martial law

Sen. Bam: Hindi sagot ang Martial Law, diktadurya sa problema ng ating kababayan

Sen. Bam Aquino addressed the Senate and insisted that Martial Law will never be a solution to the pressing problems of the country.

“Hindi naging sagot ang Martial Law noon, at lalong hindi siya sagot ngayon,” said Sen. Bam in his privilege speech. “Malubha pa rin ang sakit ng taumbayan, at lalong tumitindi ang kahirapan.”

In nine years under Martial Law, Sen. Bam said there were 3,320 victims of extrajudicial killings, 34,000 cases of torture, 70,000 cases of illegal detention, 75,730 cases of human rights violations and debt of around P395 billion, which is equivalent to more than P3 trillion in today’s money.

“Hanggang ngayon, binabayaran pa rin natin ang utang ng Marcos Regime, habang pumipila ang mga Pilipino para sa bigas na may bukbok at nalulunod po sa gastos ang napakaraming mahihirap na pamilya,” Sen. Bam said.

Sen. Bam said Martial Law is not the solution to the country’s pressing problems, including high prices of food, such as rice, and rampant killings of local officials, priests and even young people.

“Kawalan ng epektibong plano, kawalan ng political will, at kawalan ng puso ng mga lingkod bayan at puso para sa mahihirap ang mga sanhi ng krisis natin ngayon,” said Sen. Bam.

“Ngunit hindi Martial Law ang sagot dito, at mas lalong hindi ang isang diktadura,” Sen. Bam pointed out, adding that the government must simply act on the concerns of the Filipinos to solve these problems.

Sen. Bam has filed Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill, which aims to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law when the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

According to Sen. Bam, the immediate passage of the law will also stop the scheduled P2 additional excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law in January 2019.

Sen. Bam Aquino’s Privilege Speech on Martial Law and the Price Crisis

 

Maraming salamat, Mr. President, Mr. majority floor leader. Mga kaibigan, mga kababayan.

Yesterday, there was talk about the opposition’s alleged plans to overthrow the government. But today, I would like to share with you our true and real plans.

As history would have it, forty-six years ago, a devious plot against our democracy was uncovered by a young senator by the name of Ninoy Aquino. He was 39 years old back then. On September 13, 1972, former Senator Ninoy Aquino stood before his colleagues and addressed the nation through a privilege speech on one Oplan Sagittarius.

He said, and I quote:

“In astronomy, Sagittarius is the 9th sign of the zodiac – denoted by the symbol of the arrow or dart.

The ancient Greeks represented this constellation as a centaur in the act of shooting an arrow…

I wonder if this plan is intended to shoot down our cherish[ed] civil liberties with the arrow or dart of a Marcos military rule.

Or could this be an arrowhead of the spearhead of a more devilish plot to transform our Republic into a garrison state?”

In his speech, former senator Ninoy Aquino went on to outline military and police resources and where they would be deployed to effectively blanket our beloved country in intimidation.

He also warned that the Marcos Administration would use the recent bombings – bombings which he alleged to be orchestrated by the government itself – as reason to declare martial law.

Martial law, they will say, is the solution to the country’s problems. They will say, it is the answer to this nation in crisis.

Ninoy Aquino stood courageous before the Senate and asserted, and I quote:

“I do not know what is going on in the mind of the President. I will never attempt to [divine] what his thinking is.

But let me say that at the height of the Huk depredations in 1950, when the armed partisans numbered more than 15,000, when the Huks were actually maneuvering in squadron and battalion strength, tying up the entire military command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines… never was martial law declared in our country.

I do not recall when martial law was ever declared since the birth of this Republic. If the President is thinking of clamping down martial law… I dare say that there must be another more devious plot.

Therefore, I should conclude that Operation Sagittarius is properly named because as the arrow and the dart, it may spearhead what we may actually find as the end of the Republic.” End quote.

Ten days after these words were spoken, former president, dictator and plunderer Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law and our beloved country came to know the consequences of absolute power and absolute impunity.

For the veneer of safer streets and the appearance of a disciplined society, the Filipino people paid in pain and in blood. And of course, as we know, Sen. Ninoy Aquino was prisoner No. 1.

In the nine (9) years under Martial Law rule: there were three thousand, two hundred and forty (3,240) victims of salvage or extra-judicial killings; thirty-four thousand (34,000) Filipinos were tortured; seventy thousand (70,000) were detained for being so-called ‘Enemies of the State’; and seventy-five thousand, seven hundred and thirty (75,730) cases of human rights violations were filed.

For the roads, bridges and buildings touted by Marcos apologists, the Filipino people incurred a debt of three hundred ninety-five billion, five hundred and nine million pesos (P395,509,000,000). Today, this is equivalent to three trillion, three hundred sixty-two billion, five hundred seventy-two million, three hundred eighty-four thousand, and six hundred pesos (P3,362,572,384,600).

Hanggang ngayon, binabayaran pa rin natin ang utang ng Marcos Regime, habang pumipila ang mga Pilipino para sa bigas na may bukbok at nalulunod po sa gastos ang napakaraming mahihirap na pamilya.

For their service to the Filipino people, the Marcos family was paid in personalized gold bars, jewelry, property around the world, invaluable art, an infamous collection of shoes and a lifetime of luxury. Ang martial law na sinabing magiging sagot sa sugat ng lipunan, pantakip lang pala sa kanilang kasakiman.

Mga kababayan, hindi sagot ang martial law noon, at lalong hindi siya sagot ngayon. Malubha pa rin ang sakit ng taumbayan, at lalong tumitindi ang kahirapan.

Umiikot ako sa iba’t ibang mga lugar ngayong taong ito. Umiikot ako sa iba’t ibang [kumustahang] bayan. Ang kinokonsulta namin, mga magsasaka, mga mangingisda, mga urban poor, mga market vendors, mga jeepney at tricycle drivers. Ano po iyong sinasabi nila?

“Sen. Bam, nalulunod na kami sa taas ng presyo ng bilihin.”

“Hindi na kami makahinga sa laki ng gastos ng aming pamilya.”

“Kahit anong kayod, hindi na kami maka-ahon.”

Mga kababayan, may krisis muli ang ating lipunan – ito po ang kataasan ng presyo ng bigas at kataasan ng presyo ng bilihin. Mga kaibigan, nababalot muli sa takot ang mamamayan – may isang senador na ang kinulong at isa naman pong pinapatihimik. Mayroon na pong pinapatay na mga pari, , mga mayor at vice mayor, at pati mga kabataang Pilipino. Gayun pa man, hindi pa rin martial law ang sagot dito, at mas lalong hindi ang isang diktadura.

Kawalan ng epektibong plano, kawalan ng political will, at kawalan ng puso ng mga lingkod bayan at puso para sa mahihirap ang mga sanhi ng krisis natin ngayon. At solusyon, aksyon, at malasakit mula sa gobyerno ang lunas na hinahanap ng taumbayan.

Last May 23 of this year, I gave a privilege speech outlining solutions to the rising prices. Many of us were here. It would like to note that back then, inflation back in April was at 4.5% – already beyond the 2-4% target range set by the government. Last August, alarmingly, inflation hit 6.4%. We have not seen inflation this high in almost 10 years.

In that privilege speech last May, I mentioned 3 things government can do to provide Filipino families with some relief from soaring prices:

First, the government should ensure that the unconditional cash transfer program under the TRAIN Law is fully implemented. Doon po lahat tayo nagkakaisa.

Sumasaklolo na ang ating mga kababayan – ang mga jeepney at tricycle drivers, mga magsasaka’t mangingisda, mga tindera sa palengke – hirap na hirap na ang mga Pilipino at hindi pa rin naibibigay ng lubos ang pinangakong tulong mula sa gobyerno.

To this day, there are gaps in the implementation of the cash transfer program and other social mitigating measures under TRAIN, such as the pantawid pasada program, na ngayon pa lang ni-ro-rollout in September of 2018, and of course nowhere to be found is the 10% discount on NFA rice.

My second suggestion back then was to address the rice issue by solving the management problem by the NFA. I think many of us here have called for the resignation of NFA administrator Jason Aquino.

Noong nag-speech ako ng Mayo, naaalarma na ang tao sa presyong 42 pesos per kilo para sa bigas. Ngayon, sa sobrang lala ng krisis, umabot po three weeks ago ng 70 pesos per kilo ang bigas sa Zamboanga at pinipilit po na pakainin ang mahihirap nating kababayan ang bigas na may bukbok. Thankfully, in Zamboanga, prices have stabilized, it’s still around P50 plus, mataas pa rin po kumpara sa presyo ng bigas last year.

Sa laki ng kasalanan ng NFA Administrator sa taumbayan, sana naman po makahanap tayo ng mahusay na pinuno dito.

My third suggestion back in May was to suspend and roll-back the excise tax on fuel from the TRAIN Law by passing Senate Bill Number 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill. I will admit, dear countrymen, that speech was actually a glimpse into the opposition’s playbook.

In the past few days, there has been talk about the opposition planning, colluding, talking about things that they want to do. Ngunit hindi po pagpapabagsak ng gobyerno ang pinaplano namin. Ang pinaplano namin ang pag-angat ng mga kababayan nating nasa laylayan ng lipunan.

Ang tunay na plano ng oposisyon ay magsama-sama, gawin ang lahat ng aming kayang gawin, ibigay ang lahat na kaya naming ibigay para hindi na po malunod sa gastos at hindi mamatay sa hirap at gutom ang ating mga kababayan. Ang plano ng oposisyon, magkaisa. Hindi lang po oposisyon, pati administrasyon, magkaisa at magtrabaho para solusyunan ang krisis sa taas ng presyo ng bigas at taas-presyo ng bilihin bago pumatak ang Enero.

Mula sa privilege speech ko noong Mayo hanggang sa press conference na kasama si Vice President Robredo noong Lunes, inilahad namin ang Oplan Ginhawa na inasahan naming magiging lunas sa hirap na hinaharap ng ating mga kababayan. Tatlong solusyon, tatlong aksyon po:

Una, na mabigyan ng sapat na proteksyon at benepisyo ang ating kababayang nangangailangan. Pagbutihin ang pagpapatupad ng mga cash transfer program at iba pang social protection initiatives.

We challenge the administration to quickly facilitate the release of all these cash transfers at the soonest possible to all of the 10 million Filipino families. And we propose, at the proper time here in the Senate, to increase the 200 pesos to 400 pesos, given the alarming spike in inflation. The government must push for the complete and effective implementation of the Pantawid Pasada Program, the 10% discount on rice for the poorest Filipino families and the rest of the social mitigating measures in the TRAIN Law. We also propose to include tricycle drivers in the Pantawid Pasada program. Hindi ko rin maintindihan kung bakit nawala ang tricycle drivers noong ginagawa ang batas sa Pantawid Pasada Program.

Nasa kamay po ng administration and pagpapatupad ng mga programang ito. Tutukan sana ng gabinete ng Presidente para mabigyan ng ginhawa ang pamilyang Pilipino.

Pangalawa, at ito’y mukhang nangyayari na. Palitan ang liderato ng NFA at resolbahin ang isyu ng murang bigas sa ating bansa. Immediately, the NFA should bring back and maintain the mandated 15-day buffer stock. Ito po, order No. 1 para maibaba ang presyo ng bigas sa merkado. Naniniwala kaming kaya itong tuparin ng NFA sa loob ng isang buwan, basta’t mayroon silang matino at mahusay na NFA Administrator. With a 15-day buffer stock, NFA can make rice available and affordable for Filipinos and hopefully, this rice crisis will be over before the Christmas holidays.

Nasa NFA at administrasyon ang sandata para talunin na ang krisis sa bigas. Kailangan lang nilang gawin ang trabaho nila.

Pangatlo, itigil na sana ang excise tax sa petrolyo. Huwag po tayo papayag na magdadagdag na naman ng dalawang piso sa diesel at gasoline ngayong Enero. Ipasa po natin ang Bawas Presyo Bill. Suspindihin po natin ang mga probisyon ng TRAIN Law na nagpapataas ng presyo ng diesel at gasolina.

Marami naman pong pumunta na dito, kahit miyembro ng Gabinete, aminado na ang pagtaas ng diesel at gasolina ang mga nagpapataas sa presyo ng bilihin. Ngayon na napakataas ng presyo ng krudo sa mundo, di na ata tama na dito pa tayo huhugot ng pera para sa gobyerno. Basta’t pagtulungan ng Kongreso – at certified urgent ng taumbayan at sana po ng Pangulo – kaya natin gawing batas ito bago mag-Pasko.

We need to bring down prices and provide relief to poor Filipino families. We urge the President to take the lead on this matter, the opposition is ready, members of the administration are also ready. Kailangan lang natin itong itulak.

Iyong NFA, magandang pangitain na umalis na si NFA administrator Jason Aquino. Sana ang ipalit, isang tao na kayang gawin ang mandato ng NFA. Sana po wala nang pumipila para sa bigas sa mga palengke at hindi po nirarasyon ang NFA rice. Iyan po, isang kaagad-agad na puwede nating gawin. Maybe within a month or two, we can do this already para ang Christmas naman po, hindi ganito kalala ang sitwasyon ng bigas sa ating bansa.

Iyong presyo, alam naman natin na iyong presyo ng krudo sa mundo ang nagtutulak ng presyo pataas. Huwag na nating dagdagan pa gamit ang excise tax mula sa TRAIN Law. Ito pong second round ngayong Enero, kung itutuloy natin iyan, saan pupulutin ang inflation rate natin sa Enero.

Kailangan na nating gawin ang makakaya natin para maibaba ang inflation, maibaba ang pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin, hindi iyong dinadagdagan pa natin.

Ito pong tatlong solusyong ito, kayang gawin. This can be done before Christmas. Ang kailangan natin, pagkaisahan. And what we’re asking here is that all of us work together, the executive, the legislative, and even if some economic managers don’t want to see some of these provisions. Puwede nating gawing ito.

I remember that when we passed the Free Tuition Act, initially the economic managers were against it. The Senate and Congress and the President took a stand. Sinabi nating itutulak natin ang libreng tuition para sa kapakanan ng ating kabataan at pamilyang Pilipino.

Again, we’re called to be independent. Hinihiling sa atin na gawin ang ating makakaya para masolusyunan ang problemang ito – at kaya natin itong gawin bago mag-Pasko.

Ang kasaysayan ang unang magpapakita na hindi martial law, hindi propaganda ang sagot sa sakit ng bayan. Ang sagot ay nasa pagkakaisa, pagkayod, pagtrabaho at pag-aksyon ng gobyerno, pag-aksiyon ng lahat ng may pakialam at may malasakit sa bayan.

 Tama na, sobra na ang pahirap sa taumbayan. Pagtulungan po natin ang Oplan Ginhawa. Pagtulungan natin ang mga puwedeng gawing solusyon na ito.

Solusyunan, aksyunan natin ang mga totoong pangangailangan ng ating kapwa Pilipino.

Maraming salamat Mr. President. Maraming salamat, Majority Floor Leader. Thank you very much.

Sen. Bam Aquino votes to reject Martial Law extension

Senator Bam Aquino voted to reject the government’s call to extend Martial Law in Mindanao because of the absence of actual rebellion now that firefighting in Marawi City has ceased.
 
Sen. Bam mentioned that in the deliberations of the 1987 Constitution, the framers used the word actual instead of imminent so as not to create confusion and not to give the President a wide latitude of discretion which may be abused.
 
Also, Sen. Bam believes that the one-year extension is too long, which could abrogate the Congress’ duty on check and balances, which is provided by the Constitution among the branches of government.
 
“One year seems unreasonable. It is akin to being indefinite as there are no clear milestones to reach and no distinct reasons for needing an entire year,” said Sen. Bam.
 
“The period of the original declaration is 60 days. Any extension should be reckoned in this light, so 1 whole year really seems grossly unreasonable,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Sen. Bam stressed that Martial Law is an extraordinary measure and that the military should not need Martial Law in order to function well and keep Mindanao secure.
 
“The reasons given by the Executive are persistent all over the country, not just in Mindanao. The logic used in the request for extension can easily be used to declare nationwide Martial Law,” warned Sen. Bam.

No to Martial Law Extension in Mindanao. Yes to Swift, Corruption-free Rehab: Statement of Senators Aquino, Drilon, Hontiveros, Pangilinan, Trillanes

We, members of the minority, support the position of Mindanaoans for NO martial law extension in their home island. Lifting military rule, specifically in Marawi, will hasten the return of affected residents to their homes, according to its citizens. 
 
Martial law, together with the air strikes, was the reason why they fled Marawi in the early days of the Maute siege. And martial law is also the reason why they are afraid to return, even in cleared areas. 
 
After the pronounced liberation of Marawi and the announced focus on rehabilitation and trade, what will be the role of the people of Marawi in the planning and rehabilitation of their city? 
 
What guarantees do they have that they can return to their old location and start life anew? As security forces reign supreme during martial law, would not military rule actually get in the way of a people-centered rebuilding and rehabilitating of the once vibrant city? What is the need for martial law? Would martial law suspend bidding for the reconstruction of the city?

Bam on voting NO to 150-day ML extension

Humindi po ako sa extension na 150 days dahil sa tingin ko po, ang nararapat na extension ay 60 days lamang.

Tatlong tanong po ang naging paggabay sa akin upang makaabot sa desisyong ito. Unang una, makakaantala ba ang paglimita sa 60 days sa operations ng AFP at sa ating mga sundalo. Clearly Mr. President, hindi naman ito makakaantala sa kanila at buo naman ang suporta natin sa AFP from the beginning.

 Hindi lang po sa moral, hindi lang po sa budget kundi pati sa mga batas na kailangang amyendahan para matulungan po sila.

 Pangalawang tanong, ano ang nais ng 500,000 internally displaced Filipinos na nasa ibang siyudad at sa mga evacuation centers. Sa aking pagkaalam, gusto na nilang bumalik sa kanilang bahay.

 Ang tingin ko po, ang rehabilitation ay mas mainam na gawin sa ilalim ng civilian authority at hindi po sa ilalim ng Martial Law.

 Pangatlo, at siguro po pinakamahalaga sa ating desisyon ngayong hapong ito. Ang 60-day limitation ba ay makatutulong sa pagtaguyod ng demokrasya sa ating bansa? Ang sagot ko po diyan oo.

Unang-una, itinataguyod ang nararapat na check and balance ng co-equal branches of government na executive and legislative branch. Pangalawa, Congress will be able to fulfil its mandate and responsibility given to it in the Constitution in shorter intervals.

Mr. President, the presence of Martial Law in our country today puts our democracy in an unusual and unstable situation. Ngayon po na mayroon tayong Martial Law, hindi po ganoon katibay ang kinatatayuan ng ating demokrasya. Kaya po, ang pagpapasyang kailangang gawin natin, tayo ba ay magpapalakas sa ating demokrasya o tayo po ba ay gagawa ng mga desisyon na posibleng makapaghina dito. Siyempre po boboto tayo sa pagpapalakas at pagpapatibay ng ating demokrasya dahil mahirap na pong masanay.

Bam: Limit ML extension

Congress must perform its duty of limiting the duration of Martial Law to ensure that checks and balances in government remain.

This was stressed by Sen. Bam Aquino during his brief manifestation during the special session to discuss the Martial Law extension being requested by President Duterte.

“I would definitely try to move for a shorter period of time,” Sen. Bam told Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

 “Nakasaad sa Konstitusyon na kapangyarihan at tungkulin ng lehislatura ang magdesisyon ukol sa pag-extend ng Martial Law. Kaya’t ang mas maikling panahon na 60 days ay hindi deadline, bagkus isang pamamaraan na kung saan nagagawa ng lehislatura ang aming tungkulin,” the senator said.

“At hindi ba nararapat lang na humingi ng pagsang-ayon ang militar sa mga sibilyan na awtoridad?” he added.

The senator reiterated the Congress’ support for the military, saying lawmakers are ready to provide soldiers the necessary equipment and legislative reforms they need to quell the terrorism in Marawi once and for all.

  “Iyong Modernization Act kailangang ipagpatuloy, baka kailangang i-amend ang Procurement Act at iba pang mga batas upang magawa niyo ang trabaho nang maayos,” said Sen. Bam, to which Sec. Lorenzana agreed to.

However, Sen. Bam stressed the need to be prudent about the Martial Law extension to completely quell terrorism in Mindanao.

 “Let us not forget that it is robust development – education, jobs, business and livelihood – that will ultimately beat terrorism,” said Sen. Bam.

The senator added that Martial Law will not help achieve economic development and rehabilitation of the affected areas.

Sen. Bam: Joint session is Congress’ duty

Sen. Bam Aquino insisted that convening a joint session is a duty of Congress and a means to promote welfare of the Filipino people by enlightening them about details behind the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao.

 “It is part of our constitutional requirement and important for the public to be able to listen for themselves kung ano ang sasabihin ng security managers,” said Sen. Bam during Tuesday night’s discussion on the minority group’s Senate Resolution 390, which urges Congress to hold a joint session on the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao.

“During a joint session, iyong ibang pinag-usapan natin during an executive session, kung bakit nagdeklara ng Martial Law, kung ano ang plano at kung hanggang kailan ang hangganan, puwede iyong marinig ng taumbayan,” said Sen. Bam.

 As representatives of the people, Sen. Bam said it is the duty of lawmakers to inform the public details of important issues affecting their lives and the country.

 “The people need to know what it is we also know as much as possible, without breaching any national security matter,” the senator said, adding that Congress must follow its constitutional mandate whatever the outcome of the vote.

 In an earlier interview, Sen. Bam emphasized that a joint session will give security managers a chance to enlighten the public about the situation and address misinformation and fake news circulating online at the same time.

“The people are contradicting each other. Agencies are contradicting each other in terms of facts and in terms of what’s really happening. We need to hear it straight from the security managers,” Sen. Bam pointed out.

 Nine senators voted in favor of the resolution while 12 voted against it. Aside from Sen. Bam, those who voted in favor were Sens. Franklin Drilon, Chiz Escudero, Sherwin Gatchalian, Risa Hontiveros, Francis Pangilinan, Grace Poe, Ralph Recto and Antonio Trillanes.

Those who voted against it were Senators Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito, Richard Gordon, Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Manny Pacquiao, Tito Sotto, Cynthia Villar, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III.

Sen. Bam: No shortcuts, call joint session

A senator called on his fellow lawmakers to avoid shortcuts and follow the Constitution by calling a joint session to tackle the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao.

“Ang AFP, ayaw natin mag-shortcut, ang PNP ayaw nating mag-shortcut. Bakit tayo mag-so-short cut?” said Sen. Bam Aquino during the minority bloc’s press conference discussing their resolution urging the Senate to call for a joint session.

 “Hindi tayo puwedeng mag-shortcut. Iyong mga shortcut, ito ang nagdudulot ng masasamang bagay sa bansa natin,” he added.

 Under the Constitution, Sen. Bam also stressed that Congress is mandated to call a joint session, based on the precedent during former president Gloria Arroyo’s declaration of Martial Law in Maguindanao in 2009.

 “A joint session is needed so that people can hear for themselves what the security managers were able to brief to us,” Sen. Bam said in an earlier television interview Tuesday.

 The senator said a joint session will give security managers a chance to enlighten the public about the situation and address misinformation and fake news circulating online at the same time.

“The people are contradicting each other. Agencies are contradicting each other in terms of facts and in terms of what’s really happening. We need to hear it straight from the security managers,” Sen. Bam pointed out.

 Sen. Bam said the security managers assured that normalcy in Marawi City will be restored in the next few days but it is crucial for the “people to hear that themselves”.

 During the briefing, Sen. Bam got the assurance from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that it will uphold human rights while Mindanao is under Martial Law.

 Despite the AFP’s assurance, Sen. Bam underscored the need for vigilance against any abuse that might occur until normalcy returns to the area, which the AFP committed to achieve in the following days.

Once the government quells the threats in Marawi, Sen. Bam said the government must lift Martial Law immediately and focus on restoring normalcy and developing in the area.

Bam to gov’t: Listen to people’s voice on martial law

Sen. Bam Aquino called on the government to seriously take notice of the recent Pulse Asia survey where 74 percent of Filipinos opposed the imposition of martial law.

 “Ang mga Pinoy, they are saying ayaw na namin ng martial law, which tells me that people are looking for new solutions,” Sen. Bam said during a television interview.

 “Hindi ito ang sagot sa lahat ng problema natin, na kapag nagkakagulo, magma-martial law tayo. People are looking for new solutions and better ways of doing things at kaming nasa gobyerno, we owe it to the people to provide these better solutions,” he added.

 Sen. Bam made the pronouncement after President Duterte declared over the weekend that no one can stop him from declaring Martial Law if the country’s drug problems worsen.

 The senator believes that President Duterte’s vacillating statements on martial law create uncertainty and fear among Filipinos.

 Just last month, Duterte declared that placing the country under martial law was far from his mind, adding that Filipino lives did not improve under military rule during the Marcos regime.

At one point, the President said he wanted to take out the provision in the Constitution about Congress and the Supreme Court weighing in on martial law.

“Sometimes when the President talks about these things differently, siyempre nakakakaba ito,” said Sen. Bam.

 “The image of this administration, with a strong and iron hand, very fierce, very harsh, it leads to thoughts of Martial Law and authoritarianism,” he added.

 The senator pointed out that the 1987 Constitution is clear when it comes to declaring martial rule, saying it can only be done during invasion or rebellion.

 When it comes to eradicating illegal drugs, Sen. Bam said the government can learn from Gawad Kalinga’s anti-drug program, which the group has been implementing in its communities for almost a decade now.

“Thanks to this anti-drug program, 90 percent or 1,800 out of its 2,000 communities are drug-free through community empowerment and accountability,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam on SSS pension increase, survey and SC decision on martial law

Transcript of media interview

 

On SSS pension increase

 

Sen. Bam: Nagulat rin kami na mayroon palang increase in premiums na ipapataw sa 34 million Filipinos. Dalawang milyon po kasi iyong SSS pensioners natin at sumuporta naman tayo sa pag-increase ng pension nila. 

Pero I think marami ring nagulat, pati na rin ang business community, iyong mga employer nagulat sa pagtaas ng premium na 1.5 percent.

 Aminado naman tayo na maliit lang ang 1.5 percent pero pag sinuma mo iyon, malaking bagay pa rin iyan.

 I think nagsabi ang SSS na ngayon pa lang sila magk0-consult sa employers at magko-contribute dito.

 Palagay ko kasi, ang kailangang gawin diyan, itaas ang efficiency ng pagkolekta ng kontribusyon, hindi iyong pagtaas ng premium ng mga miyembro.

 Ang alam ko, it’s up to the SSS to do that but titingnan na rin natin kung ano iyong tingin ng iba nating mga kasama.

 Marami po sa mga senador, nagtulak po nito at ang alam ko, ang pinakagusto nila, itaas ang efficiency ng pagkolekta.

 Gusto ko ring malaman sa SSS kung ito ba’y isang scheme na hindi mapeperhuwisyo ang kanilang kaban at iyong kanilang kakayahan na maipagpatuloy ng pagpo-provide ng pensiyong ito sa ating bayan.

 Siguro kailangan din nating tingnan ang mga numero. Sana ang SSS, makinig sa konsultasyon sa employers at employees organizations dahil medyo nagulat din ako na mayroon ganong palang pagtaas ng premium na parang hindi napag-uusapan noon.

 I think iyong mga pinag-uusapan noon ay pagtaas ng pensiyon na walang kasabay na pagtaas ng premium, bagkus iyong pagtaas ng efficiency sa koleksiyon.

 

On Pulse Asia survey on Martial Law

 

Sen. Bam: Tingin ko diyan, ang taumbayan natin naghahanap na ng bagong solusyon.

 I think nandoon pa rin ang mga problema natin. Mga problema sa drugs, problema sa terorismo pero malinaw sa survey na iyan, na ang mga Pilipino naghahanap na ng bagong solusyon, na huwag na tayong bumalik sa mga gawain na nakasama naman sa ating bayan.

It’ a complete rejection of this type of leadership, that type of governance na masyadong nakakiling sa violence o nakakiling sa martial rule.

 Ang taumbayan natin naghahanap ng bagong solusyon, hindi na iyong mga nagawa natin noon na nakasama sa ating bansa.

Nagbabago-bago rin iyong statement niya. May statement siya na hindi niya gagawin ang martial law pero mayroon din siyang naging statement na tatanggalin ang congressional approval doon sa Constitution.

 Sana pakinggan tayo ng Malacanang. Matapos na ang usapang ito. Clearly, kitang kita naman, 74 percent iyong mayorya ng taumbayan, ayaw na ng martial rule at naghahanap ng bagong solusyon sa mga problema natin.

Ang mahirap kasi, kapag may problema, parang iyon lang lagi, doon lang bumabalik lagi, na ang lang solusyon lang sa problema natin, magkaroon ng increased military presence, increased police presence, maging mas istrikto, maging mas harsh.

 Parang iyon na lang lagi ang mga solusyon na ibinibigay sa atin. I think iyong taumbayan, habang naghahanap sila ng lunas sa mga problema, naghahanap din sila ng bagong solusyon mula sa gobyerno.

 

On change in Senate leadership

 

Sen. Bam: To be honest, I have not heard of those. Wala namang usapan o chatter among the senators. So, I guess being in a political atmosphere, highly politically charged ang mga ganyang lumalabas-labas, but I think it’s just a rumor and walang veracity sa kuwentong iyan.

 

On SC decision on appeal on Marcos burial

 

Sen. Bam: I think they’re standing by their decision. Ang sabi ko nga, hindi na talaga legal ang pag-appreciate sa mga nangyari during the Marcos burial issue. Magiging historical na talaga iyan.

 History will judge these times na nilibing natin ang isang diktador sa Libingan ng mga Bayani.

 

 

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