate committees on ways and means, and on health and demography.

Lacson noted that Republic Act 9334, the law on excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco products, was passed as early as December 2004.

The law had provided for an increase in specified tax rates on alcohol and tobacco products, and earmarked increased revenues from the higher rates.

“Paragraph C, Section 7 of RA 9334 provides that 2.5 percent of the incremental revenues from excise taxes on sin products be allocated each to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and the Department of Health,” Lacson noted.

Yet, he lamented that four years since the law was passed, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) “had not released a single centavo” to the Health Department.

The funds for PHIC will be used for the government’s National Health Insurance Program while the revenues for the DOH will go to a trust fund for its disease prevention program.

Lacson, in his resolution, also sought to investigate supposed errors in the calculation of the earmarked amounts in the revenue regulations provided by the Department of Finance.

“The delay in the improvement of the draft amendment to Revenue Regulation No. 3-2006 has held up the implementation of the allocation aspect of RA 9934,” he said.

o0o

Lacson Calls for Immediate, Transparent Bicam Meetings on National Budget

Wary that much-needed social services will suffer anew under a reenacted budget, Senator Panfilo M. Lacson urged his colleagues in both houses of Congress to lose no time in scheduling bicameral conference committee meetings on the P1.41-trillion budget for 2009.

Noting the New Year is already two weeks old, Lacson also stressed that the bicameral conference committee meetings should be transparent and thorough, with all details of “insertions” open to media and the public.

“Lest we operate again on a reenacted budget, we must take steps to ensure the early signing of the national budget into law. Not only that, the entire process must be transparent so the public will know where their taxes go,” he said.

He noted that at present, the government is operating on the automatically reenacted budget of 2008, which amounts to P1.227 trillion.  This may force agencies involved in social services to scrimp on much-needed services, he said.

Lacson urged his fellow lawmakers to fulfill their responsibility to participate actively and ensure transparency in the bicameral conference committee meeting.

It will be recalled that in its first meeting on the budget in December last year, the bicameral conference committee unanimously adopted Lacson’s motion to make sure the proceedings will not be kept from the public.

“This motion should be strictly followed.  Who made the insertions, how much was involved, what are the purposes of these insertions, and where will they be sourced from? All these should be made public in the name of transparency to avoid a repetition of the P200-million ‘road to nowhere’ mess,” he added.

He said people will not tolerate a repeat of the “double entry” anomalies that were found in the national budget for 2008, where multimillion-peso entries were allotted more than once to particular items or projects.

o0o

Sen. Lacson's Interview on The Contenders (News on Q), Q Channel 11 (January 6, 2009)

Senator Panfilo M. Lacson's interview on 'The Contenders' segment,

News on Q (Q Channel 11), aired January 6, 2009