Author Topic: Press Briefing with Ernesto Abella  (Read 716 times)

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Press Briefing with Ernesto Abella
« on: September 22, 2016, 05:02:43 PM »
*PRESS BRIEFING OF PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ERNESTO ABELLA*

*with DAR SECRETARY RAFAEL “KA PAENG” MARIANO*

*September 13, 2016 (11:09 – 11:59 a.m.)*





ROCKY IGNACIO/PTV4:

Good morning. Welcome po sa Press Briefing ni Presidential Spokesperson
Ernesto Abella. Good morning, sir.



SEC. ABELLA:

Good morning. We have a special guest this morning. Siya po si Agrarian
Secretary Rafael “Ka Paeng” Mariano. Prior to his entry in the executive
government, Ka Paeng served as Anakpawis Representative in the House of
Representatives where he pressed for the passage of the genuine agrarian
reform bill. He was the Chairman of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and
Chairman for the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas.



Following his appointment in President Duterte’s cabinet, Secretary Mariano
said his goal is to protect the welfare of farmers. To ensure protection of
farmers, Sec. Mariano said he will vie for new agrarian reform law to
ensure farmers won’t be forced out of their lands.



Kagabi po, there had been a lot of questions whether we had a cabinet
meeting yesterday. But actually it was not a cabinet meeting, it was a
Presidential Agrarian Reform Council meeting. It included a president—the
cabinet.



Now ladies and gentlemen, we’d like to invite you to welcome one of the
survivors of the 1987 Mendiola Massacre, Department Secretary Rafael “Ka
Paeng” Mariano.



SEC. MARIANO:

Maraming, maraming salamat Secretary Abella at magandang umaga po sa inyong
lahat – sa ating mga kaibigan sa media. Uulitin ko po ang lubos na
pasasalamat kay President Rodrigo Roa Duterte sa pagkahirang sa akin bilang
bagong Kalihim ng Department of Agrarian Reform.



Sa unang araw po ng aking panunungkulan noong a-uno ng Hulyo taong 2016,
makaraan po ang matagumpay na turnover ceremony na aming pinangunahan ng
dating DAR Secretary Gil Delos Reyes, noon pong hapon ay akin pong
ipinag-utos na buksan ang dalawang main gate ng Department of Agrarian
Reform, na kung hindi po ako nagkakamali ay mga labingwalong taon na ang
nakakaraan at nakakadena. At doon din po sa araw na iyon, akin pong muling
idineklara na ang patakaran po ng departamento sa ilalim po ng pagiging
Kalihim ni Ka Paeng Mariano ay iyong continuing open dialogue and
consultation sa lahat po ng stakeholders natin sa Agrarian Reform,
lalong-lalo na po sa ating mga magsasaka.



At amin pong binalangkas ang limang puntong thrust and policy directions ng
DAR. Una po ay ang... protect farmers and ensure their security of tenure.
Pangalawa po ay, promote farmer’s’ rights and welfare. Pangatlo po ay ang
contribute to rural development. Pang-apat po ay ensure... help ensure food
security. At panglima po ay strengthening the community. At may mga agaran
po akong ipinag-utos na direktiba sa mga pinuno po ng departamento. Una po
diyan ay iyong mabilisang pagsasagawa ng validation at imbentaryo sa lahat
po ng lupa na naipamahagi na sa mga Agrarian Reform beneficiaries.



Sa ngayon po, ang datos po ng DAR kung ang pag-uusapan po ay accomplishment
report nito sa pamamahagi ng lupa, from 1972 to June... katapusan po ng
June 2016 ay mayroon pong mahigit sa 4.7 million hectares of lands na
naipamahagi na sa mahigit dalawa punto pitong (2.7) milyong Agrarian Reform
beneficiaries po natin ng Agrarian Reform Program. Mahalaga pong maisagawa
ang field validation at imbentaryo para po lubos nating matiyak na iyon
pong mga lupa na naipamahagi sa ating mga benepisyaryo ay nasa possession
pa noong ating mga magsasaka, o iyon pong magsasaka nating benepisyaryo ay
nandoon pa sa lupa na nai-award o distributed sa kanila, lalo na po iyong
mga unang taon ng pagpapatupad ng Presidential Decree No. 27 o ang Marcos
Land Reform at iyong mga unang taon—ay sorry, unang taon po ng pagpapatupad
ng Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988. Iyon pong CARP law as amended
by Republic Act 9700.



Isa pa po ay aking ipinag-utos din ang madaliang pag-imbentaryo at
pagrepaso noong mga conversion orders po na in-issue ng DAR. Kasi po, ang
karaniwan pong kondisyon sa bawat order na ini-issue ng DAR sa mga
application for land conversion ay kinakailangan pong ang applicant,
ipatupad niya within five years iyon pong... at makumpleto po iyong
implementation ng development plan ‘no, so nalolooban ng limang taon para
po mapag-alaman natin kung may mga conversion orders na na-issue ang DAR sa
mga nakaraan na ang edad ay mahigit nang limang taon pero wala namang
development o hindi naman po lubusang naipatupad iyong development plan.
Iyon po kasi ay kung lampas limang taon ay hindi po na-develop, iyong
sasabihin natin for industrial, residential o commercial uses. Eh iyon po
ay pupuwede pong maging basehan ng pag-revoke o pag-recall ng conversion
orders na in-issue ng DAR.



Ganoon din po iyong ating ipinag-utos na gawin ang mabilisang pagrepaso po
sa mga Agricultural Leasehold Contracts. Mayroon pong datos na mayroon
tayong 1.2 million agricultural lessees, mga magsasakang namumuwisan sa
kanilang lupang sinasaka. Ang datos po natin ay may 1.7 million hectares
under the Agricultural Leasehold System. Kasi po ang DAR ang may exclusive
authority to determine and fix these lease rentals, para po malaman natin
kung may mga magsasaka na tayo na namumuwisan na gusto na nilang magkaroon
ng renegotiation sa kanilang kontrata, kung gusto nilang mapababa iyong
kanilang buwis sa lupa o kung may mga magsasaka ba na ginamit ng mga land
owners iyong hindi nila pagbabayad ng lease rentals bilang grounds ng
kanilang—ng ejectment o kaya ng termination ng lease contract.



Ganoon di po, atin pong ipinag-utos ang pagrepaso noong mga existing na
kontrata kung saan umiiral iyong mga stock distribution option plan o
agreement. Marami pa po niyan ay sa isla ng Negros. Ganoon din po iyong mga
kontrata na sumasaklaw naman doon sa mga agri-business venture
arrangements. Sa ngayon po ang datos po natin sa DAR, mayroon pong 433
contracts ‘no, kontrata ng mga agri-business venture arrangements at
sumasaklaw sa mahigit limampu’t pitong libong ektarya ‘no sa ating bansa.
Gusto po nating marepaso ito para matiyak natin na iyong mga agrarian
reform beneficiaries, mga farm worker beneficiaries sa mga lupang saklaw ng
nasabing mga kontrata, ay kinikilala iyong kanilang karapatan lalong-lalo
na doon sa kanila pong karapatan sa lupa.



Kasi po, malinaw naman po ang tinatadhana ng Section 4 ng Article XIII ng
ating 1987 Constitution, that, “The state, shall by law undertake an
agrarian reform program founded on the right of farmers and regular
farmworkers who are landless, to own directly and collectively the lands
they till.” At sa kaso po ng Hacienda Luisita, ilan beses pong binanggit ng
Korte Suprema that the policy on agrarian reform is that control over the
agricultural land must always be in the hands of the farmers, para po
matiyak natin na iyong ating mga magsasaka at manggagawang bukid na
benepisyaryo ay masasabi nating may tuwirang control sa lupang naipamahagi
sa kanila.



So mga ilan po iyan sa atin pong ipinag-utos na gawin noong ating mga
opisyales at personnel ng Department of Agrarian Reform. Mayroon na rin po
akong mga dinesisyunang kaso, halimbawa po iyong dating pending protest ng
Tarlac Development Corporation doon sa may 358 hectares na sinasabing
pag-aari ng Tarlac Development Corporation. Dinatnan ko po iyong pending
protest na iyon doon po sa inisyung Notice of Coverage ng DAR by
publication noong December 2013, covering po iyong nabanggit na 358
hectares. So, eh kailangan na pong desisyunan iyon, so sa desisyon ko pong
nilabas ay lalong napatunayan na iyon pong 358 hectares ay agricultural
land kahit pa prior doon sa June 15, 1988 – the effectivity date ng
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988 or the CARP Law.



At kahit po nang mag-file po sila ng protest ng January 2014, at kahit pa
before iyong sinasabi nilang June 2014 ay agricultural iyong lupa at
nakakuha lang po sila noong sinasabing dokumento na nagpapatotoong
na-reclassify ng nasabing lupain ay June of 2014. So talaga pong masasabi
nating agricultural iyong lupa, kahit pa noong panahong mag-issue ng Notice
of Coverage by publication ang Department of Agrarian Reform. So dineny
(denied) ko po iyong protest ng Tarlac Development Corporation.



Ang isa pa pong aking dinesisyunan ay iyong petition for
exclusion/exemption sa may 159 hectares naman. Ang petitioner po dito ay
ang Provincial Government of Negros Occidental through Governor Alfredo
Marañon. Doon po sa desisyon na iyon sinabi ko na, kung may—iyon po kasing
desisyon doon sa petition for exclusion na iyon, exemption, nadesisyunan na
po iyon ng dating Secretary Gil Delos Reyes. Naghain lang po ng motion for
the reconsideration ang Provincial Government of Negros Occidental through
Governor Marañon. At iyon po iyong dinesisyunan ko, in-affirm ko po iyong
desisyon ni dating Secretary Gil Delos Reyes na ang esensa naman po doon
ay wala pong basehan iyong petition for exclusion and exemption ng nasabing
lupain at nananatiling agricultural iyong lupa at kailangan pong mapamahagi
ito sa mga agrarian reform beneficiaries, sa potential agrarian reform
beneficiaries.



So kung tanungin, may remedy pa po ba ang provincial government? May remedy
pa naman po, nasa sa kanila po—iyon pong parties doon sa kaso na iyon,
puwede pong maghain po ng apela sa Office of the President na po.



And then, akin pong in-issue na rin po iyong order na kung saan magsisilbi
pong guidelines, governing po iyong distribution ng may ten thousand
hectares of land. Matagal na po itong na-turn—o turned over na po ng mga
lupa ito ng Landbank of the Philippines sa Department of Agrarian Reform as
per Republic Act 3844 po, iyong Agricultural Land Reform Code. At iyon po,
makaraan pong ma-publish iyon, iyon po ay puwede na pong maging gabay o
guidelines sa atin pong mga DAR officials and personnel para po masimulan
iyong distribution ng nasabing ten thousand hectares of land.



Ganoon din po, may ongoing consultation po na isinasagawa ang DAR with the
DILG, with the HLURB and with the Department of Agriculture. Kasi po ang
gusto po nating malaman dito, ay iyong ano na ang inabot po noong
implementation ng Section 20 ng Local Government Code. Sa ilalim po ng
nasabing seksiyon ng LGC of 1991, iyon pong mga city o municipal councils
has the authority to reclassify agricultural lands to other classification.
Eh gusto po nating malaman, ilang ektarya iyong nasaklaw noong mga
reclassification ordinances halimbawa, at ano na estado niyan. Baka naman,
hindi naman developed into non-agricultural uses at nananatiling idled o
tiwangwang, baka puwedeng ibalik sa klasipikasyong agrikultural at i-devote
po natin sa food production ‘di po ba? Eh ang programa po naman ng Duterte
Administration ngayon eh, makamit natin ang food self-sufficiency ‘no, ano
po?



And then panghuli po marahil ay, ito po ay maituturing nating
napakahalagang pagpupulong po iyong naganap po kagabi na pinangunahan po ng
ating Presidente, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte bilang Chairperson ng
Presidential Agrarian Reform Council ay na-convene po at na-meeting po
kahapon ito, kahapon po ng hapon. Alam po ninyo, ang huling meeting po ng
PARC ay noon pong May 3, 2006. Hindi po labis pinulong ni former President
Noynoy Aquino itong PARC, lalo na po nang magdesisyon na ang Korte Suprema
sa kaso ng Hacienda Luisita. Opo. So kaya po halos sampung taon po, hindi
po na-meeting, hindi na-convene at kami po’y lubos na nagpapasalamat sa
ating Pangulo dahil sa nalolooban ng kaniyang isandaang araw ng
administrasyon, ay napulong po kahapon ang Presidential Agrarian Reform
Council na matagal nang naka-“park” itong Presidential Agrarian Reform
Council.



Ang PARC po kasi ang the highest policy-making and coordinating body ‘no,
‘pag ang pag-uusapan natin ay implementation agrarian reform program and
laws, particular po iyong Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988 sa
ilalim ng RA 6657 as amended by Republic Act 9700. At kahapon po ay
nabanggit ko na, pinangunahan po ng Pangulo ang meeting/pulong ng
Presidential Agrarian Reform Council, at ako po naman bilang DAR Secretary
ang tumatayong Vice Chairperson. At nagkaroon po ng pagpapakilala lang at
paglalahad noong legal bases ng PARC at ano po ang istruktura nito. At iyon
nga po, akin pong iprinesenta sa harap ng mga miyembro ng PARC lalong-lalo
na po sa harap mismo ni President Rodrigo Roa Duterte iyong limang puntong
thrust and policy directions ng Department of Agrarian Reform na nabanggit
ko na po kanina.



Mayroon din po namang mga mahahalagang naging kapasyahan po ang PARC po
kahapon. Malinaw po doon that the President fully supports the Agrarian
Reform Program, and once that and during his administration, land will be
distributed directly to the qualified farmer-beneficiaries ano po. And the
President wants DAR to take the lead in addressing issues in agrarian
reform, and wants PARC to be more responsive to the issues by imposing
timelines. Kaya nga po agaran po ay isasagawa po ng DAR iyong mabilisan po
nating pagtugon bilang compliance po sa mga naging desisyon po ng PARC sa
meeting nito kahapon, at mismo po sa mga direktiba mismo ng Presidente.



At nabanggit din po kahapon muli ng President, iyong polisiya sa libreng
serbisyo sa irigasyon, pagbabalik po ng pondo ng Coco Levy sa ating mga
magsasaka o mga magniniyog. And the President, kahapon po instructed
Landbank to provide more assistance to ARBs (Agrarian Reform
Beneficiaries), at sabi nga po niya ay dapat daw po ang Landbank ay
nagpa-function as the bank for the ARBs and less of a commercial bank.



At ganoon din po, ang isa sa mga mahalagang naging resolusyon po ng PARC ay
bilang policy-directive po para sa DAR bilang main implementing agency po
natin ng pagpapatupad ng Agrarian Reform Program ay maipamahagi po iyong
balanse pa, iyong land acquisition and distribution balance po na umaabot
po sa mahigit po iyang 621 thousand hectares pa po iyong balance. At kung
idadagdag pa po natin iyong mga lupang hindi pa po na-isyuhan ng Notice of
Coverage, covered ng mga petition for—o request for coverage pero hindi pa
po naiisyuhan ng Notice of Coverage, eh aabot po ng halos ano pa, 800
thousand hectares ‘pag dinagdag po natin iyong mahigit pang mga 148 o 184
hectares of land.



Madadagdagan pa po iyan kung iyon pong mga agricultural lands ng mga
Government Owned and Controlled Corporations, State Colleges and
Universities, government financial institutions at iba pang inaatasan pong
i-turnover iyong mga agricultural lands na nasa kanilang possession o
pag-aari as per Executive Order 407 as amended by EO 448. At kahapon din po
ay in-adopt o sinang-ayunan po ng PARC iyong pag-i-impose muna po ng
dalawang taong moratorium on conversion of agricultural lands. At mayroon
po kaming inihanda na, sinimulan pong i-draft na executive order na ito po
ay siyempre po, magdadaan pa po sa pag-aaral/pagrepaso at pagpapatibay po
mismo  ni President Rordrigo Roa Duterte, ng ating Presidente.



At ganoon din po ay, ito po iyong mahahalaga pang dinesisyunan pa kahapon
ng PARC. Iyon pong PARC revoked the 1992 PARC Resolution, at ito po iyong
nullification din ng stock distribution option of Wuthrich Hermanos. Ito po
ay mga 174 hectares na mahigit, at ito ay sa Calatrava, Negros Occidental.
Ganoon din po, ni-revoke din po ng PARC po kahapon iyong 1993 PARC
Resolution na ni-nullified po niya iyong SDO ng SVJ Farms – isa pong sugar
plantation, ito po’y sa Negros Occidental din, sa Talisay City na
sumasaklaw naman sa 170.65 hectares. Ganoon din po kahapon, ni-revoke din
po ng PARC sa kaniyang meeting kahapon iyong 2002 PARC Resolution at
ni-nullify din po iyong Agri-business Venture Agreement, released AVA
between agrarian reform beneficiaries and Marsman Estate Plantation Inc. o
MEPI kung kaya’t mga... iyon pong almost 800 hectares of banana plantation
is available for the 762 ARBs under the Agrarian Reform Program, where the
ARBs shall get their CLOA and possess their awarded lands.



So iyon po iyong mga mahahalagang naging kapasyahan po ng pulong po kahapon
ng Presidential Agrarian Reform Council, na pinangunahan po bilang
Chairperson po ng ating Presidente, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. So for
now, iyon lamang po ang akin pong maibabahagi’t maiuulat po sa ating—sa
mamamayang Pilipino sa pamamagitan po ng panayam na ito kay Secretary
Rafael “Ka Paeng” Mariano ng Department of Agrarian Reform.



Maraming, maraming salamat po at mapagpalayang araw po sa ating lahat.



DEXTER GANIBE/DZMM:

Sir, good morning. Clarification lang doon sa pag-i-impose the two-year
moratorium sa conversion ng agricultural land. Kailan po ito ine-expect na
magsimula? Ibig bang sabihin ng conversation ng agricultural land, ito
iyong mga agricultural land na hindi puwedeng gawing subdivision, hindi
gawing commercial lands? Tama po ba ako sa pagkakaintindi?



SEC. MARIANO:

Ito pong—magdedepende po kung kailan po malalagdaan ni Presidente itong
executive order na ito, na amin pong hiniling kahapon at iprinesenta po sa
Presidential Agrarian Reform Council.



DEXTER GANIBE/DZMM:

So ibig sabihin na—



SEC. MARIANO:

Ito po iyong declaring a moratorium on the processing and approval of all
applications for land use conversion of agricultural lands to
non-agricultural uses. At iyon nga pong saklaw na period, ay hinihiling po
nitong aming panukala na dalawang taon. Ang applicability po nito,
iyong—the moratorium shall cover and apply only to the following ‘no: All
awarded lands under Republic Act No. 6657 as amended and then lupang
saklaw, Presidential Decree or PD No. 27 and other agrarian reform laws
‘no.



Gayun din po, kasama dito iyong mga agricultural lands with Notices of
Coverage issued by the DAR. Iyong naisyuhan na po ng mga Notice of
Coverage. And then 4.3, irrigated and irrigable lands. 4.4, prime
agricultural lands. Kasi po, there’s an existing—mayroong umiiral pong
state policy to preserve prime agricultural lands to ensure food security
ano po. Then 4.5, iyong mga retention areas of the land owners which are
tenanted. Kasi po dahil sa agra—atin pong mga programa sa reform
agraryo/agrarian reform laws, mayroon pong right na magpanatili iyong mga
may-ari ng lupa na 5 hectares po eh. Iyon pong mga magsasaka doon ay, ang
katayuan po nila, ang tenancy relation nila ay sila ay namumuwisan ‘no. And
then iyong 4.6, iyong agricultural lands with presence of agricultural
activities or being cultivated by the farmers individually or collectively.



DEXTER GANIBE/DZMM:

Last na lang, sir. Ilang ektarya po itong pinag-uusapan natin? And areas na
covered niya?



SEC. MARIANO:

Eh kasi po iyong—ito pong, ibig pong sabihin itong mga—karaniwan po niyan
irrigated rice lands, prime agricultural lands, retention area – ito po,
itong retention area nasa ilalim na po ng leasehold iyan ‘no, kasama na
doon sa 1.2 million. Ang agaran po nating pinoprotektahan dito iyong 4.7
million na eh na agricultural lands na distributed o awarded to our more
than 2.7 million agrarian reform beneficiaries.



So, kaya din po mapag-alaman natin iyong mga... alam po ninyo, bawal po
iyong tinatawag na ‘illegal and premature conversion’. Basta po walang
naiisyung conversion order iyong DAR na siya pong may exclusive authority
na mag-issue nito, mag-approve o disapprove ng mga applications for land
use conversion, lalo pa po ay lampas ng June 15, 1988 eh iyon po ay may
kaso po ng illegal and premature conversion iyong sinumang magsasagawa ng
anumang earth-moving operation nang walang kaukulang order, na conversion
order mula sa Department of Agrarian Reform ‘no. Para malaman din po natin
iyong mga violations – at mayroon pong kaukulan po iyon na criminal
liability.



So dito po sa panukalang execu—sa ano na ito, executive order, sa draft
executive order, magki-create po ng task force na kaagad ay mag-a-assess po
ng status ng land us conversion sa ating bansa, at ang DAR po ay may call
upon the support of other implementing agencies po. And then iyon po, kung
ito po ay mapagtitibay at malalagdaan na ng Pangulo, ang agaran po namang
mamandahan dito sa draft executive order, ang DAR na maglalabas po siya,
magpo-promulgate po siya ng rules and regulations para po sa implementasyon
ng nasabing kautusan. Sa panahon pong ito’y mapagtibay at malagdaan po ng
ating Presidente, the President Rodrigo Roa Duterte po. Marami pong
salamat.





ROCKY IGNACIO/PTV4:

Thank you, Dexter. Thank you, Secretary Mariano.



SEC. MARIANO:

Maraming, maraming salamat po muli at magandang araw po at mapagpalayang
araw sa ating lahat.



ROCKY IGNACIO/PTV4:

May isa pang tanong.



REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO:

Magandang hapon po, Secretary. Sir, brief lang. May balak ba kayong
ipa-review o hihintayin pa iyong executive order, iyong mga naglalakihang
mga bagong mga subdivision ngayon sa mga agrikulturang sakahan na ngayon ay
ginagawa na ng mga bilyonaryong mga may-ari ng lupa na iyon?



SEC. MARIANO:

Iyon nga po, bahagi po ng ating ipinag-utos na pag-imbentaryo ay iyong
pagrepaso po doon  po sa mga orders, decisions din na inisyu po ng DAR.
Katunayan po, akin pong ipinag-utos iyong creation ng policy review and
formulation committee. Ang ginagawa po nito ngayon ay inaaral po,
nirerepaso, nagsasagawa ng pag-aaral doon sa mga existing administrative
orders or other issuances na inisyu po ng DAR. Halimbawa po nito ay iyong
pinakahuling administrative order na may patungkol po sa mga kontrata ng
Agri-business Venture Arrangements. Kasi po doon sa AO na iyon, ang
nagiging papel lang po ng DAR doon ay base pa, optional pa doon sa mga
partido sa kontrata kung iimbitahan o ire-request nila na maging observer
ang DAR sa negotiation. At iyon pong DAR, ang papel lang ay to issue notice
to proceed sa negotiation.



Alam po ninyo, sa agricultural (unclear) system natin, ang DAR nga ay may
authority to determine and fix the (unclear). Dito po, gusto po natin na
mas malaki iyong poder ng DAR para nga po matiyak iyong karapatan ng ating
mga agrarian reform beneficiaries na pumapasok po sa mga katulad na
kontrata o agri-business venture arrangement.



Maraming salamat po. Magandang umaga po sa inyo muli.



ROCKY IGNACIO/PTV4:

Thank you, Secretary. Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella? Thank you,
Secretary Mariano.



SEC. ABELLA:

We’ll just cover two points for today. The first one has to do about the
supposed green light that the President gave to President Widodo.



Let me just cite six points:

   1. Even before the visit to Indonesia, the execution of Mary Jane Veloso
   had already been indefinitely deferred.



   1. Next, Indonesia previously agreed to allow Ms. Veloso to testify
   through deposition the criminal prosecution of her illegal recruiters in
   the Philippines.



   1. Therefore, there was no need to make a plea for clemency as there was
   no scheduled execution.



   1. What PRRD and President Widodo talked about that, number one, he
   respects the judicial processes of Indonesia; that he will accept whatever
   final decisions they will have on Veloso0. This is assuming already that
   Veloso would have  testified. And these statements were interpreted as a go
   signal or green light by the foreign press.



   1. Even when the Indonesian Supreme Court decides to act on the
   execution…. Let me repeat: Even when the Indonesian Supreme Court decides
   to act on the execution, that will be the time to present the compelling
   evidence of Veloso’s innocence as a justification for a plea of clemency.



   1. In other words, as in all things, worthwhile matters are achieved by
   going through the process.



Regarding the questions about whether American troops are being asked to
leave Mindanao, this was in context with what President Duterte shared
yesterday. Basically, what he was sharing was a backgrounder on his new
chartered course of an independent foreign policy, that he was simply
presenting the context of why there was conflict in Mindanao with the
Muslims. Simply because the Muslims have this long historical and cultural
wound which has been left unaddressed and unatoned for and unrepented for
but they have held in their collective memory in which they see the
Americans as perpetrators of a wrong that has not been redressed. And the
Philippines, having ties with the Americans are therefore also suspect in
their intentions regarding peace in Mindanao.



And this is the context of that statement, that the real reason why there
is conflict in Mindanao is because the Muslims do not trust lowland
Filipinos and lowland Christians because of their implicit connection with
the Americans, who  have not decided in any way at all, as far as their
perception is, to redress, to address or atone for the past wrongs.

End of statements. Thank you.



DEXTER GANIBE/DZMM:

On Veloso’s case, sir. Sir, I learned ang Nueva Ecija RTC ay mayroong move
na magkaroon ng hearing doon kung saan nakapiit si Veloso para doon sa
personal na testimony sa kaniyang kaso laban sa kaniyang mga recruiters.
May update ba tayo kung ano na ang naging tugon ng Indonesia? Kung mayroon
na tayong communications?



SEC. ABELLA:

Hindi ko po alam. But that was the process supposed to be, that she would
testify through deposition.



REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO:

Sir, doon lang tayo sa konteksto. Sir, that conversation happened in a
bilateral—



SEC. ABELLA:

Which conversation?



REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO:

Between the President and JokoWi.



SEC. ABELLA:

Yes.



REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO:

That happened on a bilateral meeting?



SEC. ABELLA:

This was after the ASEAN meeting.



REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO:

Yah. So only President JokoWi heard what the President said to him on the
respect to the judicial process in Indonesia?



SEC. ABELLA:

Yes.



REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO:

And the source of the Jakarta Post is with JokoWi?



SEC. ABELLA:

And your question?



REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO:

So who would have misinterpreted the President’s words?



SEC. ABELLA:

I’m not saying that this is their misinterpretation. But this is how they
translated into English what President Widodo answered in Bahasa.



REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO:

But have we checked officially to President JokoWi if what he really meant
to that? Baka naman si President JokoWi ang—



SEC. ABELLA:

I already gave you the context, okay. I think it’s very clear that they
were talking about … not about the execution but about the judicial
process. In other words, what President Duterte was saying, he was saying
he would accede, he would accept whatever final decisions they would … in
regard to the judicial process that they would take. He was not giving a
green light on execution.



REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO:

Sir, klaro tayo doon, iyong sa posisyon ng Pangulo. Pero ang nakarinig lang
kasi sa pahayag na iyon ay si—



SEC. ABELLA:

Wala na po tayo roon. Kanila po iyon.



REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO:

Hindi po kaya posible na si  JokoWi ang namali iyong pagkasabi naman niya
sa press?



SEC. ABELLA:

That is conjecture. That’s not my field. Thank you.





JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:

So, sir, is it clear now that President Joko Widodo misinterpreted the
President?



SEC. ABELLA:

I’m not saying that at all. We’re not saying that he … there’s no
implication at all regarding that matter except that we’re just giving you
the context as far as we can say it, as far as this has been related.



JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:

Okay. It seems now, sir, that ang statement ni Presidente that we will
allow Indonesia to proceed with their process.



SEC. ABELLA:

No. We’re simply saying, the context is that there is already a process
that has to be set in motion as in Dexter’s term that there will be a trial
and all that. Assuming that, then President Duterte said yes, we will
follow through with your decisions. Assuming everything. Assuming that the
trial proceeds, Veloso testifies, she is found innocent, in which case, the
Supreme Court would make the decisions which would still be to execute. And
then – because that is where decision is – and then they would make a plea
for clemency. Malinaw iyon.



JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:

Yes, sir.



SEC. ABELLA:

Iyon po iyon. In other words, ano po siya, there is a very clear process.
There is a very clear process. And ang mahalaga lang na mapatuloy din iyong
– what do you call it? – the judicial process.



JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:

Kaya nga, sir. So ibig sabihin, at this point, let Indonesia do its job,
correct? In terms of the judicial process?



SEC. ABELLA:

No, in which case, ituloy na natin iyong kay ano, iyong kay—



JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:

Iyong role ni MJ dito sa local case niya, sir, ‘di ba kasi she’s been
sentenced.



SEC. ABELLA:

Yes, yes. In Indonesia, she’s already sentenced. But if it can be clearly
seen that she is innocent, then that will be the ground for a plea for
clemency.



JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:

Okay. So assuming, sir, that iyong illegal recruiters niya have been
declared guilty here, now we can move to ask for clemency, correct?



SEC. ABELLA:

Yes, yes.



JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:

That’s the procedure.



SEC. ABELLA:

Yes.



JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:

Do we know now, sir, if—kasi yesterday parang wala pa, do we know now if
the President maybe in a little way asked for or brought up the issue of
clemency in his talks with—



SEC. ABELLA:

In past references, he made a what would be called a moderate plea, because
you cannot impose, you can only—but actually, there was no need to make a
plea for clemency because already, the execution has been deferred
indefinitely, so wala tayong hinihingi.



JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:

Yah, but during that…., did he imply that kind of subject with the—



SEC. ABELLA:

I’m not privy to that conversation.



JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:

Just last. Sir, schedule? Sabi ni Presidente he wants to meet with the
Velosos.



SEC. ABELLA:

Probably within his own …



JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:

Wala pa?



SEC. ABELLA:

Hindi ko po alam.



BENJIE LIWANAG/DZBB:

Sir, good morning. Sir, so walang timeline an,o kasi judicial process eh.
So walang binibigay na timeline, although, napag-usap na nila ito, the
Philippines or si Pangulong Duterte will abide kung anuman iyong sa kanila.
Basta iyong tayo, iginigiit lang din natin iyong judicial process. So wala
po silang napag-usapan na hanggang dito or something?



SEC. ABELLA:

Hindi ko po alam iyon.



BENJIE LIWANAG/DZBB:

Wala tayo noon? You are not privy to those—



SEC. ABELLA:

Hindi po natin alam iyon. Ang alam lang po natin, they agreed on what would
be just and fair for both, for all.



LEILA SALAVERRIA/PDI:

Sir, since there are those who interpreted the conversation between the
President and Widodo as a green light, whoever these are, are we going to
send a new message to Indonesia just to make sure they won’t schedule the
execution?



SEC. ABELLA:

I think they are very, very clear about the situation. They are very clear
about the situation.



Q:

[OFF MIC]



SEC. ABELLA:

The parties who conversed, you know.







LEILA SALAVERRIA/PDI:

You’re saying, it’s clear there won’t be an execution scheduled anytime
soon since the judicial process is ongoing in the Philippines?



SEC. ABELLA:

Yes. We are assuming that, of course now. But since—this is a conversation
between neighbors and brothers.



INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHIL:

Good morning, sir. Sir, doon sa sinabi po ni President Duterte about the US
troops that they should go; those in Mindanao, they should go, when does
the President want them to leave? And are we expecting a formal directive
on this to be put on black and white to formalize that directive?



SEC. ABELLA:

Okay. Basically, he amplified on that. He added the clause. He said,
basically that goes—he was also referring to the fact that in Mindanao,
especially in the areas where … in Muslim areas, in Moro areas, their lives
are in danger. They would be kidnapped, they would be shot at, whatever it
is. In other words, that was part of the reason why he said go. You know,
it was for—



Q:

[OFF MIC]



SEC. ABELLA:

Given that context



Q:

[OFF MIC]



SEC. ABELLA:

Yes, given that context. Given that context.



INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHIL:

So when? And how will this directive be—







SEC. ABELLA:

No, it was  not a directive so much as in, you know,  I give  you a
timeline. It was simply an injunction like a warning, you know.



INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHIL:

Sir, but what is the basis of the President in saying that “Mas lalong
iinit ‘pag nakita iyong Amerikano, papatayin sila”? Because US soldiers
have been there for a while. And do we have reports of US soldiers actually
being killed or kidnapped by terrorist groups there?



SEC. ABELLA:

I do not have report on that. I do not have report on US soldiers being
killed.



INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHIL:

Okay, lastly, sir. The US presence in Mindanao is part of their global
fight against terrorism. If we tell them to leave, how would that affect
our own campaign against terrorism especially considering that the
President has said that the ISIS threat may become more serious in the
future?



SEC. ABELLA:

These were not directives to leave, okay.  But this was a context on why we
have a conflict. In other words, he is just giving a broad historical
landscape – historical, cultural landscape – which is giving us a
perspective why there is such a conflict. It’s not just a question of
terrorism, it’s not just a question of—in other words, he is uncovering, he
is uncovering something that has not been addressed, it has not been
addressed at all. And I suppose some clues should be taken from that – it
needs to be addressed.



INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHIL:

You mean, the President is seeking an apology or acknowledgment of what
happened before, iyong sinasabi po niyang pagpatay ng mga Moro noon?



SEC. ABELLA:

I don’t know if he is seeking that now. I don’t know if he is seeking that
now. But certainly, he has also made mention it. I mean, in other words,
it’s a lingering skeleton which in a sense, removes the moral ascendancy of
those who are criticizing the Philippines regarding human rights killing,
supposed to be a human rights infractions.



So in a sense, what he is saying is, this skeleton in the closet erodes at
the moral ascendancy of anybody who has not sufficiently addressed their
own faults.



INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHIL:

Very last from me. Just to clarify, sir. Is the President asking the US
troops to leave Mindanao or not? Or he is just, as you mentioned, telling
them that they might not be safe there that’s why they should consider may
be leaving? Ano po ba talaga?



SEC. ABELLA:

Okay. The conversation of the President is very layered. It can  be
interpreted at a number of layers, okay.



INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHIL:

Exactly, sir, that’s why we are sort of clarifying what he really meant.



SEC. ABELLA:

Okay. In other words, if you’re asking does he have a timeline, does he
have – there’s no such thing as that right now. There’s no such thing as
‘Okay, by August 15 or September 15 you’re supposed to leave right now.’ In
other words, he’s laying a – what do you call it? – he is laying a notice
that really while you’re here, there will be conflict; it’s not safe for
you.



LEILA SALAVERRIA/PDI:

Sir, what does  the President’s statement mean for the EDCA and Balikatan?
Under the EDCA, an airbase in Cagayan de Oro is one of the areas where US
troops have access. So how would that affect—



SEC. ABELLA:

At this stage, those statements are not policy set in stone, okay.



Q:

[OFF MIC]



SEC. ABELLA:

Not policy yet.  But these are backgrounders for possible future action.



LEILA SALAVERRIA/PDI:

So in the meantime—



SEC. ABELLA:

There’s a difference, isn’t there?



LEILA SALAVERRIA/PDI:

In the meantime, the arrangements under EDCA and Balikatan Exercises will
continue?



SEC. ABELLA:

Things are—until such time as it’s probably acted on. But in other words,
notice is being served.



LEILA SALAVERRIA/PDI:

Notice is being served for them to prepare leaving?



SEC. ABELLA:

Notice is being served that it’s uncomfortable for them to be there.



LEILA SALAVERRIA/PDI:

Sir, how this affect the assistance, the aid that the US has been giving
us?  Are we also foregoing this if we’re warning them  that they might not
be safe there?



SEC. ABELLA:

You know, I think this is where the President is beginning to elaborate,
elaborating more and more on the fact that he is setting a … that the
foreign policy that we have is an independent one, and not dependent on one
superior state or two from which we depend on. In other words, these
actions, these references that he is making are intended to communicate to
one and all that we need to be ready to chart our own course and find our
own alliances.



JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:

Sir, still on the statement of the President. So klaro, not policy?



SEC. ABELLA:

Which one?



JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:

The statement yesterday that forces have to go. That’s not—



SEC. ABELLA:

It’s not a policy yet. It’s not policy, in other words, nobody acted on it
yet. But it is a notice. It serves as notice that really the reason why
there is trouble here is because of that presence.



JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:

So we will not have a scenario that the US forces, at least in Mindanao,
will have to leave? Just to be sure, sir.



SEC. ABELLA:

Not as if it was already a decision yet. But definitely, the President has
already painted the picture, and let’s see how it unfolds.



Q:

So, sir, are we turning our backs—



SEC. ABELLA:

We’re not turning back. We’re not turning our back on anybody. We’re just
simply charting an independent course.



Q:

Is that independence from the Americans or independence from—



SEC. ABELLA:

Less dependent on perhaps.



REYMUND TINIZA/BOMBO RADYO:

Sir, but the President is our top diplomat, and whatever he says
automatically becomes the policy. So, sir, now, on that context, sir—



SEC. ABELLA:

It is not automatically policy, but it is the basis of policy.



REYMUND TINIZA/BOMBO RADYO:

Okay. Sir, but you mentioned yesterday on your statement, there is no
mention of the safety, security of the American troops, but it is on the
basis of the unrecognized, unrepented and unatoned for massacre in Bud
Dajo. So meaning, the President was very clear, very firm and very strong
in what he wants, that US troops should be out of Mindanao, otherwise the
threat will continue. So now you are saying another thing, the American
security?



SEC. ABELLA:

I’m not saying another thing. It is simply a clause that the President
added. It was a clause he added. We’re not changing anything.



REYMUND TINIZA/BOMBO RADYO:

Sir, last. Was the Cabinet, considering this is a major, possible major
move or possible major foreign policy decision, was the Cabinet, the
Defense and other stakeholders every consulted to this before he made the
statement?



SEC. ABELLA:

Secretary of Defense is aware of the matter.



MODERATOR:

Thank you, Reymund. Thank you Malacañang Press Corps. Thank you
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella. Thank you, sir.

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