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00:00.0
Hello everyone! It's Tuesday, March 28 in Manila. I'm Karen Davila giving you the head start for the day. We have a jam-packed show this morning. Today, our first guest for Hot Copy, we have Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez as we continue our discussions on Charter Change.
00:19.3
We'll also talk about the Mandanas ruling and the anti-hazing law. And later on, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulia joins us as we keep tabs on the probe on Negros Oriental Governor Roel De Gamos' killing.
00:34.9
Why is Arnulfo Tevez now considered a mastermind? First, the headlines.
00:42.8
Today's big stories. The appeals chamber of the International Criminal Court rejects the Philippine government's request to suspend the ICC's drug war probe.
00:54.3
Philippine lawmaker Arnulfo Tevez Jr. deemed a potential mastermind in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel De Gamos.
01:03.9
And a school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, leaves seven people dead, including the attacker.
01:13.3
The appeals chamber of the International Criminal Court junks the Philippine government's request to suspend the ICC's probe into the Duterte administration's drug war.
01:24.8
It says the appeal failed to explain how the alleged lack of ICC jurisdiction would defeat the purpose of the probe.
01:35.3
Carlos Conde of Human Rights Watch welcomes the ruling, as well as the ICC's move to allow families of drug war victims to participate in the proceedings.
01:47.4
Meanwhile, the Philippine government's appeal against the ruling authorizing the resumption of the ICC's probe is still pending.
01:58.1
Government has repeatedly argued the judicial system is working and that the ICC has no jurisdiction in the country.
02:07.8
On hot copy this morning, a Philippine lawmaker pushing for amendments to the country's constitution wants his colleagues to meet with senators who are opposing any move for charter change.
02:25.3
Sherry Antorrez reports.
02:28.2
Camarinesul Representative El Rey Villafuerte believes it's time for the House of Representatives and the Senate to meet and discuss charter change, to arrive at a common ground on the matter before the year ends.
02:41.0
Villafuerte wants the Senate delegation led by Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes Chairman Robin Padilla and his House counterpart, Congressman Rufus Rodriguez, to discuss the issue.
02:54.6
Villafuerte is one of the principal authors of the resolution of both Houses No. 6, which calls for a constitutional convention that would propose amendments to the economic provisions of the Constitution.
03:07.4
His call was in response to House Speaker Martin Romaldez's readiness to discuss with his colleagues the Senate's cha-cha position.
03:15.7
Congressmen prefer to have cha-cha via constitutional convention, while some senators are interested to amend the charter via constituent assembly.
03:24.7
Padilla says he is willing to meet with his counterpart at the lower chamber.
03:29.4
Yes, we can ask for their audience and they will give us time to help.
03:41.0
The Makati Business Club has already withdrawn its support to the cha-cha proposal given the high price tag, but Congressman Rodriguez maintains the cha-cha proposal being pushed by lawmakers is based on the January 2021 pro-cha-cha position of the business sector.
03:57.8
Governance and policy expert Ira Paulo Pozon, meanwhile, reminds the public a successful amendment of the charter's economic provision will not lead to quick solutions to the country's economic problems.
04:10.4
Economic provisions, we will lift the restrictions, so foreign direct investment should increase, they will just enter, there will be market studies, feasibility, let's build a factory here, there will be regulations, registrations.
04:27.9
That's right. I don't agree with anything here. What we need to do is to start.
04:36.4
Shadian Torres, ABS-CBN News.
04:42.6
All right, joining us now, one hot copy with us later, Representative Richard Gomez.
04:48.2
Congressman Richard Gomez, good morning to you, sir.
04:51.4
Hi, Karen, good morning, and to all your viewers, good morning.
04:54.9
All right, you recently said that Speaker Martin Romualdez is open and supports the Senate's version.
05:03.8
The Senate's interest in charter change, well, most of them for a constituent assembly.
05:11.3
After we met at the PDP party meeting, I was designated to be the spokesperson in the House of Representatives and the center robin for the Senate.
05:23.4
And everything that transpired during that meeting, I reported to the Speaker and I told him that, number one, in the Senate, as Senator Robin is our chairman for amendments, he said that what he wants for the version of the Senate is constituent assembly, that's number one.
05:43.8
So tatlo yan, three things. Second, we'll only touch economic provisions. And then the third is dapat separate voting ang Senate and the House. So that is what I reported. And the Speaker said that, yeah, good, then we can entertain talks with them.
05:59.6
But what is important now, Karen, is that we need to talk with the House and the Senate because in the part of the House, 301 voted overwhelmingly for RBH-6, for KonKon.
06:12.1
Now it's time for the Senate to sit down, talk about it, and you can't ignore our mother law. This is the biggest one, the biggest law in the land. This is our constitution and you can't ignore it.
06:27.1
Pero Congressman, what happens now to the House resolution, the overwhelming vote of many of the lawmakers wanting a constitutional convention?
06:38.5
Yes. That's why the talks are very important. If the Senate will come out with their version saying na gusto na ng Konas, then let them go to a bicam committee and then from that bicam, they will come out with the resolution whether it will be KonKon or Konas. That's why the talks are very, very important at this point in time.
06:58.6
But will the House need to vote again?
07:01.9
It will be presented again in plenary and it will be ratified on the floor.
07:09.7
So because you'd have to present again hypothetically, that was too much assembly proposal.
07:15.9
Yes. Para sa akin Karen, what is important, after 37 years since 1987 constitution, at least ngayon nakikita natin na itong talks on constitutional amendments tumatakbo on the part of the House, okay na.
07:30.1
Ngayon, at least in Senate, it is being talked about. But in the past, hindi man lang ito iginalaw.
07:36.2
And we understand, you know, that if we want to work on the economic provisions, you know, it was very well presented that the country, because of its constitution, is one of the most restrictive in the world as presented to us, number three in the world and the strictest in the Asian region, ASEAN region.
07:56.6
But then what happens to your colleagues? Because I've spoken to Congressman Rufus Rodriguez and he said that some of your colleagues actually want changes in terms of, for example, limits when it comes to term limits in office.
08:13.0
Others want to suggest different methods or a different method in governance. So paano po ito if you agree to a constituent assembly where the parameters are only the economic provisions? Papayag po ba ang mga kasamahan niyo?
08:29.8
That's why important, Karen, ang voting separately. In the constitution, sinasabi, the House will have to vote jointly. Kaya kail-kailan gumawa tayo ng House rule saying that the House rule should be the House will vote separately and the Senate will vote separately para pag may deadlock, pag nag-yes ang House, nag-no on Senate, then that will be put aside.
08:52.3
Once you put it aside, hindi na pag-usapan niyo, then you can work on the next amendment. Pero pag sinabi mo voting jointly, both Senate and House, ma-overwhelm talaga yung 24 na Senate at yan ang ayaw nila because they'll get watered down with more than 300 congressmen and then against 24.
09:09.8
Okay, and I want to ask you your personal stand, Congressman Richard. Do you just prefer economic changes, the economic amendments, or you honestly believe? Because you do have some lawmakers who are making a good argument that a three-year term for Congress is too short, that by the time you're able to do something, you're preoccupied with the next elections.
09:33.8
So some are actually proposing four to five years, just make it two terms. Iba-iba ang proposal?
10:03.8
Ako personally, I agree na dapat may voting separately ang House and Senate. Now if you will ask me kung constitutional amendment ang gagalawin lang are economic provisions, for me that's perfectly okay. I'm perfectly okay with that.
10:22.8
But what's important to me Karen, mabigay ng opportunity ang mga tao natin. Millions of people don't have jobs. The foreign direct investment is very important to the Filipino people. Maybe the business groups medyo nag-flip-flop sila sa gusto nila. Before when constitutional amendments were not being talked about, sila nangyayari, let's do the constitution, let's amend it.
10:46.8
Ngayon nakita nila na yung Senate is moving also and the House approved it, all of a sudden may flip-flop sila.
10:53.8
Okay. And isn't this a factor that the business groups don't support charter change?
11:00.8
Well, the factor really is on the part of the Senate. Whatever people say, nag-agree ang Senate, tuloy-tuloy na yan.
11:09.8
Okay. I wanted to ask you also, you have colleagues already pushing for both the Senate and the House to already meet. You're on recess, right?
11:21.8
Okay. And when you meet, ano ang timetable na nakikita ninyo?
11:25.8
As soon as possible Karen. We waited for more than 37 years. Now's the time to talk about it. Wala natin patagalin. Tapos yan natin usapan na ito.
11:37.8
And on the part of the Senate, I think Karen what's important is we have to ask the Senate, ano ba yung fear nila? Why don't they want to work on this?
11:46.8
Everyone's affected by lack of jobs, lack of opportunities. Ano ba yung kinakatakot? Maybe if you will ask me Karen, ano ba yung kinakatakot nila?
11:57.8
Hindi ko na maintindihan. Maybe because natatakot sila na biglang lumabas na usapin na sige cut short natin yung term ng Senate from six years,
12:06.8
ibaba natin ng four years, baka yung kinakatakot nila. Or if biglang dumati yung usapin sa political amendment, sabihin nila baka mawala yung Senator,
12:14.8
maging regional senator lang sila. Or if there will be a change in government, maging parliamentary system, mawawala talaga sila kasi magiging congressman lahat.
12:22.8
Maybe I think these are the questions that the Senate will have to answer. Ano ba yung kinakatakot nila?
12:29.8
And you believe which is why you are open and the speaker is open for a constituent assembly just to discuss the economic provisions.
12:39.8
Yes, yes Karen. And I like to again stress, itong sinasabi ko ito, I was appointed by the PDP to speak on our part with regards to constitutional amendment. I'm not speaking for the speaker, I'm not speaking for the House. Ito stand namin sa PDP.
13:10.8
Even just for the economic provisions?
13:13.8
Yes. The following morning nag-meeting kami. We had an emergency meeting together with four senators from PDP laban. Senator Robyn as chairman for constitutional amendments, the second is Senator Tolentino, Senator Bata, and Senator Bongo. And they expressed their intention to support the constitutional amendments.
13:33.8
Okay. And who are you tapping in the Senate to be filing this resolution? Because they don't have a version.
13:40.8
I think the Filipino people should be the one to really encourage the Senate to come up with their own version. Remember Karen, there are only about 258 congressional districts all over the country. And 301 congressman ang pumirma sa House resolution for KonKon. That's more than what the Philippines have.
14:01.8
So the whole Philippines actually voted for a constitutional amendment. And then here comes 2024. Let's say put it at 20 senators. 20 senators nalang hinihintay natin. Lumabas na kayo with your own version please.
14:15.8
Okay. And congressman, in the economic amendments, what do you think would be the biggest game changer? Because during the Duterte administration, there were three amendments to the Public Services Act. And that's not enough?
14:31.8
The Public Services Act. Actually there are three, Karen. If you look at it, there are three laws that were passed. Let me just get my thoughts correct.
14:44.8
Nilapas yan yung Retail Trade Re-liberalization Act, Foreign Investment Act, and the Public Services Act. But Karen, all of these laws na inaprobahan, natin ito nagko-contravene sa Constitution natin.
15:00.8
Magtatanong siguro ibang tao, bakit kayo gumawa ng batas? Bakit hindi inaprobahan ng batas? Congress and Senate can come out with any law until or unless it is challenged at the Supreme Court.
15:12.8
And I know there's one challenging right now. Actually two. If utilities can be included. Tama ba?
15:20.8
Yes. And mayroon pang iba. Tapos Karen alam mo ang problema niyan. So now na sa Supreme Court na. Here comes the uncertainty. Kasi it is not written in stone.
15:32.8
So hindi yung batas na ginawa na yan, well there's no perfect law, pero yung batas na yan contradicts the Constitution. So may uncertainty for investors to come in.
15:43.8
Imagine, sasabihin nila, oh naglabas nga kami ng tatlong batas. That should be enough para pumasok ang mga foreign direct investors.
15:51.8
Sige. Here comes an investor who will come out with what? Put in $1 billion to the Philippines. Biglang may Supreme Court decision, Supreme Court case na that will give them uncertainty.
16:04.8
What if the Supreme Court says it is unconstitutional? If you ask me personally, I think it is unconstitutional because you cannot amend the Constitution by just creating laws. You cannot.
16:14.8
Interesting. So you yourself believe that even if those amendments were made, technically speaking, it goes against the Constitution?
16:24.8
Yes Karen yes. I'll give you one perfect example. Nire-require ng Constitution natin kung tatakbo ka ng Presidente, kailangan at least 45 years old or 46.
16:34.8
What if maglabas ako ng bill sabihin ko, sige pag 25 years old ka na pwede ka na tumakbo ng Presidente. Will the Constitution allow that? No because they will say that your bill or the law that you pass is against the Constitution.
16:49.8
It's the same thing for this Trade Liberalization Act. Yung tatlong batas na sinasabi nila na ipasa nila. Contradictory talaga yan.
16:58.8
That's interesting. And on another note, when it comes to the issue that some senators have discussed with me is the issue of land. Where do you stand when it comes to land? What amendment do you think is necessary with land?
17:15.8
Karen, very important yan na pag-usapan. Yung mga investors of course they like to put in a lot of money. Kung pag-usapan, agriculture. For agriculture program to succeed, kailangan malaki talaga yung land na gagamitin mo. Economies of scale.
17:32.8
So hindi ako personally I will say no pag ang papasok sila bibilisan ng land with regards to agriculture. That should be left to the Filipinos. But when it comes to manufacturing, papayag ako because when you put up a factory, how much land do you need to put up a factory?
17:48.8
Malaki na siguro 5 or 10 hectares. Then I will allow that. And then with regards to do they want to live in the Philippines, do they want to buy land? Well siguro kung tatungin mo ko, the only ones that can buy land siguro are those in the highest position of a company.
18:06.8
You allow them to buy 1,000 square meters for their own. Pero hindi mo napapayagan, bumili ka ng condominium dito, bumili ka ng maliit na lupa dito. You don't think that way. You will not allow that to happen. That's why it's important Karen na mag-usapan sa Senate and House regarding amendments.
18:30.8
And well you do have some senators that want openings for example with education, right? We don't have these big schools. You have like a Harvard, a Stanford already in the Middle East or certain parts of the world and we don't have it here because they're completely foreign owned.
18:48.8
That's right. There are some restrictions that you have to relax, such as educational. I'm one of the principal authors of these constitutional amendments. Nung nag-uusap kami sa committee namin, I will allow that if you ask me personally because education is very important. Do not limit education just in the Philippines.
19:10.8
Ang dami natin, how many are we? 110 million and we only have a few universities. So allow other big universities from other countries to come in. You have Harvard, you have NYU, you have Stanford. Let them come in.
19:41.8
The implementation has, I don't know if it's been fully implemented already because I know that President Marcos Jr. even ordered a review of the executive order issued by former President Duterte. What challenges are you seeing Congressman in the local sector because you are in Ormoc and I'm sure you've experienced this for many years.
20:07.8
Karen, the effect of the Mandanas Garcia case are two things. It's good because there are additional funds coming into the LGU that you can use for programs, not for activities. But on the other hand, the government wants a full devolution process.
20:25.8
Ibig sabihin lahat ng mga programa nila sa national level gusto nila ibabato nila sa local level at hindi pa pwede yan. Bakit? Because there are just too many national government programs that the LGU cannot handle with lack of funds.
20:40.8
Ang LGU kasi Karen, ako, I was a mayor for six years. So lahat na binabato ng program ng national government, sinasalu namin yan as LGU. That is our job to implement all programs being given by the national government.
20:57.8
But with lack of funds, insufficient funds, nothing will happen. Hindi matutuloy programa. What will happen next? You will not be able to give basic services to the people. Pangalaban, pag hindi naggawain ng LGU because of lack of funds, magko-collapse ang LGU. So that is the basic problem.
21:16.8
But what I want and I had a privileged speech on this. Ang sabi ko, we like the Mandanas Garcia ruling, the additional funds. That's very good. Pero sana, ang gawin natin on the national level, kayo na magbibigay ng funds sa LGU.
21:34.8
Dapat piso por piso tayo. You give us one peso additional funds, pero dapat commensurate sa program na ibibigay niyo sa amin. So kung ibibigay niyo sa amin one peso worth ng funds, dapat ang program one peso. Hindi pwede na piso lang itinanggap namin. Pero ang ibibigay niyo sa amin is worth 1,000 pesos. Mag-collapse.
21:56.8
Always remember, always remember, only the big cities will survive this program. The cities in Metro Manila, NCR, and cities maybe like Cebu, but the smaller ones, especially the municipalities, the fifth class, sixth class municipalities, mag-collapse talaga sila.
22:26.8
It will not. So full devolution is something that will not work unless it is supported by proper funding.
22:33.8
And I wanted to ask you, after the pandemic, have you actually received more revenues? Because there's also a debate I know on just how much LGUs should receive.
22:47.8
Did the DBM scrap a certain percentage that should go to the LGUs and LGUs want that also given to them?
23:17.8
When I was mayor in 2022, we received an additional less than P500M, about 37% increase from our internal revenue allotment before which is now called the national tax allotment.
23:48.8
So that's less than roughly about 15%. So you can see the effect of the pandemic.
23:59.8
And what about now? Did it go back to P500M?
24:04.8
No, not yet. Kasi yung pinagkuna natin ng 2020-2021, ano pa rin tayo, under pandemic tayo. So there's a possibility that what we will receive for the coming budget year will be lower than what we receive now.
24:22.8
Okay, so these are very good points. So given that the President is asking, I believe, the DBM to review the executive order, what is your request?
24:36.8
The review is, I think, coming up, am I right, within the next two months?
24:40.8
Yes. Our President, BBM, asked for a review for EO138, which is very good. So now, I'm hoping that they're listening to this conversation. Sana ang gawin nila na conclusions that yung piso may bibigay sa LGU, piso rin yung worth ng programs na tatanggapin ng LGU.
25:00.8
That way, all the programs that will come to the LGU will be properly implemented to the people.
25:05.8
And there's a chance of success.
25:08.8
There is. But do not burden the LGU. Sabihin nyo, malaki naman yung binatatanggap nyo, kaya nyo rin. It doesn't work that way.
25:16.8
Because the LGUs, there are hundreds, even thousands of programs in the LGU aside from nagpapasweldo ka ng mga tao mo.
25:25.8
The nice thing about all of this, Karen, meron tayo yung tinatawag, yung tinatawag natin yung growth equity fund.
25:34.8
Yung growth equity fund, this is a national fund. Ginagamit ito for smaller municipalities. Mali talaga yung tinatanggap nila.
25:43.8
As a matter of fact, Karen, as we speak right now, I'll tell you, barangays like San Lorenzo Village in Makati, Forbes Park in Makati,
25:53.8
mas malaki pa yung kinikita ng mga barangay niyan than other municipalities all over the country.
25:58.8
So you can imagine kung gaano kalilit lang yung tinatanggap ng mga munisipyo in other parts of the country.
26:05.8
So the growth equity fund is also very important to at least help the smaller municipalities na madagdagan yung fund nilang other than the Mandanas-Garcia ruling.
26:15.8
Good point. And is it possible that the growth equity fund only be given to municipalities that need it and take out already the first class municipalities or barangays?
26:27.8
Yes. As a matter of fact, yung first class up to fourth class hindi na yun kasama. Hindi na silang makasama. It's only the fifth and sixth class.
26:34.8
So sila lang yung makatanggap from the growth equity fund.
26:38.8
Right. My last question. I know, well, this is a bit left field, but you're a member of TAU Gamma Phi, I'm correct?
26:48.8
And I'm sure you're aware of the recent death of one of the students, Matthew Salilig. Some have already said there's already a very strict anti-hazing law.
27:05.8
Actually, my question is, you're from TAU Gamma Phi. The fraternity doesn't have a very good record. A lot of the records when it comes to, at least in the last few years that have been read on Head Start, TAU Gamma Phi always factors in the list of hazing deaths.
27:26.8
I mean, Richard, is there anything that the—shouldn't there be some internal penalties that can be imposed? I mean, I don't know what the members do or, you know, alumnas like yourself?
27:44.8
Yes. It's sad because of what happened. A member of TAU Gamma Phi died. You know, our senior brothers in our fraternity is working very hard and diligently in talking with the other members of the different chapters all over the country.
28:09.8
You know, there is an anti-hazing law that Senator Ralph Recto did. In the House, Congressman Bong Tevez is there. We tell them that we don't have hazing anymore. We don't accept our members anymore.
28:25.8
Let's do another form of—not hazing, but there are other ways to make other people join our fraternity.
28:34.8
Have you heard of hazing before? I'm curious. Did you go through hazing yourself?
28:44.8
It depends on the chapter.
28:47.8
Not really. Not really. But it was done by a different class. It can't be done anymore. It can't be hurt anymore. There's a possibility of death. So we don't do it anymore. We stop that.
28:59.8
Because especially us, we're members of Congress. The punishment is heavier on us because we can't make the law and we will violate it.
29:09.8
But when you were a student, I'm curious, you must have joined TAU Gamma before?
29:15.8
When you were a student?
29:16.8
Uso yan. Uso yan ng mga bata pa kami. Uso yan, Karen. So it has stopped. And ever since we've talked to our brothers in the different chapters all over the country,
29:28.8
even the founding members of TAU Gamma Phi, right now, umiikot sila. And you know, dini-educate yung mga chapters namin. You don't do that anymore. You stop it. We'll do another form of accepting members in the brotherhood.
29:42.8
All right. Well, I want to thank you so much for joining me today, Congressman Richard Gomez. I hope to see you soon as we progress on the talks on charter change.
29:51.8
Thank you so much, Karen. I thank you so much for this opportunity and I hope to see you soon. Thank you.
29:56.8
All right. See you soon. Head Start will take a quick break. Up next, we have Justice Secretary Crispin Remullia. Stay with us.
30:12.8
Welcome back to Head Start. Brotherly advice from former Negros Oriental Governor Pride Henry Tevez to his older brother, Representative Arnulfo Tevez Jr.
30:28.8
He's calling on the controversial lawmaker to return to the Philippines and face the charges against him.
30:34.8
The younger Tevez says his family shares the same sentiment, given that all of them are bearing the name Tevez, have been greatly affected by allegations against his brother.
30:48.8
If it's the president himself who guarantees his safety, I think he will be safe. Maybe to stop all this and shed light on everything, maybe it's about time he comes home.
31:06.8
Congressman Tevez is now deemed a potential mastermind in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Ruel de Gamo. And we're now joined this morning by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remullia. Secretary Remullia, thank you so much for being on Head Start today.
31:25.8
Good morning, Karen, and thank you also for the opportunity.
31:28.8
All right, let's start first with this. Congressman Arnulfo Tevez is now being considered as one of the masterminds in the killing of Governor de Gamo and eight others.
31:39.8
What kind of information do you have? What kind of evidence do you have to actually now move Tevez as a potential mastermind?
31:51.8
Well, I think that we have a picture of the narrative of what happened for the past few months leading to the March 4 incident in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.
32:03.8
And the witness accounts that we have among them, those who were involved in the crime itself, just points out to the fact that he may have been very complicit in what happened last March 4.
32:17.8
And even some events leading up to that showed that there was already a determination to do just what happened on March 4.
32:26.8
Okay. Have one of the suspects, the suspects now in custody, do you have four or you now have five?
32:34.8
The latest we have 11.
32:37.8
Already 11? But four were former military men?
32:41.8
Nine of them are military men.
32:43.8
Nine are military men. Did any of them name Tevez?
32:48.8
I do not want to answer that. I have to go back to their statements to be precise about it. So I cannot answer that.
32:56.8
Okay. But I'm curious because how could Tevez be considered a mastermind if a direct link has not been established?
33:08.8
Well, Karen, when the events transpired and then leading up to the events, they were staying in a place provided by the involvement of Tevez.
33:18.8
It was a place controlled by the Tevez family where these armed men were staying.
33:24.8
When they were recruited and they were given jobs, they were already being asked to do things for the Tevez family.
33:33.8
And directing it through one of his trusted men was Arnie Tevez.
33:39.8
Okay. So that's a link. That's a clear link that they were staying in a place.
33:46.8
When you use a place that definitely belongs to somebody who is being pinpointed as a mastermind, that is already a link.
33:57.8
That's why they called it a safe house.
34:01.8
They called it a safe house.
34:04.8
Okay. Did any of the suspects, at least in their testimony, name a person that commanded them or planned the killing and that particular point person was unknown?
34:18.8
Because Tevez was the one who got that person.
34:21.8
Yes. Yes. That's the person we're looking for.
34:27.8
But we will get him.
34:29.8
So this is what you said, sir, you're looking for two to three masterminds?
34:33.8
Maybe, yes. So we are not exactly sure yet about the number of people.
34:39.8
But it is already a criminal organization, Karen, I'm sorry to say.
34:43.8
What he was running was already a criminal organization based on what happened before the March 4 incident.
34:54.8
Yeah. And for our audience, just a backgrounder, actually the PNPC-IDG filed a murder complaint against Tevez.
35:03.8
This is for the 2019 death of a former counselor.
35:07.8
And it wasn't the first time. It was first for the former counselor, correct?
35:13.8
Yes. Actually, Karen, the list is long.
35:17.8
Of people, of incidents we have to investigate starting now.
35:21.8
Because many of them never got the point.
35:23.8
Because of the organization that we had and the way that he was running things in Ex-Oriental.
35:28.8
So let's call it impunity, but Karen, we cannot allow this impunity to continue.
35:33.8
That's why we had to bring the cases out of there and to bring them to Manila.
35:38.8
And the warrants were secured from another area.
35:41.8
Because the criminal organization was just so prevalent and dominant.
35:45.8
So you've described it already as a criminal organization.
35:49.8
The wife of Mayor Janice Degamo says there's a list of at least 30 people killed connected to Tevez.
35:57.8
But then a source tells ABS-CBN it's more than 50 deaths actually linked to Tevez.
36:04.8
So my question is, Justice Secretary, what was the police doing?
36:12.8
That is also my question. Because when this happened, when we were looking at the whole scenario,
36:17.8
after March 4, we were there March 8 with the President.
36:21.8
I was there March 8 with the President.
36:23.8
And then after a few more days, we really had to activate other intelligence sources.
36:29.8
Because we did not rely on the usual intelligence sources that we rely on for these operations.
36:34.8
So we had to activate the military to help us out,
36:37.8
flesh out the facts and the background of each and everything that would happen.
36:45.8
It's just so unfortunate, Karen.
36:47.8
But we had to rely on the military because they were the only ones left to help us.
36:53.8
But then, Justice Secretary, let's be honest.
36:55.8
This is a breakdown of law enforcement.
36:58.8
Possible corruption in the rank and file of law enforcement assigned in Negros Oriental.
37:05.8
Isn't the PNP chief at any point, whoever it may be, I'm not pertaining to the particular one.
37:12.8
Isn't the PNP accountable, the leadership of the PNP?
37:16.8
Shouldn't they police their ranks?
37:19.8
Of course, Karen. You can always talk about command responsibility in this case.
37:26.8
There was even a video, Karen, in Facebook where the policemen were singing Happy Birthday.
37:34.8
It really gives you a creepy feeling that something was wrong out there.
37:39.8
That the values of the people were really affected by the money going around.
37:45.8
So there was so much money going around, Karen, that it was already obscene, to say the least.
37:51.8
Okay. Now, in the recent raid, it was shocking that high-powered firearms,
37:58.8
may granada pa ata, kung ano-ano na hanap doon, plus 18 million pesos worth of cash.
38:05.8
So the first, what laws were already broken other than the possible illegal possession of firearms,
38:13.8
which is having that cachet of high-powered firearms in a person's property?
38:23.8
Karen, mayroon pang IED na hanap.
38:27.8
You're talking about improvised explosive devices that are usually used in terrorism.
38:34.8
So we're talking about something really, a very violent organization that's there,
38:40.8
ready to do killings at any time.
38:45.8
And as your source would say, there were more than 50 probably.
38:49.8
And I'm not surprised because they talk of it as if they're dropping chickens down.
38:57.8
It's really alarming. That's why we had to do something here.
39:01.8
We had to ask for the military to help us keep the peace so people would believe that we are there.
39:08.8
But we will get to the bottom of it, Karen. That's what we are here for.
39:12.8
That's why DOJ is working on it and the NBI.
39:16.8
Some elements of the PNP that we have permission to work are there already.
39:23.8
And of course, the military is still there because we need them to help us figure out a lot of things.
39:30.8
Okay. Now, the brother of Congressman Tevez, the ex-governor,
39:36.8
you've said will be subjected to preliminary investigation.
39:40.8
But who is he claiming as the owner of these high-powered firearms?
39:48.8
Well, Karen, that is just par for the course.
39:52.8
Because when you find firearms in a place controlled by one person,
39:56.8
you have to subject them to preliminary investigation.
39:59.8
So that his rights will be respected.
40:02.8
So that we will hear from him whatever he wishes to say.
40:05.8
And I'm glad that he's coming out. Henry Pryant is coming out to speak.
40:10.8
Because he has to do it already.
40:13.8
Because we all know, Karen, if Arnie evades all of these processes,
40:19.8
that is an indication of his guilt.
40:21.8
He has to show up or be damned.
40:24.8
Okay. I have the latest here.
40:27.8
I think this is the camp of Arnie Tevez.
40:30.8
Their statement is they're clarifying that they're just part owners of the compound.
40:36.8
I'm presuming this is watching because we're doing the interview.
40:39.8
But there's a continuous search power. Go ahead.
40:43.8
I will not hear anything from Arnie Tevez because he's not here.
40:47.8
Everything that comes out is hearsay.
40:49.8
It has to come from him or some person really, in writing,
40:53.8
allowed by him to represent him in a proceeding.
40:57.8
But I will not hear anything.
40:59.8
Defenses are nothing now.
41:04.8
Justice Secretary, as of now, there is no arrest warrant against Arnie Tevez?
41:09.8
Not yet. Not yet.
41:11.8
So the question of many is,
41:13.8
considering everything that you've discovered,
41:16.8
this new direct link,
41:18.8
how can an arrest warrant be issued fast?
41:22.8
It has to come from the courts,
41:24.8
but can the DOJ actually push the warrant?
41:27.8
Yes. Of course, we want to push the process.
41:31.8
But Karen, we're talking about human rights and due process.
41:35.8
That is how the law works.
41:37.8
We have to respect the due process of law.
41:40.8
Whether how slow it is, we just have to respect it.
41:43.8
Unless it's in hot pursuit,
41:45.8
we cannot arrest a person.
41:47.8
We have to give him the light of day in court
41:52.8
or in a preliminary investigation.
41:55.8
Because the lawyer of Arnie Tevez says,
41:57.8
because there is no arrest warrant,
41:59.8
he's technically not a fugitive.
42:03.8
When one is suspected of having committed a crime,
42:07.8
he is already suspected to be considered a fugitive
42:11.8
if he does not show up.
42:13.8
The actions speak louder than words here, Karen.
42:17.8
It's not showing up that he's evading us
42:20.8
or trying to evade the law.
42:22.8
Justice Romulia, after everything that's been discovered,
42:26.8
do you think Congressman Tevez will honestly come back?
42:32.8
I cannot answer that question for him
42:34.8
or I cannot answer that question for you.
42:36.8
It is his own decision.
42:37.8
But we will establish everything that has to be established
42:41.8
to do justice to the murder of Governor Roberto Gaviria.
42:46.8
What if he doesn't come back?
42:49.8
For example, hypothetically, if he doesn't show up?
42:52.8
If I don't have a passport,
42:54.8
I will be a subject of an inter-court hunt.
42:57.8
And the world will get smaller for me.
42:59.8
It will not be easy.
43:01.8
It will not be easy.
43:04.8
It will not be easy.
43:05.8
It will not be easy.
43:13.8
A case, not a case,
43:15.8
but a complaint has been filed in the lower house
43:19.8
for the expulsion of Congressman Tevez
43:22.8
because of him allegedly owning the small-time lottery,
43:27.8
the STL, and at one point, the ISABOM.
43:30.8
Are there violations also criminally
43:32.8
for a congressman to be a part owner of, let's say,
43:37.8
a gambling franchise?
43:39.8
Well, an illegal enterprise is always a violation
43:44.8
of the code of ethics of a congressman
43:48.8
because we have to uphold the law as congressmen.
43:51.8
We do not want anybody who violates the law
43:56.8
dealing the law to come after him.
43:58.8
Then that would destroy Congress itself.
43:59.8
That's why the ethics committee is very important,
44:02.8
especially in times like this.
44:06.8
Do you have a call for Congressman Arnie Tevez
44:09.8
before I move on to another topic, sir?
44:11.8
He knows he has to face the music.
44:18.8
Let's move on now very quickly on the oil spill.
44:21.8
I wanted to ask you,
44:23.8
because I read up on the Guimaras oil spill,
44:26.8
actually what happened there.
44:27.8
So the oil company then
44:30.8
just actually spent 120 million pesos
44:33.8
to those affected,
44:35.8
which you look today would be quite small.
44:37.8
But nobody has really answered for the pollution damage.
44:43.8
I believe then they were asking
44:46.8
for the International Oil Pollution Compensation
44:50.8
Who answers for the marine damage, Justice Secretary?
44:54.8
You've talked about it in your press conferences.
44:57.8
What is the penalty for that?
45:00.8
Well, time is your environment.
45:02.8
There are penalties in the law,
45:04.8
but not as harsh as we would want them to be.
45:07.8
Unfortunately, in this case,
45:09.8
the Compensation Act
45:13.8
that is there for the insurance
45:16.8
that gives a very big insurance payment,
45:19.8
we are not signatory to that.
45:22.8
So we are looking at this
45:24.8
from the point of view of a country
45:27.8
that has to clean up its own mess afterwards.
45:29.8
That's why we do not want to rely on the insurance angle
45:32.8
being touted to us by many,
45:34.8
even government agencies also,
45:36.8
like the marina and the postcard,
45:38.8
are so down-hole on the insurance that will come out.
45:43.8
We cannot count on these people.
45:45.8
That's why we have to police our ranks,
45:47.8
we have to punish the guilty,
45:49.8
and we have to clean up our own mess.
45:51.8
In the end, Karen, we have to clean up our own mess.
45:54.8
I'm curious, will government as a whole
45:55.8
file a case against the owners of Empty Princess Empress?
46:01.8
That's what we are trying to establish now, Karen.
46:03.8
We have subpoenaed to the NBI
46:06.8
the documents necessary for us to determine a liability.
46:10.8
The NBI is going to the ground,
46:12.8
looking at the places where the vessels
46:15.8
were supposed to be manufactured
46:18.8
and established as seagoing vessels.
46:22.8
We are going through the whole process, Karen.
46:23.8
We just have to establish the facts properly.
46:26.8
We have to establish liability,
46:28.8
and definitely, Karen,
46:30.8
where the ship sank
46:33.8
and where the oil spill goes,
46:36.8
that's what we call a scene of a crime.
46:38.8
It's a crime against the environment,
46:41.8
and it's a delict.
46:44.8
Even if it's an accident,
46:47.8
or it is intentional,
46:49.8
it is a crime, Karen.
46:52.8
Now, the International Criminal Court
46:54.8
has just rejected the bid
46:56.8
of the Philippine government
46:58.8
to suspend the ongoing investigation
47:00.8
of former President Duterte's drug war.
47:03.8
What does this mean to us
47:05.8
with the ICC rejecting the Philippines' appeal?
47:09.8
Well, we are talking to them
47:11.8
as a country among nations
47:13.8
that says we can handle our own problems.
47:16.8
Well, I really don't know what they want to happen.
47:18.8
They want to take over our legal system.
47:20.8
They want to take over our armed forces
47:23.8
or our police forces
47:25.8
because they will have to come in
47:28.8
with a compulsory process
47:30.8
for us to be able to work out anything with them.
47:33.8
Because right now, we're telling them
47:37.8
Give us your complaint. We will do it.
47:39.8
But if they insist on doing it,
47:41.8
well, Karen, good luck to them
47:43.8
because they cannot enter our country
47:45.8
to impose a rule of law different from ours.
47:46.8
And our rule of law here
47:48.8
is run by Filipinos.
47:50.8
But then, Secretary,
47:52.8
I'm a bit confused
47:54.8
because are we sending a confusing message?
47:56.8
The Philippines keeps saying
47:58.8
they have no jurisdiction.
48:00.8
Our courts are working.
48:02.8
And yet, why are we filing these appeals?
48:04.8
By appealing, it means we recognize them.
48:07.8
No, Karen, it's part of diplomacy.
48:10.8
We have to exhaust all diplomatic means
48:13.8
to get the message across.
48:15.8
Before Solicitor General Guevara filed,
48:19.8
we had a tentative.
48:23.8
We spoke about it.
48:25.8
We had a discussion about it
48:27.8
before he proceeded to file the final plea deal
48:30.8
with the understanding that
48:32.8
it's really meant for diplomacy,
48:34.8
for diplomatic purposes.
48:36.8
Okay, so that's the only purpose, right?
48:39.8
Because when you file something,
48:41.8
when you ask for something,
48:42.8
it means you are recognizing
48:44.8
that body's jurisdiction over you.
48:47.8
Not necessarily, Karen.
48:49.8
We're not anymore members of the ICC.
48:51.8
So that is a very big question mark, Karen.
48:56.8
they still have jurisdiction
48:58.8
given the timeframe
49:03.8
Well, Karen, how will they
49:07.8
to act in any manner?
49:13.8
is there anything you'd like to add,
49:15.8
Justice Remulia, before we go?
49:19.8
The ICC is the ICC.
49:21.8
Good luck to them also.
49:23.8
If they want to arrest Putin,
49:25.8
I want to see them do that
49:27.8
because they're big on words.
49:29.8
But let them do it first
49:31.8
so we will believe
49:33.8
that they can really do what they say.
49:37.8
Justice Secretary Crispin Remulia,
49:39.8
I'll see you again.
49:43.8
All right. Let's get started today, everybody.
49:45.8
I'm Karen Davila.
49:47.8
Thanks for watching.
49:49.8
You can play back this episode
49:51.8
on the ANC YouTube channel.
49:53.8
Stay informed and stay with ANC.
