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00:00.0
The Marcos administration rejecting the U.S. State Department's human rights report on the Philippines.
00:18.8
The power grids of Luzon and Mindanao on alert once again due to a spike in demand amid the extreme heat.
00:25.4
Environmental groups set to issue a manifesto urging the DENR secretary to do better or just leave her post.
00:33.9
We'll tackle that with Heidi Fernandez of the Zambales Ecological Network Incorporated.
00:39.5
And tributes pouring in for the late statesman and rights defender Rene Sagisa.
00:44.3
We'll talk about his legacy with his former colleagues at the Senate and with the Free Legal Assistance Group.
00:52.3
Hi, I'm Carmina Constantino. Dateline Philippines begins.
00:56.9
Thanks for joining us. For those of you watching us on YouTube and on Facebook, glad you could join us today.
01:01.3
We begin with the Philippine government rejecting a U.S. State Department report showing extrajudicial killings remain a serious problem in the country.
01:10.4
The Foreign Affairs Department says it does not reflect the situation on the ground,
01:14.7
including the accomplishments of the Marcos administration on upholding human rights.
01:19.4
The agency also says the U.S. State Department must exercise due diligence
01:24.4
to ensure a more reliable reporting.
01:27.4
The U.S. government report said there were no significant changes in the human rights situation in the Philippines last year,
01:33.5
with extrajudicial killings still being carried out by security forces.
01:38.4
It also highlighted the murder of Negros Oriental Governor Roel de Gamo
01:42.1
and the death of 17-year-old Jemboy Baltazar at the hands of the Navotas police.
01:49.9
Standing up for freedom and human rights is simply the right thing to do.
01:54.4
But defending and promoting these inalienable and universal rights is also profoundly in our national interest.
02:01.4
Countries that respect human rights are more likely to be peaceful, prosperous, stable.
02:09.8
The Presidential Communications Office warns the public against a circulating audio deep fake of President Marcos.
02:16.8
The manipulated video featured a supposed audio of Marcos instructing the military to act against a foreign country,
02:24.4
but the PCO says such directive does not exist,
02:28.3
adding the agency is actively working on measures to combat misinformation and disinformation.
02:34.8
The PCO also says it is likely to make that working closely with relevant agencies and other stakeholders
02:41.2
to address the proliferation of malicious deep fakes.
02:44.9
It also calls on Filipinos to be more discerning of the content they see online.
02:52.3
No room for intimidation.
02:53.4
No room for intimidation.
02:54.4
China flexes its military might in the West Philippine Sea.
02:57.6
The Philippine Navy reported heightened Chinese presence in Philippine waters,
03:02.0
with a number of Chinese vessels surging to over a hundred,
03:05.4
just as Filipino and American troops hold their annual joint military drills.
03:10.1
For maritime security expert Ray Powell, the number is elevated,
03:13.6
but not alarming at this point, since most of them just sit idly.
03:19.3
China will take almost anything as a provocation,
03:22.6
and I would say it would actually be,
03:24.4
worse for the Philippines sort of not to do this, right?
03:27.8
So to look like the Philippines is backing down or being intimidated.
03:33.7
So Balikatan is a normal exercise, performing military drills.
03:40.1
It's not like they're going off of China's coast.
03:43.3
They're just going out deeper into the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.
03:50.4
Powell adds, despite criticisms,
03:52.4
the Philippine government's transparency campaign,
03:54.4
is clearly working in Manila's favor.
03:59.1
It sends China a message that the Philippines is not alone,
04:02.5
and that continuing to up the ante like this
04:06.5
is not just making rug points with the Philippines,
04:09.8
not even just with the United States,
04:11.5
but now they have to think about Tokyo.
04:13.3
Now they have to think about Europe.
04:14.9
Now they have to think about Australia.
04:16.7
So they have to think about how isolated do they want to become,
04:19.9
because that's what they're inviting upon themselves.
04:21.7
It is complicating their strategic calculus,
04:24.6
and it is resulting in some actual material benefit for the Philippines
04:29.8
because some of these countries are making commitments now to the Philippines
04:33.2
that they probably would not have made
04:35.5
had all of this not been kind of put in front of their face
04:38.8
by the Marcos administration.
04:43.4
In other news, the Philippines' grid operator says
04:46.0
there is enough power supply for the rest of the year,
04:49.2
and GCP gave this assurance even after the grids of Luzon and Visayas
04:53.4
were recently planned to be shut down.
04:54.3
It was only placed on alert due to the sizzling weather
04:56.7
that caused energy demand to spike.
04:59.2
It, however, admits more work needs to be done
05:01.9
to improve the power sector.
05:05.2
We've been issuing grid status alerts over the Visayas and Luzon
05:10.2
for the past couple of years now,
05:12.2
maybe three, four, five years consecutively.
05:14.8
Although there is no persistent power supply shortage,
05:20.3
you do feel it during the summer or shortly after summer.
05:24.3
And that's indicative that for the general portion of the year,
05:28.0
there is enough power supply.
05:29.6
It's indicative that your excess is thinning
05:33.2
because then you're vulnerable to heat,
05:36.0
you're vulnerable to unplanned maintenance and shutdowns.
05:39.4
So I think maybe it's really an indication
05:41.7
that we have to go back to the drawing board
05:43.6
in terms of ensuring that we have a more resilient power system.
05:50.8
The Luzon grid will be under red and yellow alerts again
05:54.3
today with four plants on forced outages.
05:57.2
Mindanao's grid will also be under a yellow alert
06:00.1
from 10 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon.
06:06.1
Environmental groups banding together
06:08.1
against what they say is the inaction
06:10.2
of Environment Secretary Tony Yulo Loizaga
06:13.0
on pressing issues.
06:14.4
They are set to release a manifesto
06:16.1
urging the DNR chief to do better at her job or step down.
06:20.1
Joining us now to talk about that is Heidi Fernandez.
06:22.3
She is the Executive Director
06:24.3
of Zambales Ecological Network Incorporated.
06:27.0
Heidi, nice to see you again
06:28.0
and thanks for joining us today.
06:32.1
Thank you so much for having me on your show again.
06:34.7
All right, Heidi, in a few minutes,
06:36.1
you together with other environmental defenders
06:38.1
will be calling out the DNR Secretary.
06:41.6
You'll be coming out with the manifesto
06:43.9
with a clear message for Secretary Yulo Loizaga.
06:48.6
Shape up or ship out.
06:50.7
Why are you coming out with that manifesto?
06:54.3
Well, because we are definitely already
06:59.5
very disappointed and very dismayed
07:03.0
with the performance of the DNR Secretary.
07:07.9
Since she was appointed as the head
07:12.3
of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources,
07:15.0
we have not heard her talk about an advocacy
07:20.1
for the protection of the environment.
07:24.3
She has not been talking to communities like us
07:28.5
in Zambales and in other communities in the Philippines.
07:33.3
We have so many issues of destruction
07:37.9
of the environment all over the Philippines.
07:41.2
But she has not been very supportive of our causes.
07:45.0
And when she was appointed,
07:46.9
we had high hopes that she would at least
07:50.0
instill change in that institution.
07:54.3
It has been ravaged by corruption.
07:56.2
Let me just jump in on that point, Heidi,
07:58.5
because I remember that interview.
07:60.0
I think we talked then, right?
08:01.4
When she was appointed.
08:02.5
And you did say exactly the same words,
08:05.5
that you had high hopes.
08:11.1
Unfortunately, after years of her as our DNR Secretary,
08:16.3
we didn't feel her leadership to instill change in the DNR
08:21.4
and to protect the environment.
08:23.1
She has been very quiet.
08:25.7
She has not been visiting our communities
08:28.1
that have been ravaged by mining
08:29.9
and other activities that destroy our communities.
08:35.7
Like, for example,
08:37.2
in our province in Zambales,
08:40.0
we have just successfully driven away
08:43.2
Chinese dredging vessels in our shores
08:47.3
because of a department order
08:51.0
that was issued by his...
08:53.1
or Secretary Royce Timatu in 2019.
08:58.1
So this is the Department Order No. 13 Series of 2019.
09:04.7
It talks about the desilting of three major rivers in Zambales
09:09.8
because it has been desilted by lahar from Mount Pinatubo.
09:15.2
So we're talking about the Bukaw River,
09:17.6
Santo Tomas River,
09:19.3
and the Maloma River.
09:27.6
as the head of the Interagency Committee
09:29.5
under the DAO 13,
09:31.6
or Department Order 13,
09:34.0
started dredging Maloma River.
09:38.7
And Maloma River has two coastal communities there.
09:42.8
Actually, they have three coastal communities,
09:45.8
but the nearest or direct impact areas are
09:49.7
CTO, TEC-TEC, and CTO,
09:53.1
LAWAG in San Felipe, Zambales.
09:55.9
And I think you've seen a lot of videos
09:59.6
that we have posted in our page.
10:02.9
But here's the thing, Heidi.
10:05.6
When we talk about high hopes then,
10:07.7
when she was newly appointed as Environment Secretary,
10:11.4
these high hopes didn't go without any foundation.
10:15.6
You had high hopes then because,
10:17.5
as everyone saw at that time,
10:20.9
she was considered as one...
10:24.0
as being from the sector,
10:26.7
being an environmental defender herself,
10:29.3
being part of the so-called
10:31.4
family of environmental defenders.
10:33.0
So what do you think happened
10:34.4
between then and now
10:35.8
that you're now saying
10:37.6
that you couldn't feel her presence?
10:40.3
That you are, in so many words,
10:42.7
underwhelmed by her actions or non-actions?
10:49.8
Yes, we are definitely underwhelmed.
10:53.1
very sad and broken-hearted, actually,
10:56.2
because she came from an organization
10:59.1
called Manila Observatory.
11:02.6
the one who succeeded her
11:04.8
in the leadership of Manila Observatory
11:07.4
and Environment NGO
11:09.0
is our lawyer here in our cases,
11:13.3
in our environment cases,
11:14.8
Dean Tony Lavinia.
11:16.3
So we had high hopes
11:18.2
that she would champion the cause
11:20.4
of protecting the environment.
11:23.0
we've never experienced that.
11:24.9
As a matter of fact,
11:27.0
she has been cuddling
11:28.3
her people in the region
11:34.4
conniving with people
11:37.7
who are destroying the environment.
11:40.7
When you say they're conniving...
11:42.3
Sorry, Heidi, to cut you there.
11:43.4
When you say her people are conniving
11:45.1
with those who are destroying the environment,
11:47.2
what proof do you have for saying this?
11:53.0
they're always providing
11:54.5
environment compliance certificates
11:59.7
or private entities
12:04.0
that want to mine
12:06.6
several areas in the country
12:09.8
to construct private ports
12:15.3
or seabed dredging.
12:17.5
And we have found out
12:19.4
that they do not even
12:28.9
applied for ECCs.
12:31.3
They don't even know that
12:34.7
spawning areas of
12:36.7
bamus fry and other
12:41.7
those projects will definitely
12:43.7
negatively impact
12:45.7
on the livelihoods of people,
12:47.8
especially the fishermen and farmers,
12:50.2
and definitely the
12:53.0
the biodiversity of a community
12:55.0
like us in Zambales.
12:57.0
They always never
13:05.0
they don't hold people's
13:09.0
They hold people's
13:11.0
consultations but they don't give us
13:13.0
the real picture of what's going to happen
13:15.0
when they dredge the sea.
13:17.0
So they don't talk about
13:19.0
the negative impacts of
13:21.0
the activities that they are permitting.
13:29.0
Heidi, I do have to say that
13:30.0
we had reached out to the Office of
13:32.0
Environment Secretary Tony Yulo-Loyosaga,
13:34.0
but we have yet to hear from them.
13:36.0
And we had to air already.
13:38.0
But just as a last question, Heidi,
13:41.0
it's very clear from what you've said
13:43.0
from the beginning of this interview
13:45.0
what actions need to be taken.
13:47.0
I mean, I'm only talking to you
13:49.0
representing just one group.
13:51.0
I understand that later on this afternoon,
13:53.0
there will be several other groups
13:55.0
with exactly the same sentiments.
13:57.0
But the question is,
13:59.0
if you guys can see it very clearly,
14:01.0
if you guys know what needs to be done,
14:04.0
why can't the Secretary see this for herself?
14:09.0
That's a big question.
14:11.0
Why can't she see that
14:13.0
she has to be there?
14:15.0
She has to connect with communities
14:18.0
so that she would be guided
14:20.0
on what decisions she would make
14:22.0
to protect the environment.
14:24.0
Like what she has been allowing to happen
14:28.0
is the destruction of the environment,
14:30.0
destruction of livelihoods of people,
14:35.0
We are now exporting bangus fry from Indonesia
14:38.0
instead of us exporting to other countries
14:41.0
because we have the industry.
14:42.0
But they are dredging our estuaries.
14:47.0
So we cannot even develop this industry
14:50.0
in our own country.
14:52.0
And it is being destroyed by private entities.
14:56.0
DNR should always be biased towards conservation,
15:01.0
towards protection of the environment,
15:03.0
and not towards profit.
15:05.0
They're always talking about profit and regulation.
15:07.0
It's easy to comply with the requirements,
15:09.0
but at what expense?
15:11.0
We can earn billions and billions of money
15:14.0
for private sector investments,
15:17.0
but at what expense?
15:19.0
The destruction of our forests?
15:23.0
Massive deforestation?
15:25.0
And destruction of our marine ecology?
15:28.0
Is that a proper way
15:32.0
at protecting our environment
15:34.0
and conservation efforts?
15:38.0
Heidi, just as a final question here,
15:39.0
it is very clear,
15:40.0
your manifesto says,
15:42.0
magbago o magbitir.
15:44.0
It's either she changes
15:46.0
or she just tenders her resignation.
15:49.0
On the flip side,
15:50.0
if she doesn't resign,
15:52.0
what's the picture there
15:54.0
that's awaiting the Filipino public?
15:58.0
Well, if she doesn't resign
15:59.0
and she continues to be negligent
16:01.0
in her responsibilities
16:03.0
of protecting the environment,
16:05.0
we're going to intensify our actions
16:08.0
for her to hear us,
16:11.0
to listen to the people.
16:13.0
We are definitely launching
16:16.0
intensified protests
16:21.0
acting for the environment.
16:27.0
We're going to have to leave it at that.
16:28.0
Heidi Fernandez there,
16:29.0
Executive Director
16:30.0
of the Zambales Ecological Network, Inc.
16:32.0
Thank you so much, Heidi,
16:33.0
for joining us this afternoon.
16:34.0
Really appreciate it.
16:39.0
Right from there,
16:40.0
we're going to take a quick break.
16:41.0
Up ahead, a look back
16:42.0
at the life and legacy
16:43.0
of Philippine statesman
16:44.0
and human rights defender,
16:45.0
Attorney Rene Sagisa.
16:46.0
You're watching Dateline Philippines
16:51.0
We'll be right back.
17:04.0
Back with more news,
17:06.0
Philippine statesman
17:07.0
and human rights defender,
17:08.0
Rene Sagisa has passed away.
17:11.0
The former senator
17:12.0
was among the leading opposition figures
17:14.0
during the martial law era
17:16.0
and was among those imprisoned
17:18.0
at the start of the military regime.
17:20.0
Sagisa had served
17:21.0
as presidential spokesman
17:22.0
under the Corazon Aquino administration.
17:25.0
He served in the upper chamber
17:27.0
from 1987 to 1992.
17:32.0
as they mourn his passing,
17:35.0
in the enduring impact of his legacy.
17:38.0
Sagisa's family also remembered him
17:40.0
as a dedicated public servant
17:42.0
and a tireless human rights advocate
17:44.0
who fought for justice,
17:50.0
Tributes pouring in for Sagisa,
17:53.0
human rights lawyer
17:54.0
and former House lawmaker,
17:55.0
Erin Tañada remembers
17:57.0
how Sagisa committed his life
17:59.0
to protecting human rights.
18:01.0
Tañada described him as a family man
18:03.0
and a nationalist
18:05.0
who was at the forefront
18:06.0
of the people's fight
18:07.0
against the dictatorship
18:08.0
of the late President
18:09.0
Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.
18:11.0
Tañada also shared this photo
18:13.0
of Sagisa and his father,
18:15.0
former Senator Rigberto Tañada,
18:17.0
taken just last April 9th
18:19.0
when they were both recognized
18:21.0
by the Bantayog ng Mga Bayani Foundation
18:23.0
for their efforts
18:24.0
in fighting the Marcos,
18:26.0
or Marcos Seniors regime.
18:28.0
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri
18:30.0
also mourning Sagisa's death.
18:34.0
how the former senator
18:35.0
lived out the principle
18:36.0
that those who have less in life
18:38.0
should have more in law.
18:42.0
Sagisa will leave an indelible mark
18:44.0
as a true statesman.
18:46.0
Former Senate President Franklin Triron
18:48.0
meanwhile called Sagisa
18:49.0
a model public servant.
18:52.0
Sagisa's principles on morality
18:58.0
And we'll be speaking now
18:59.0
with a colleague of Ernest Sagisa
19:01.0
at the upper chamber,
19:03.0
former Senator Orly Mercado.
19:04.0
Senator, good afternoon to you
19:06.0
and thank you for joining us today.
19:07.0
Wish I could be speaking to you
19:09.0
but thanks for joining us
19:12.0
It's my pleasure.
19:15.0
Thank you very much for having me.
19:18.0
you together with Rene Sagisa
19:22.0
were known as the Magnificent 12.
19:24.0
You guys voted against
19:25.0
the continued presence
19:26.0
of the U.S. bases
19:27.0
here in the country.
19:29.0
Tell us about everything
19:31.0
that went on behind the scenes,
19:33.0
that friendship that endured
19:36.0
even after you voted
19:38.0
and shared that victory.
19:40.0
Go ahead, Senator Mercado.
19:43.0
You know, actually,
19:44.0
the thing about Rene,
19:48.0
is that he is a true legislator.
19:52.0
He really enjoyed
19:54.0
formulating public policy.
19:58.0
with a disciplined mind.
19:60.0
He knew what he wanted.
20:03.0
And I think what bolstered
20:05.0
everything that he had done
20:07.0
was the integrity
20:09.0
in his practice of law
20:12.0
and what he called during that time
20:14.0
his romance with the law.
20:15.0
I really don't have
20:17.0
anything more to say
20:19.0
because I'm dedicated
20:21.0
to lawmaking like Rene.
20:24.0
He studied very carefully
20:30.0
and every resolution
20:32.0
or bill that came
20:36.0
before his committee
20:38.0
and before the Senate
20:42.0
The international relations
20:44.0
issue during that time
20:47.0
was the military basis agreement
20:51.0
which we rejected.
20:53.0
There are the changes now,
20:56.0
of course, obviously.
20:57.0
But I think we made
20:60.0
the right decision
21:01.0
on that particular date.
21:03.0
our national interest dictates
21:05.0
that we broaden our relationship
21:08.0
with our neighbors
21:09.0
as well as the United States.
21:11.0
And we're doing it
21:13.0
because we have now
21:17.0
that are being used
21:20.0
And there are now
21:26.0
many other countries
21:29.0
in this particular exercise.
21:35.0
He was one who had
21:37.0
very strong principles
21:40.0
for the poorest of the poor
21:42.0
and especially those
21:43.0
who are disadvantaged
21:45.0
in the realm of justice,
21:48.0
the criminal justice system.
21:50.0
And unfortunately,
21:53.0
after the first...
21:55.0
He was the anti-politician
21:60.0
he could have won
22:01.0
another term easily.
22:03.0
And when I asked him,
22:05.0
because I decided also
22:06.0
to run for a second term,
22:09.0
I don't want to anymore.
22:11.0
I'll just go back
22:14.0
and go back to the things
22:18.0
because I remember
22:26.0
who could explain
22:29.0
and the parameters,
22:30.0
the legal parameters
22:31.0
that we were using
22:33.0
in any particular
22:37.0
that we were discussing.
22:41.0
him as a dedicated
22:44.0
and an honest person,
22:47.0
a man with integrity.
22:50.0
that's one of the strongest
22:52.0
suits that he had.
22:53.0
You made a mention,
22:57.0
with policymaking.
22:59.0
But at the core of that,
23:03.0
at the core of that
23:05.0
the Filipino people.
23:08.0
you hear of politicians
23:12.0
at the center of that,
23:14.0
not Attorney Sagi-Sag.
23:21.0
it's not about me,
23:23.0
it's not about us.
23:25.0
we are supposed to do
23:31.0
a simple statement.
23:32.0
But that is the core
23:33.0
of how to be able
23:36.0
through public service
23:39.0
subsuming yourself
23:45.0
who have elected us
23:46.0
to public office.
23:50.0
what are you taking
23:52.0
out of the friendship
23:53.0
and the many hours
23:56.0
now that he's gone?
23:57.0
What will strike you
23:59.0
Go ahead, Senator.
23:60.0
Among the reporters,
24:05.0
he had the license
24:07.0
to make fun of us
24:10.0
because normally,
24:13.0
the media's always interested
24:15.0
in political jousts
24:21.0
between personalities.
24:22.0
And he used to say,
24:25.0
and lumped me together
24:27.0
with the media men also
24:29.0
because I've been in media
24:30.0
most of my professional life,
24:33.0
ang problema sa inyo
24:34.0
puro ay insultador
24:37.0
sa sabong journalism niyo
24:41.0
puro away, puro away.
24:43.0
He would say that jokingly
24:45.0
but there was a lot of truth
24:47.0
in what he was saying.
24:49.0
And he was actually
24:52.0
to go to the core
24:57.0
and intelligently
24:59.0
so that we can benefit
25:03.0
He did have a wicked sense
25:07.0
that he leaves behind
25:10.0
I'm sure you know that.
25:12.0
he did not take himself seriously.
25:17.0
Well, there is a wrong notion
25:24.0
that what you need
25:26.0
in politics and leader
25:27.0
is somebody with strong personalities
25:30.0
or one who can win
25:32.0
by selling himself
25:37.0
marketing himself.
25:38.0
But as I did mention,
25:44.0
when you start with humility
25:46.0
and accepting that,
25:48.0
these are my gifts,
25:50.0
these are my strong points,
25:52.0
but there are also things
25:53.0
that I don't know very well,
25:56.0
it is the way he probes
25:59.0
these particular issues
25:60.0
and asks and interpolates
26:02.0
that you can enhance
26:06.0
of the legislation
26:08.0
that you are crafting.
26:10.0
when I get interpolated
26:15.0
it was not because
26:16.0
he wanted to show off
26:20.0
his knowledge of the law
26:21.0
or knowledge of the subject matter.
26:26.0
an obligation for him
26:28.0
to be able to participate
26:30.0
that the laws that we are passing
26:33.0
down to the benefit.
26:38.0
because you cannot project that,
26:40.0
it's difficult to know
26:42.0
how laws and policies
26:45.0
especially in practice.
26:47.0
It is very educational
26:50.0
for us to be able
26:51.0
to listen to people
26:53.0
who study very carefully
26:57.0
that comes before us.
26:59.0
He took his job seriously.
27:02.0
He took the essence
27:04.0
of the law very seriously.
27:13.0
he was a consummate dancer.
27:15.0
And those who know him well,
27:19.0
know that he dances very well
27:21.0
and he loves dancing.
27:22.0
And I've been telling him before,
27:25.0
maybe this is our cure,
27:27.0
our way of preventing
27:31.0
Alzheimer's disease.
27:34.0
Because we keep on moving.
27:37.0
And the last time we were conversing,
27:40.0
when he was bedridden already,
27:42.0
he would email me
27:43.0
and I would email him.
27:44.0
And I used to tell him,
27:46.0
remember my favorite advice
27:51.0
for people in our generation,
27:56.0
so that we don't die.
27:59.0
including the brain.
28:01.0
Including the mind,
28:04.0
moving constantly
28:06.0
and staying ahead of the curve
28:08.0
so that we don't perish.
28:10.0
We never saw him vulnerable.
28:12.0
He was always ahead
28:15.0
We always saw him
28:17.0
like fighting every issue
28:20.0
But there was only one time
28:21.0
that we did see him vulnerable
28:23.0
and that was when
28:24.0
his beloved Dulce
28:26.0
Tell us about that.
28:30.0
it really had a big effect on him.
28:34.0
The death of Dulce,
28:37.0
was a serious body blow
28:41.0
That one can never fully recover
28:46.0
considering how close they were.
28:52.0
they have been joined again,
28:55.0
we wish to move forward
28:58.0
and learn the lessons
29:01.0
who really gave politics
29:05.0
Former Senator Orly Mercado,
29:06.0
thank you so much
29:07.0
for taking time out
29:08.0
to talk to us this noon.
29:09.0
Really appreciate it.
29:13.0
Well, still on the life
29:15.0
Attorney Rene Sagisag,
29:17.0
we're now joined by
29:18.0
former Supreme Court spokesperson,
29:20.0
Attorney Theodore Te,
29:21.0
he's a regional coordinator
29:24.0
of the Free Legal Assistance Group.
29:26.0
Ted, my condolences to you
29:28.0
and the rest of the family
29:33.0
Thank you, Carmina.
29:35.0
I am, as we speak,
29:38.0
looking at the post
29:39.0
that you recently made
29:42.0
on one of your social media platforms
29:46.0
and you speak of the many war stories
29:49.0
that you had shared
29:50.0
or that he had shared with you.
29:52.0
Tell us about that
29:53.0
and tell us about the friendship
29:54.0
that you had with
29:55.0
the former senator,
29:58.0
You know, I was fortunate
30:01.0
to have encountered
30:03.0
Senator Sagisag at his prime
30:07.0
and even beyond that.
30:10.0
And so while I was a very young lawyer,
30:14.0
he was one of those
30:16.0
all of his exploits
30:17.0
during martial law.
30:18.0
And so I was very pleased
30:21.0
and encountered him
30:22.0
and he was someone
30:26.0
He had a lot of stories,
30:28.0
he talked about handling cases
30:31.0
for his usual clients,
30:36.0
And because of that,
30:37.0
I learned a lot from him,
30:39.0
not just about the law,
30:41.0
not just about trying cases,
30:43.0
but about, I think, life
30:45.0
and about character.
30:48.0
He having been one of those
30:50.0
who lived through martial law
30:53.0
and practiced law during that time,
30:56.0
during that very difficult time,
30:58.0
so he would tell stories
31:01.0
about facing difficult judges.
31:05.0
But one thing that always struck me
31:08.0
about his stories was
31:10.0
there was always something
31:11.0
I could extract from that
31:13.0
and that even though
31:15.0
some of the stories were quite,
31:17.0
you know, were about challenging episodes,
31:20.0
you would always find, you know,
31:23.0
something humorous about it.
31:24.0
So he was someone who was fun to be with,
31:27.0
but not when he was angry
31:30.0
or not when he was indignant about something.
31:32.0
Then he would probably, you know,
31:34.0
see him in a very different light.
31:36.0
But yeah, I think I was fortunate
31:38.0
to have encountered him
31:40.0
during a time of his life
31:42.0
when he was really at his prime.
31:44.0
Here's the thing,
31:45.0
you don't just encounter
31:47.0
Senator Sagisag, right?
31:49.0
You can't just say you encountered him.
31:52.0
He has to encounter you too
31:54.0
and that must have been intimidating
31:59.0
because he can be intimidating
32:03.0
But clearly with you,
32:05.0
he opened the doors.
32:09.0
I'm not sure about that.
32:11.0
I'm not sure why.
32:12.0
But, you know, maybe he, you know,
32:15.0
he probably saw that, you know,
32:17.0
I was this young lawyer
32:19.0
trying to live out something
32:23.0
he had already gone through.
32:25.0
A human rights practice.
32:27.0
And I remember encountering him
32:29.0
right after his stint
32:33.0
and of course in the Senate
32:35.0
after his one term in the Senate.
32:37.0
And when he went back
32:39.0
basically to trial practice.
32:41.0
Primarily because he was also good friends
32:44.0
with my former boss,
32:46.0
the late Labor Minister
32:48.0
Augusto Sanchez, Bobby Sanchez.
32:50.0
And they were good friends.
32:51.0
And so those were the occasions
32:53.0
when I would, you know,
32:54.0
about hear their war stories.
32:56.0
And so yes, I agree, you know,
32:58.0
he could be quite intimidating.
32:60.0
But I think he was also at a point in time
33:04.0
where he was in his, you know,
33:08.0
teacher mode, mentor mode probably.
33:11.0
And so he was looking already
33:12.0
even then to pass it on.
33:16.0
And because he was constant, yes,
33:19.0
nowadays that seems to be a rarity
33:22.0
being constant with him.
33:24.0
He was always consistent
33:27.0
the advocacies that one has.
33:30.0
But with Senator Sagisag,
33:33.0
he was always constant.
33:35.0
That it was always about
33:38.0
the Filipino people.
33:42.0
That's a good word to describe him.
33:44.0
He had his constants, his two norts.
33:47.0
But one thing also,
33:48.0
he was very consistent about
33:50.0
being for the underdog.
33:52.0
And sometimes it could be
33:54.0
people who really didn't understand
33:56.0
where he was coming from.
33:58.0
His defense sometimes of the unpopular,
34:02.0
you know, would be infuriating
34:05.0
to people who, you know,
34:07.0
who saw him simply as this lawyer
34:10.0
who was anti-dictatorship,
34:15.0
who would take up the cudgels
34:18.0
But, you know, he was always consistent
34:20.0
and constant with these causes.
34:22.0
And he would stand up for rights
34:25.0
and for those whom he thought
34:28.0
were the underdogs
34:30.0
and had everyone against them.
34:34.0
And so, yeah, you could say
34:37.0
he would always be constant,
34:39.0
he would always be consistent.
34:41.0
And that made him, you know,
34:43.0
that made him something of a mystery
34:47.0
particularly those who were
34:48.0
encountering him for the first time
34:50.0
who really didn't
34:51.0
really understand
34:53.0
how stubborn he could be
34:55.0
when it came to this issue.
34:57.0
And he could be quite stubborn on that.
34:60.0
And when he chose to represent
35:02.0
former President Joseph Estrada
35:04.0
as one of his defense lawyers,
35:07.0
the way he described him,
35:09.0
being constant, being consistent,
35:11.0
and that led some people
35:13.0
to see him as sort of an enigma.
35:15.0
Did it make sense to you then
35:18.0
when you saw him made that
35:21.0
make that decision?
35:23.0
Yeah, as I said, you know,
35:25.0
if you knew where he was coming from,
35:28.0
even if he didn't agree
35:30.0
with many of his positions,
35:32.0
if you understood where,
35:34.0
why he was taking those positions,
35:36.0
then you would have understood
35:38.0
why he would take the unpopular.
35:41.0
that's a good example,
35:45.0
You know, it was,
35:47.0
even in the human rights community,
35:49.0
people were saying,
35:53.0
who was quite stubborn about that.
35:55.0
And his position was,
35:57.0
you know, he's the underdog.
36:01.0
his rights were being violated.
36:04.0
He needed someone
36:05.0
who could stand up for his rights.
36:07.0
No one else was saying that.
36:09.0
And so, he thought,
36:10.0
okay, I'll stand up for him.
36:13.0
that's something that was, again,
36:16.0
very consistent with
36:21.0
He plays the trail for you guys.
36:24.0
He taught you how it should be done
36:27.0
and what should be at the core
36:29.0
of every single case
36:31.0
and every single issue
36:33.0
that you take up.
36:35.0
To you personally,
36:37.0
what is the legacy that he leaves behind?
36:40.0
What is the influence
36:41.0
that he had on you?
36:45.0
Sen. Atty. Sagisag
36:47.0
was one of many who opened the doors.
36:50.0
You had the Diokno,
36:52.0
the Diokno, the Taniada,
36:58.0
you could say he's one of the OGs.
37:03.0
you know, he opened the door
37:07.0
And along the way,
37:09.0
you could say his legacy really was
37:11.0
standing up for the unpopular,
37:16.0
standing up for the downtrodden,
37:19.0
standing up and speaking out
37:21.0
even when it was unpopular,
37:23.0
when it was difficult,
37:25.0
and when it was dangerous.
37:27.0
And I think that is a legacy
37:30.0
that he will leave
37:31.0
for younger lawyers,
37:33.0
for future generations
37:35.0
who no longer have the fortune
37:38.0
of encountering him.
37:40.0
You know, I still recall,
37:43.0
you know, I still recall
37:45.0
what he said during that case
37:50.0
I was one of the respondents
37:51.0
in the sedition case file
37:52.0
during the Duterte administration.
37:54.0
He was a co-counsel
37:56.0
to one of the respondents.
37:58.0
And during the preliminary investigation,
37:60.0
he stood up, you know,
38:01.0
and became Atty. Sagisag
38:05.0
despite his weakened physical stature.
38:09.0
And he basically just told the panel
38:12.0
okay, magpakatuta dito.
38:16.0
that was Atty. Tene.
38:18.0
And so that's his legacy, I think,
38:20.0
being courageous in difficult times,
38:23.0
being consistent,
38:25.0
you know, and standing up
38:28.0
for those who really have no voice.
38:30.0
And I will be thankful
38:33.0
that he was one of those
38:34.0
who really opened the doors
38:37.0
Because he never thought twice, yes, Atty. Tene?
38:40.0
He just threw himself out there.
38:42.0
It was very clear to him,
38:44.0
what had to be done.
38:45.0
And there were no second thoughts,
38:47.0
no second guessing
38:48.0
where that might lead him.
38:50.0
Yes, he could be that way.
38:53.0
And that's why he could also be
38:55.0
infuriating to people
38:56.0
who didn't understand.
38:57.0
And because he could be
38:59.0
quite stubborn as well.
38:60.0
And be very outspoken.
39:02.0
Did you ever question
39:04.0
any of the decisions that he made?
39:07.0
I don't think I would be in a position
39:10.0
to question, you know.
39:13.0
I'm one of those who,
39:15.0
you know, basically just
39:17.0
was curiously observing
39:19.0
how he would make decisions
39:21.0
and trying to pick up from him
39:23.0
and many other senior lawyers
39:26.0
how this type of life,
39:28.0
this type of lawyering could be done.
39:31.0
I don't think I was in a position
39:36.0
of course, I tried to understand
39:38.0
where he was coming from
39:39.0
because I understood that
39:42.0
perhaps one day I might be,
39:45.0
placed in the same situation
39:47.0
as he was often in, right?
39:50.0
Defending an unpopular cause,
39:53.0
defending an unpopular client,
39:55.0
taking the difficult positions.
39:59.0
And many times I had been placed
40:02.0
in that kind of a situation.
40:04.0
And so, you know,
40:05.0
picking up from lessons learned from him
40:08.0
and many other lawyers,
40:13.0
I managed to squeak by, right?
40:16.0
But that's really because
40:18.0
I had opportunity to learn from them,
40:21.0
including Atty. Rene.
40:23.0
Well, thank you for taking time out
40:24.0
to talk to us today.
40:26.0
Atty. Theodore Tethere
40:28.0
of the Free Legal Assistance Group
40:30.0
and also former spokesperson
40:31.0
of the Supreme Court.
40:33.0
Again, our deepest condolences.
40:36.0
Thank you, Carmina.
40:37.0
Always a pleasure.
40:40.0
we'll be speaking now
40:41.0
with another colleague
40:42.0
of the late attorney and senator,
40:44.0
Rene Sagisic at the upper chamber,
40:46.0
former Senator Nikki Coseteng,
40:48.0
who joins us from outside the country.
40:51.0
Senator Coseteng,
40:52.0
good afternoon to you from Manila
40:54.0
and thank you for joining us today.
40:57.0
Good afternoon, Carmina.
40:59.0
Very happy to be with you again on the air.
41:01.0
Last time was two years ago.
41:03.0
And I understand that you're out of the country
41:05.0
and it's very early
41:06.0
from where you are right now
41:08.0
and we appreciate you
41:10.0
Let's talk about your good friend,
41:12.0
former Senator Rene Sagisic.
41:15.0
what kind of influence did he have on you
41:18.0
tell us about the friendship
41:19.0
that endured between you two.
41:22.0
Well, Rene was a,
41:24.0
first and foremost,
41:26.0
a very sincere and true friend.
41:30.0
Rene was to me a mentor.
41:33.0
He was also a role model
41:41.0
he was a genuine freedom fighter nationally.
41:46.0
those are very hard to find these days
41:50.0
and his passing is a grave loss
41:54.0
to our country and our people
41:56.0
who need more people like him
41:58.0
in this day and age.
41:60.0
Senator Coseteng,
42:01.0
you know, I was talking to former Senator Orly Mercando
42:03.0
just a few minutes ago
42:07.0
Attorney Sagisa could have gone on,
42:09.0
could have run again
42:10.0
after his first term
42:12.0
Did that make sense to you
42:14.0
that he just didn't want to take up
42:18.0
and run for a second term?
42:20.0
Was that essentially who he was?
42:27.0
I think now that I've been out of politics
42:30.0
for over 20 years,
42:32.0
out of active government service,
42:39.0
I really understand his point.
42:42.0
And I'm sure it was a tough decision
42:47.0
the magnitude and severity
42:50.0
of the situation.
42:53.0
he chose to move out of it.
42:57.0
Coset, it's double-bladed.
42:59.0
There's a lot of wisdom in that
43:01.0
but at the same time,
43:02.0
it was a great loss to the nation
43:04.0
that he was no longer in the Senate.
43:08.0
You spoke about how he was a true friend
43:10.0
and how he was a mentor
43:12.0
and really how sincere he was as a person.
43:14.0
Can you give us instances
43:16.0
where he showed this to you personally?
43:21.0
Almost every step of the way,
43:23.0
I did not lose touch with him.
43:25.0
Up to a few years ago,
43:27.0
there was a rally
43:29.0
along White Plains Road
43:31.0
and he was still there
43:33.0
standing on two feet
43:36.0
flat on the ground.
43:38.0
And he still had that fervor.
43:40.0
He still had that passion.
43:42.0
And you can see that
43:44.0
deep down inside,
43:50.0
to be in a better place.
43:52.0
And I don't think
43:54.0
he was able to live long enough
43:58.0
It was a lifelong struggle for him.
44:01.0
His place was always in the struggle
44:03.0
and that means he felt that it was worth it.
44:06.0
When you ask me personally
44:09.0
what I've been through,
44:11.0
maybe the time is not enough.
44:13.0
But what I can remember most
44:14.0
was the Centennial Scam.
44:16.0
The Centennial Scam was a crusade
44:21.0
almost single-handedly.
44:23.0
It was a very long, lonely,
44:26.0
even I'd say dangerous crusade.
44:29.0
And I went through the
44:33.0
It was Rene Sagisag at that time.
44:36.0
Who, under President Estrada,
44:39.0
helped me to understand
44:44.0
how things then was
44:48.0
and how things will be.
44:53.0
every millimeter of the way.
44:57.0
The public does not know this.
44:59.0
And it's the first time
44:60.0
I'm going to say it in public.
45:10.0
in the Centennial,
45:11.0
during that Centennial Scam Exposé,
45:19.0
I was threatened.
45:21.0
I was everything.
45:22.0
But I never complained
45:24.0
it was part of the job.
45:26.0
all my documents,
45:29.0
went through the hands and eyes
45:34.0
Senator Rene Sagisag.
45:36.0
At a certain point,
45:40.0
if it's not going to be anymore
45:44.0
if it's not going to be 60 counts?
45:46.0
Pwede ba 22 counts na lang?
45:49.0
Mahirap i-prove yung 60 counts.
45:53.0
mga marami pang ibang natanongin.
45:55.0
Kaya kung pwede sa Centennial Scam,
45:59.0
President si Del Ramos,
46:05.0
or the whatever you call
46:09.0
22 counts na lang
46:10.0
sa Centennial Scam.
46:18.0
there was a first report
46:21.0
that Senator Sagisag sent.
46:29.0
created by then President Estrada
46:34.0
the Centennial Scam
46:36.0
committed at that time
46:38.0
under President si Del Ramos.
46:41.0
He couldn't get all of the members
46:43.0
of that committee to sign.
46:46.0
he had to come up with a second,
46:51.0
it was so agonizing for him.
46:55.0
he was talking to me
46:56.0
every single week
46:58.0
during that time.
47:02.0
who knew all about it
47:03.0
is already dead now.
47:07.0
He knew about all of this
47:09.0
because he was referred to me
47:11.0
by Senator Franklin Rilon.
47:14.0
what did it end up?
47:15.0
It end up nothing.
47:19.0
whatever happened,
47:20.0
not all of the members
47:21.0
of that committee
47:24.0
signed the original
47:25.0
Renes Sagisag report.
47:28.0
And I guess at that time
47:35.0
maybe go into private practice
47:36.0
or did not bring it up anymore.
47:38.0
And that really hurt me
47:43.0
after President ERAP said,
47:47.0
maghanap ka ng big fish.
47:49.0
And then we found
47:50.0
that Centennial report.
47:56.0
But the ones that
47:57.0
I was working with
48:02.0
how many other people
48:04.0
Maybe the members
48:05.0
of that committee
48:06.0
that ERAP created,
48:08.0
They did not sign
48:09.0
that first report.
48:10.0
Where is that first report?
48:16.0
Senator Kwasoteng,
48:17.0
I guess that only shows us
48:24.0
of what faces us,
48:28.0
let me just go back
48:32.0
I've been talking
48:34.0
Attorney Theodore Tess
48:37.0
Senator Orly Mercado
48:43.0
were lucky enough
48:46.0
Attorney Tess' words,
48:47.0
have had an encounter
48:49.0
numerous encounters
48:51.0
But to the younger
49:09.0
the last few words.
49:20.0
How would you describe
49:21.0
that to the younger
49:34.0
more than two years
49:41.0
what it ended up?
49:46.0
the Senate premises
49:49.0
President Fidel Ramos
49:55.0
responsible for that
50:33.0
the most painful.
50:35.0
I have not spoken
50:56.0
just to go dancing
51:53.0
this conversation
