03:08.8
I get to meet architects.
03:11.1
I get to meet clients who are passionate about design.
03:13.4
And I understand the manufacturing side of it.
03:15.9
It's like a parallel work to me.
03:21.9
Coming from the Inspire phase,
03:24.0
you've been inspired with a better understanding of who your users are.
03:27.7
So you move into the IDH.
03:30.0
One of the reasons why people clam up
03:34.9
is that they feel that it's useless to come up with an idea
03:38.4
because nobody's going to listen.
03:41.1
When you're generating ideas, all ideas are valid.
03:43.9
Guarantee them that their ideas are going to be heard.
03:46.5
You may not actually pick the idea in the end,
03:49.1
but the mere fact that you're listening to them
03:51.2
when they generate the ideas is a positive in itself.
04:00.0
You see, a lot of sellers,
04:04.2
unfortunately, they're trying to sell one message to everyone.
04:09.2
It's like a shotgun approach that they're doing.
04:14.6
Because you are actually selling a specific brand,
04:17.9
a specific solution to a specific person.
04:21.0
You need to understand which type of person this is
04:24.4
and what this person would want,
04:26.2
what this person's problem is,
04:28.6
so that you can offer,
04:29.6
a specific solution.
04:31.2
It's not just about selling per se.
04:33.0
It's all about influence
04:34.3
and how to build that influence
04:35.8
so that you can be effective with other people.
05:23.5
servicio to several leaders of economies today
05:26.0
reminded APEC leaders to focus on economic synergy,
05:29.6
and cooperation on this year's evening.
05:32.5
Welcome to Barangay, the Philippines' most famous beach.
05:46.2
We have covered the journey of our young democracy.
05:50.0
In ANC, we were witnesses to the defining moments
05:52.7
of Philippine history that influenced the world.
05:59.6
We talked to leaders.
06:18.4
We don't shy away from difficult conversations.
06:21.0
ANC Leadership Series.
06:23.8
We report about disruption
06:26.0
and how the latest technology and innovation
06:28.5
have changed the world.
06:44.6
We told stories about crisis,
06:47.2
but also about opportunities that came with it.
06:59.6
This is the Philippines.
07:29.6
The views and opinions expressed in the following program
07:37.4
do not necessarily reflect the policies and position of this network.
07:52.9
Hello everyone, it's Wednesday, May 15 here in Manila.
07:57.2
I'm Karen Davila giving you the kickstart
08:00.3
Our guests for Hot Copy today,
08:02.4
we have Bataan representative Geraldine Roman
08:05.2
as we discuss various issues
08:07.7
from rice prices to the SOGI Equality Bill.
08:13.2
International Criminal Court Assistant to Counsel,
08:16.2
Attorney Christina Conti,
08:18.1
will be joining us for our second Hot Copy.
08:21.0
But first, the headlines.
08:24.4
Today's big stories.
08:26.0
The Philippine Navy deploys a warship to Escoda Shoah,
08:29.2
in a bid to stop China's suspected reclamation activities.
08:35.3
House leaders ask the Philippine Senate
08:37.3
to end their investigation on the so-called PIDEA leaks.
08:42.9
And the United States sharply hikes tariffs
08:46.0
on some Chinese imports.
08:50.9
Philippine House lawmakers poised to pass a bill
08:55.5
for proposed amendments to the rice tariff agreement.
08:59.2
This would restore the power of the National Food Authority
09:03.9
to import and sell rice.
09:07.3
A move opposed by several senators.
09:14.3
The Department of Agriculture told senators on Tuesday
09:16.8
that it needs to intervene on the price of rice now
09:19.3
as it lobbied for a law seeking to re-empower
09:22.0
the National Food Authority to import and sell rice.
09:24.9
Like now, we think there's a price limit
09:30.8
The import cost should be 49 to 48 M.
09:36.3
So it should be around 51 to 52 M.
09:40.1
We need to follow that.
09:42.0
If we compete with the international price now
09:44.8
and the retail price,
09:47.4
it looks like we need to pay attention
09:54.9
to keep the traders honest.
09:59.2
During several instances
10:04.2
Secretary Laurel was facing the Senate panel
10:06.4
of the Congressional Oversight Committee
10:08.0
on Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization
10:10.2
which was reviewing the rice tarification law.
10:13.3
But senators don't want the National Food Authority
10:15.4
to be in charge of such a power.
10:17.6
If the President of the Philippines wants to get the power
10:22.9
That's why we have very bad experience in the NFA.
10:26.8
There's no trust.
10:28.1
There's no trust.
10:28.1
There's no trust.
10:28.2
There's no trust.
10:28.3
There's no trust.
10:28.3
There's no trust.
10:28.4
There's no trust.
10:28.5
There's no trust.
10:28.5
There's no trust.
10:28.6
There's no trust.
10:28.6
There's no trust.
10:29.1
There's no trust.
10:29.5
There's no trust.
10:29.5
There's no trust.
10:29.5
There's no trust.
10:29.7
There's no trust.
10:33.6
As long as the NFAs know,
10:37.6
there's something wrong.
10:39.9
Their recent NFAs checkered history.
10:42.1
Senator Marcos cites the case of 139
10:44.3
NFAs employees who were placed under
10:46.1
preventive suspension in March
10:47.5
because of the allegedly unauthorized sale
10:49.9
of the agency's buffer stocks
10:51.4
to three commercial rice traders.
10:53.6
72 of the 139 employees
10:55.7
were allowed to return to work recently.
10:58.0
An earlier batch of 27,000
10:58.7
batch of 23 were also removed from preventive suspension.
11:02.2
But agriculture group SINAC insists the high price of rice has nothing to do with the rice tarification law.
11:07.8
Yung global price na nakikita natin between 580 to 630.
11:14.8
So hindi lang dito sa local ang tumaas.
11:19.0
Globally talaga tumaas ang presyo.
11:22.0
So kung makita natin na hindi dahil sa RCEP,
11:29.4
kaya nagkaroon ng mataas na presyo,
11:32.7
dahil sa world market price, internationally, tumaas yung presyo.
11:40.8
Sen. Aimee Marcos, Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, agrees.
11:44.9
She also wonders why amendments to the rice tarification law are being rushed.
11:49.9
Palit ko ako sa findings ng SINAC na walang kinalaman sa RTL ang pagtaas ng presyo ng bigas.
11:56.7
Kaya hindi ko maintindihan.
11:58.7
Bakit pinapaspasa ng pag-amyanda nito?
12:02.0
The House of Representatives has approved on second reading its version of the bill
12:05.4
which seeks to amend the rice tarification law.
12:08.3
During the interpolation, Gabriela, part of the Supreme Representative Arlene Bros,
12:11.2
has raised the failure of the RTL to fulfill its promise to lower rice prices.
12:15.9
But Agriculture Committee Chair Mark Envergas said the measure helped increase rice production.
12:20.9
It's just that the gains were offset by higher demand due to the increasing population.
12:25.6
Ang pinapakita kasi ng datos, mas tumaas pa yung rice.
12:28.6
At tinagurian tayong world's top rice importer.
12:38.0
Kasi nangako yan eh, yung rice liberalization law.
12:42.8
Napabababain ito yung presyo ng bigas sa pamilihan.
12:46.6
Hindi naman ito natupad.
12:48.1
At sa kabila ng patuloy na pag-aangkat, walang pagbaba sa presyo ng bigas.
12:52.5
Lumalaki po din talaga yung ating population.
12:54.7
But yield increased by 20%.
12:58.6
Cost dropped by 10%.
13:00.7
And dito nga po, the income of our farmers from 74, it went up to 107%.
13:08.6
The House intends to pass the bill on third and final reading next week before it adjourns.
13:13.6
On Monday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said the Philippines is projected to be the world's top importer of rice again in 2025.
13:20.8
RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News.
13:24.6
Alright, joining us now on Hot Copy.
13:26.7
We have with us Bataan Rep.
13:28.6
and Vice Chairperson of the House Committee on Agriculture, Congresswoman Geraldine Roman.
13:36.1
Rep. Roman, good morning to you.
13:39.0
Good morning, Karen.
13:40.2
It's nice to be back on Head Start.
13:42.6
Alright, same here.
13:44.3
Okay, so Rep. Roman, the House has actually approved some amendments on the rice tarification law on second reading already.
13:54.4
And let's talk about the highlights of those amendments.
13:58.6
In terms of the role of the National Food Authority or the NFA.
14:05.6
Yes, actually we seek to restore the power of the NFA to purchase rice under specific conditions.
14:13.7
Namely, if there is a shortage and secondly, if there is a perceived increase in the prices of bigas.
14:23.5
Pag tumataas na po ang presyo at nakikita po natin, anticipate na bumabas.
14:28.6
Kung mababa ang ating supply ng bigas, bibigyan natin ng kapangyarihan ng NFA mamili ng bigas, mag-import.
14:35.6
And of course, to boost its bumper stock, buffer stock, I mean.
14:40.2
Okay, now the original mandate of the NFA was really to procure palay locally and maintain the optimal level of buffer stock at all times.
14:53.5
This is the actual mandate.
14:55.5
Strategically located across the country.
14:57.5
So, the NFA is supposed to manage efficiently and effectively the acquisition, the quality maintenance and disposition of the buffer stock which can be used during emergencies and calamities and it's meant to actually help regulate prices.
15:17.6
So, ang una kong tanong doon sa mga revisions, no?
15:23.1
Are you allowing the NFA to import?
15:26.2
Or in the new mandate?
15:27.5
Would you want them to only procure palay locally?
15:32.5
Well, the ideal situation would be to procure palay locally, no?
15:37.5
But initially, I think the original challenge before the rice certification law was that whenever the time came for the NFA to purchase, there was always this excuse that the palay produced locally had a high moisture content.
15:53.5
So, the rice certification law removed.
15:57.5
That power and minimized it.
16:00.5
So, we want to restore that because we see that it's very important in order to stabilize the prices of rice to maintain a buffer stock.
16:13.5
And I remember in the last few years when the NFA was still functional, although we'll talk about its corruption issues later on.
16:21.5
I remember that the price of rice before per kilo was at 27 pesos.
16:26.5
You remember, Representative, yun ang presyo ng NFA rice because government was actually subsidizing it by something like 9 pesos.
16:36.5
This must have been 10 years ago, right?
16:39.5
So, ang tanong is if the power of the NFA returns, does this mean that it will also be subsidized by government?
16:49.5
So, we can have a kilo of rice at 29 pesos or 30 pesos.
16:55.5
That's to achieve the President's goal of lowering the price of rice.
17:00.5
Not necessarily subsidies, you know.
17:03.5
We let the market forces operate.
17:05.5
We operate on the law of supply and demand.
17:09.5
So, if there is a buffer stock, naturally, there will not be a scarcity of the supply and prices will not rocket, you know.
17:21.5
So, this is the goal.
17:23.5
We respect the market forces and we try to operate within those forces.
17:31.5
So, if the NFA doesn't have authority today to actually import and even buy from local farmers, what is the NFA doing now?
17:41.5
The agency exists with manpower?
17:44.5
Yes, it exists, but its functions are quite limited.
17:49.5
Under the present arrangement.
17:51.5
Under the present arrangement.
17:52.5
Under the present arrangement.
17:53.5
Under the present arrangement.
18:03.5
Under the present arrangement.
18:08.5
Under the present arrangement.
18:14.5
Under the present arrangement.
18:17.5
Under the present arrangement.
18:18.5
Under the present arrangement.
18:19.5
Under the present arrangement.
18:20.5
Under the present arrangement.
18:21.5
Under the present arrangement.
18:22.5
law is using the RSF
18:28.7
our agricultural sector.
18:30.8
But it seems that
18:33.9
in the RSF are not enough
18:36.4
and mechanization has
18:38.4
not been fully implemented throughout
18:42.6
So with this in mind,
18:45.9
proposed our amendments in
18:48.1
the lower house in Congress.
18:51.1
Okay. And what are those
18:52.3
amendments? So number one,
18:54.3
you said the powers of the NFA are limited
18:56.4
today, but what exactly are they doing
18:58.6
if they can't procure?
19:00.5
Are they allowed to procure as of
19:02.5
today without the amendments?
19:05.1
They are allowed to procure
19:06.7
but a very limited amount
19:08.5
because it seems that we are highly
19:10.4
reliant on imports already.
19:12.7
So what is the purpose of procurement
19:14.6
and widespread procurement
19:18.5
the market is already inundated by
19:22.3
So the ideal situation would be to boost
19:24.5
production by the local
19:27.9
maintain a buffer stock to
19:31.9
and the increase of prices
19:34.4
of rice. Okay. With
19:38.5
is it possible that the
19:40.4
NFA's mandate is only to
19:46.5
also have to monitor. Or do you want the
19:48.2
NFA to actually also import?
19:51.0
Because that's the
19:52.3
conflict with the rice
19:53.3
tarification law, right?
19:55.2
The rice tarification law encourages
19:57.2
competition. So it
19:59.3
allows entrepreneurs
20:01.0
actually with any permit
20:03.0
to import, right? So if I wanted
20:05.2
to import and I had the permit,
20:07.3
I can import. So what would
20:09.3
the NFA's role be in this
20:11.3
revision? Should they be allowed
20:13.3
to import or should they actually
20:17.6
by assuring farmers
20:19.4
they will purchase their palay?
20:22.3
That is the ideal situation. Sana nga
20:24.3
mamimili ang NFA sa ating
20:26.2
mga local farmers. But the
20:28.4
problem is, it seems, and this is the perception
20:30.5
of many farmers across the country,
20:34.3
tarification law has benefited more
20:36.4
local entrepreneurs
20:38.1
rather than the farmers. In fact,
20:40.4
it has presented unjust competition.
20:43.4
Ang panaginip sana
20:44.5
ng mga farmers, bago
20:46.4
sana pinayagan ang importation ng
20:48.4
rice, malawak ang importation,
20:51.1
sana in-empower muna.
20:52.3
ang ating mga farmers. Pero
20:55.2
rationale behind the rice
20:58.3
tarification law and the plan and the
21:00.3
strategy was, first,
21:02.2
papasukin natin ang imports, tapos
21:04.2
pag merong perang kinita through
21:06.2
taxes, gagamitin natin yan
21:10.2
ang ating mga farmers, the lower cost of
21:12.1
production, and to make them
21:14.2
competitive. Pero
21:16.1
in my understanding, dapat inuna muna
21:18.4
ang empowerment ng
21:20.1
farmers. Dapat nag-investan.
21:22.3
Yes. Oo. Naipaliwanag nyo
21:24.4
ang rice tarification law in another
21:26.5
way. Tama kayo. Parang
21:28.6
ang dapat una, pinrioritize
21:30.6
ang pagbebenta ng ating
21:32.7
production, tinulungan ang
21:34.3
farmers, pagkulang doon
21:36.3
ka mag-i-import. Naging baliktad.
21:38.8
Ang rice tarification law
21:40.4
is actually mag-import ka
21:42.4
muna para may competition
21:43.9
yung extra noon, which
21:48.4
The RSEF. Tutulungan namin
21:50.4
ang farmers. Parang ayuda.
21:52.3
Bumaliktad. Oo. Tsaka kung
21:54.5
kukumputin mo, talaga namang kulang
21:56.5
yung RSEF. We have to admit that.
21:58.9
Sa dami-dami ng mga magsasaka
22:00.3
sa buong bansa, kinukumpute namin, no?
22:02.8
How much yung ating RSEF last
22:04.5
time? I think it was 10
22:06.3
billion pesos. Pag kinumpute mo yun, sa
22:08.3
dami ng ating mga farmers, tingfa 500
22:10.4
pesos lang. Okay.
22:12.6
So how do you expect to
22:14.0
modernize the sector,
22:16.4
mechanize, empower, make them
22:18.3
competent, and also
22:22.3
The cost of production, kung walang initial
22:24.2
investment, tapos magpapapasok ka agad
22:26.4
ng rice imports, tapos
22:28.5
syempre, paano naman magkukumpit
22:30.3
ang ating local farmers, Karen?
22:32.5
Ang cost of production sa ibang
22:34.4
bansa, napakababa. Dito
22:36.2
mataas. Yeah. Oo.
22:38.4
So what do we do?
22:40.5
What can these revisions of the
22:42.2
rice tarification law do? How can
22:44.2
they change pricing
22:46.0
in the local market, right?
22:48.7
What would happen? Because
22:50.0
in effect, you can still import,
22:52.3
rice from Thailand or
22:54.0
Vietnam, et cetera.
22:58.0
the system that it's
23:00.0
our local palay first
23:02.0
that is being sold
23:03.9
into the market? How do we do that?
23:07.1
Well, we prioritize
23:08.3
and give preferential
23:10.6
treatment to palay that is
23:12.1
locally produced in our
23:14.1
country. And of course,
23:16.1
we should empower the NFA
23:17.8
with the facilities
23:20.0
necessary to drive
23:22.3
the palay para hindi na tayo forever
23:24.2
with that excuse na mataas ang
23:26.1
high moisture content.
23:28.3
And also, allow it
23:32.0
a buffer stock and
23:34.1
enable it to be able
23:38.0
purchases para ma-maintain itong buffer
23:40.2
stock at hindi po tataas ang presyo
23:44.2
Now, the issue with the NFA
23:46.4
is an issue of trust.
23:48.6
It's an agency that's been
23:50.1
riddled with corruption.
23:52.3
It has a checkered past. I mean, you
23:54.1
heard R.G. Cruz's report
23:58.1
You had NFA employees who were
24:01.6
they sold a stock
24:04.4
and then now they're going back
24:06.1
to work. So this is the kind
24:08.2
of culture that's perceived
24:10.0
to be in the NFA.
24:12.0
It's a culture of corruption.
24:14.7
So you don't have senators
24:15.8
supporting, empowering the
24:20.0
What can be done? So that's where the
24:23.4
Before I answer that question, Karen,
24:25.8
I want to make it clear that I have nothing against
24:27.9
rice importation.
24:29.7
We live in a global economy
24:31.5
and of course, ang importation
24:34.2
ay bahagi na talaga ng buhay natin
24:36.2
whether we like it or not.
24:37.9
But we cannot continue with importation
24:40.1
while neglecting our local farmers.
24:43.4
Ang mahalaga dito
24:44.4
is to empower them and make
24:46.1
them competitive. So answering
24:48.1
your question, it's a question of trust for our
24:50.0
dear senators. So what is your
24:51.9
option? Yan ang tanong ko.
24:54.1
Sana mapag-usapan nila and I hope
24:55.8
pag umakyat na po ang aming panukalang
24:57.9
batas, which is on second reading
24:59.6
at next week is the third reading na po
25:02.0
ang aming amendments sa rice verification
25:03.7
law, they would seriously
25:05.7
consider our suggestions.
25:07.8
Dahil nagdaan po kami sa napakaraming oras
25:10.0
ng pagdinig dito sa
25:11.8
mga amendments na to.
25:13.6
And of course, we recognize
25:15.5
and we realize that
25:17.7
trust is an important issue, especially
25:21.9
Carry out ng mandate ng
25:25.8
the senators should also come up with an
25:27.5
option. If they do not trust the NFA,
25:29.8
pinanggit ng chairperson
25:31.7
ng Agricultural Committee sa Senado,
25:34.0
Sen. St. Sevillar,
25:35.6
maybe the president would want to have that power.
25:38.3
But we'll leave it up to
25:39.8
them to discuss kung ano ang kanilang
25:41.7
alternative. Pero sa ganang amin
25:43.7
sa Kongreso, nais namin
25:45.6
sanang empowering NFA.
25:47.4
If we have to weed out corrupt officials
25:49.7
within the NFA, let's do it.
25:51.9
But there is also a presumption
25:53.9
of regularity sa ating mga government
25:55.9
agencies. Kung hindi natin
25:57.9
pagkakatiwalaan natin mga sariling
25:59.6
government agencies, eh saan tayo
26:01.9
pupulutin? Hindi tayo uusad.
26:04.5
So if we have to weed them out,
26:05.8
let's weed them out. But
26:07.3
inaasahan na namin at nakikiusap
26:09.8
kami sa mga senador to
26:11.6
consider the amendments
26:14.0
that we have made in the lower house.
26:15.9
Dahil ito ay produkto ng aming
26:17.7
pakikipagunayan sa mga magsasaka.
26:19.9
We've heard them out.
26:21.9
We've also talked to consumer groups.
26:24.4
We've talked to economists,
26:26.2
to experts in the field.
26:28.0
And this is what we... And do they all agree
26:29.8
that the NFA should be empowered
26:31.8
again? Yes. All these people, the
26:33.8
stakeholders you've spoken with?
26:37.6
Okay. If the House
26:39.7
Bill is enacted, another
26:41.8
revision is, and we can discuss
26:44.9
the Agriculture Secretary
26:49.5
this is upon the recommendation of the
26:51.9
National Price Coordinating Council
26:53.6
or the Local Price Coordinating
26:56.5
Council, the Agriculture
26:58.3
Secretary can declare a food
27:00.3
security emergency
27:02.1
due to following reasons.
27:04.5
A shortage in supply of rice,
27:06.7
a sustained increase in the
27:08.3
price of rice, an extraordinary
27:10.4
increase in the price
27:12.3
of rice. But at this point,
27:14.3
can't the President do that?
27:16.1
I mean, unilaterally as it is.
27:18.8
Yes. The President would also have
27:20.2
to consult with the Agricultural
27:21.8
Secretary because this is the mandate
27:23.9
of the Agriculture
27:25.0
Department to monitor
27:27.8
prices and to see how
27:29.9
things are going in the market.
27:31.9
So, upon the recommendation, I think,
27:34.1
of the Agriculture Secretary, the President
27:36.1
can declare an emergency.
27:39.5
What about, we talked about
27:45.6
we know that the common
27:49.5
discussion is often,
27:53.0
going on market prices,
27:57.7
supply and demand, right?
27:59.6
Even Representative Stella Kimbo,
28:01.6
they call it basic economics, right?
28:05.0
isn't essentially good.
28:07.6
But then, for example, you have
28:09.5
other countries that subsidize power
28:15.2
So then you have more foreign investors
28:17.2
coming in. The thing with rice
28:19.5
is it's also a staple.
28:25.6
the price of rice
28:27.0
so that there's an option.
28:29.8
Yung tinatawag na NFA
28:31.5
rice, na noon nga 27,
28:33.4
29 pesos. So, the
28:35.4
poorest of the poor can buy
28:37.5
that rice. Is that
28:39.7
out of the equation already,
28:42.1
Representative Roman? Because
28:43.4
like now, in Indonesia,
28:45.8
I'm looking right now, there
28:47.4
is a subsidy program
28:49.1
for what they call poor to
28:51.5
near poor households.
28:53.0
The subsidy of those
28:55.0
of the rice that's sold to them is
28:56.9
roughly 7 to 80 percent
28:59.1
below the market price.
29:01.5
So, there is rice subsidy
29:03.1
in other ASEAN countries
29:04.9
for the extremely poor.
29:07.3
Yes. Karen, actually, there are
29:08.9
several programs run by the
29:10.9
DSWD that subsidize
29:15.0
the poorest of the poor. In fact,
29:17.3
just yesterday, we were discussing
29:19.3
in the House, a legislative
29:21.3
measure that would actually
29:22.5
institutionalize food stamps
29:24.1
for those who are considered
29:26.1
to be poorest of the poor.
29:29.1
This does not have to be necessarily
29:30.8
reflected, I mean, in the
29:32.6
amendments to the rice
29:34.5
tarification law because as we said,
29:36.5
we want to respect the market forces
29:38.3
of supply and demand.
29:40.8
So, in order for us to subsidize,
29:43.0
marami namang programa ang
29:46.6
problem is, if you give them the money,
29:48.8
they may not buy the rice.
29:51.3
This is just a discussion.
29:53.3
If NFA rice is sold at
29:55.3
hypothetically 29 pesos,
29:57.9
the market price is
29:59.4
40 pesos, 50 pesos,
30:01.3
60 pesos. And you
30:03.4
don't subsidize at 29 pesos
30:05.5
per kilo. Tutulungan mo
30:07.7
sila with a food stamp.
30:09.4
They still can't afford the 40 pesos
30:13.6
Am I making sense?
30:15.4
Instead of the very poor
30:17.4
knowing, ah, may NFA rice eh.
30:21.3
this was, remember what
30:23.2
President Marcos Jr. was in effect
30:25.3
doing with Maharlika,
30:27.2
but it was not widespread
30:28.9
enough, right? So, with Maharlika,
30:35.0
Masagana of President, yeah, yeah.
30:37.5
Masagana. Is in effect, the
30:39.2
price of rice there was lower.
30:41.7
Technically, that was the
30:47.1
the nature of subsidy is they actually do not
30:49.0
cover the entire expense of
30:55.8
Pagtulong na yan, pang dagdag.
30:57.8
Yan ang nature natin ng subsidy. So, we do not
30:60.0
actually expect to cover the entire food
31:02.0
expense of a family with a
31:04.1
subsidy. I know it may sound
31:06.1
a little, little, no? But
31:07.6
this is another way of encouraging
31:09.5
families to be responsible in management
31:12.2
of their finances,
31:14.0
whether, kahit na medyo limited
31:15.9
ito. Pero ganun talagang subsidiya
31:18.2
eh, hindi tayo nagkocover
31:21.2
Hindi naman yun, pero ibig sabihin
31:23.8
sa revisions na ito,
31:25.7
mawawala na po yung dati
31:27.4
na alam natin na NFA rice.
31:30.6
Kasi we are giving them more
31:31.8
power, right? They can procure.
31:33.9
So, it's for buffer stocking.
31:36.0
Pero noon kasi, may NFA
31:37.9
rice, iba ang presyo niya.
31:40.6
And yes, it's a subsidy.
31:41.9
Generally, mas mababa ang NFA rice.
31:44.0
And it's in a subsidy of 9 pesos
31:45.7
per kilo then, right?
31:48.0
So, yan ang tanong ko because the
31:51.2
fali from farmers at a much
31:53.7
higher gate price.
31:56.6
Kung baga, hindi,
31:57.9
doon kumikita yung farmer,
32:03.4
nung middleman. Pag binili nung
32:05.4
NFA, yung farm gate, mas mataas.
32:08.0
Hindi ba ganun? Isn't that
32:09.6
what you're imagining?
32:11.4
Isn't this, isn't this, this bill?
32:15.7
imagining is that the NFA
32:20.0
the production, local
32:21.2
production, to save our farmers
32:23.5
at a good price, para hindi
32:25.6
malugi ang ating, not
32:27.5
necessarily very high.
32:29.7
Not as much as the farmers would want
32:31.5
to earn, but definitely much
32:33.4
better than the conditions being provided
32:35.3
for by middlemen.
32:37.9
Okay. So, with that,
32:42.9
NFA from our local farmers,
32:46.1
ang problema ngayon na na-encounter
32:47.8
natin is that there is
32:52.6
imported. So, ang naging
32:55.3
reklamo ng ating mga consumers
32:57.1
is that, bakit ganun? Parang
32:59.3
mas mura pa ang bigas
33:03.6
Kesa locally produced palay.
33:05.8
Alright. Now, how do you solve
33:07.5
the situation? Okay.
33:11.6
to increase the buffer
33:19.1
makapag-compute tayo sa presyo
33:21.2
ng imported rice.
33:23.2
So, ganun ang ating
33:24.0
layunin. So, you believe
33:27.1
because I think the buffer stock
33:29.4
was 9 days, right?
33:31.6
Is it the minimum of 9 days?
33:33.3
Are you increasing the buffer stock?
33:35.7
Yes. Yes, I think.
33:37.7
Yung buffer stock.
33:39.0
And you think that would make a difference
33:41.1
in the price in the market?
33:43.7
Yes, that would also contribute.
33:45.7
That would contribute.
33:47.2
Okay. Alright. Well, this is
33:49.3
still on second reading.
33:51.2
Is that length? Next week, third reading now.
33:54.5
Yeah. And before we go,
33:55.8
I want to talk to you about the
33:59.9
what is the update on the SOGI
34:01.9
Bill? You are the prime
34:03.6
advocate of the SOGI Bill.
34:05.9
And what are the biggest challenges?
34:08.6
Do you believe, other
34:09.8
than you do have some lawmakers, especially
34:11.8
in the Senate, who are against it,
34:14.1
but why are we struggling
34:15.9
to pass this? It's been languishing
34:21.2
that President Marcos Jr. issued
34:23.5
an executive order back
34:25.4
in December, creating
34:27.2
a special committee for the
34:33.5
helped? Has that helped at all?
34:36.0
In terms of representation,
34:39.3
The special committee for LGBTQIA
34:43.2
It is a statement made by the
34:45.4
executive that recognizes
34:47.3
the importance of this
34:51.2
And it's determination to eradicate
34:53.4
discrimination within the executive.
34:57.4
enough. Because what we need is a
34:59.3
national law to protect
35:00.8
members of the LGBTQ
35:03.2
plus community from discrimination at
35:05.3
the workplace, in learning institutions,
35:08.2
in the delivery of government
35:09.4
services, in public
35:11.4
establishments, and in the use
35:13.4
of public accommodations.
35:15.0
So, ang nangyayari, Karen, meron tayong
35:19.1
anti-discrimination ordinances.
35:21.2
Especially in big cities, but we do not
35:23.1
have a national law, which begs the
35:25.0
question, if local
35:27.0
government units are capable
35:29.0
of recognizing this need
35:30.9
to fight discrimination,
35:33.3
bakit nila namin kaya sa national
35:35.1
level? Kami naman sa house of representatives,
35:37.0
widespread ang support eh.
35:38.9
Ito nga ang diferensya, Karen. I don't
35:41.2
want to make comparisons, but
35:43.0
it seems that kami, because
35:45.2
we are directly engaging
35:47.4
with our constituents, and we
35:49.0
feel the classism,
35:53.0
an anti-discrimination law,
35:55.2
we respond in the house of
35:56.9
representatives. We are not very theoretical,
35:59.5
we are not detached from
36:01.1
the day-to-day lives of our
36:03.1
constituents, and this is also the same
36:05.2
working principles that we have applied
36:07.0
with the amendments to the
36:09.0
rice tarification law. Alam mo, Karen,
36:11.3
itong rice tarification law,
36:12.9
buongan na rin na aming pakipag-uusap sa napakaraming
36:15.4
farmers. The principal
36:17.0
authors, we have an economist,
36:21.2
Ella Kimbo. We also have
36:23.5
a Harvard graduate,
36:25.0
si Representative
36:26.4
Micaela Swan Singh, who is from
36:28.7
Neva Ecija, and here's the wealth experience
36:31.2
of the entire rice industry. Alam mo naman,
36:33.2
rice granary ang Neva Ecija.
36:35.5
And ito ang aming
36:37.0
prinsipyo, we try to respond.
36:39.1
At sana, ang pananawagan ko
36:41.0
sa ating mga sanura, maging sensitive sila
36:43.8
sa pangangailangan
36:45.0
ng ating mga mamamayan.
36:47.4
We can be very theoretical about
36:49.0
things and criticize, but we should
36:51.1
also provide concrete
36:52.9
alternatives, like
36:54.7
if there's a trust
36:57.1
issue with the NFA, ano ang inyong
36:58.8
alternative? Open naman tayo siya.
37:01.5
Oo. Balikan lang natin
37:02.9
very quickly, should the president
37:04.6
already certify the SOGI
37:07.0
bill as urgent? Because
37:08.9
clearly he supports it, but
37:10.9
he's not certifying it as urgent.
37:15.0
I would want him to
37:16.9
certify it, but I do realize
37:20.6
other issues that are
37:22.8
more urgent, like the prices
37:24.9
of our basic commodities
37:29.0
the increase on the prices
37:30.6
of utilities like water,
37:34.8
ang ating mga problema sa transportation
37:38.9
yung city modernization,
37:40.8
also yung sitwasyon ng
37:43.6
for example, ang ating mga
37:46.8
barangay health workers as well,
37:49.4
ng ating mga, yung ating
37:50.4
pension system, and more
37:52.0
importantly, yung ating health
37:53.9
system, no? With the full
37:55.5
implementation of the Universal
37:57.2
Healthcare Act. Those are very
37:59.4
important because it's a matter of
38:01.0
life and death, which is not to
38:02.6
say na hindi importante ang pagkilala
38:07.2
karapatan ng mga Pilipino
38:09.1
kasama na dyan ang
38:10.9
LGBTQ plus community, Karen.
38:13.9
Alright. On that note, I want
38:15.3
to thank you for joining me today,
38:17.4
Bataan Representative Geraldine Roman.
38:19.7
Thank you so much.
38:20.4
And I do hope you can update us
38:22.4
on the revisions to the Rice
38:24.3
Tarification Law. We will, Karen.
38:26.6
Thank you very much for taking interest.
38:28.5
Mabuhay tayo. Alright.
38:30.4
We're gonna take a quick break. Head start.
38:32.4
We'll be right back.
38:50.4
We'll be right back.
39:20.4
We'll be right back.
39:50.4
Because the ability of people to move around
39:52.3
will likely contribute better to growth.
39:54.4
We'll be right back.
40:20.4
We'll be right back.
40:50.4
We'll be right back.
41:20.4
We'll be right back.
41:50.4
Welcome back to Head Start.
41:54.5
Two former Philippine police chiefs
41:56.7
unfazed by new developments
41:58.6
in the international probe
42:00.6
of their roles in the Duterte
42:02.7
drug war. Watch this
42:06.5
It would be a disaster
42:08.5
for the Philippines not to recognize
42:10.6
the International Criminal Court's
42:12.5
jurisdiction. That warning
42:14.4
coming from ICC Assistant to Council
42:16.8
Attorney Christina Conti.
42:20.4
President Marcos Jr.'s mind may
42:22.2
still be changed by the legal
42:24.2
briefing the Justice Department is
42:26.2
preparing. Marcos has consistently
42:28.7
maintained the Philippines
42:30.3
will not cooperate with the ICC
42:32.3
probe into former President
42:34.2
Duterte's bloody war on drugs.
42:36.7
Magiging basa ang papel ng Pilipinas.
42:39.0
Kung kaya ka-kwestionable,
42:40.7
pwedeng nakakatawa tayo.
42:42.4
Kapag hindi natin kinilala ang isang
42:44.3
desisyon ng International
42:46.2
Court, samantalang kapit na
42:48.3
kapit tayo sa isang pagpapasya
42:50.4
ng International Tribunal sa West
42:52.3
Philippine Sea. Para po tayong tikon yan.
42:54.9
Kapag hindi pabor sa atin,
42:56.5
ayaw natin. O hindi tayo
42:58.3
sasali. Ang pangit nun para sa
43:00.2
international community. Senator
43:02.1
Ronald de la Rosa is unfazed
43:04.1
by the Justice Department's actions.
43:06.8
Normal man yan sa kanila. Kung
43:08.2
hinihingan sila ng tabaho manila yan.
43:10.4
Kung hinihingan sila ng
43:14.3
tabaho ng DOJ yan. Wala pong
43:16.2
problema. Kaya nga, kaya nga,
43:18.0
kaya nga options para
43:20.4
It's just in case. Just in case talaga kung
43:22.3
yun, maglabas ng warat,
43:24.3
kung ano mga options available sa Pangulo.
43:27.7
in-offer nila. It's normal.
43:30.5
The senator also says he will
43:32.6
reveal in due time his
43:34.5
upperclassman at the Philippine Military Academy
43:36.9
who is trying to convince
43:38.6
police officers to testify
43:40.5
against him and Duterte
43:49.0
ng mga operasyon.
43:50.4
Ang mga opisyalis ng PNP na mag-testify against us,
43:54.0
kami nga President Duterte,
43:55.7
sinahaman na nga pati si Vice President Tara Duterte
44:01.2
na mag-testify sila doon sa ICC laban sa amin.
44:05.2
Ma-well-funded yung kanilang A-40.
44:07.2
Sa likod, maraming pera.
44:09.2
NCR Police Office Chief Major General Jose Nartatez says
44:13.2
they are not aware of police officers
44:15.2
cooperating with the ICC investigation.
44:18.5
Wala tayong namumonitor na nagpapartisipate sa ICC
44:22.2
and so far as kung meron man,
44:24.2
meron ng pronouncement with regards to coordination with the ICC.
44:30.6
And sinabi DOJ na it's a policy that nobody will,
44:37.2
no one willing to coordinate, meaning,
44:40.2
positively coordinate with the ICC.
44:42.2
The ICC probe, according to Conti, may involve retired Police General Oscar Albayalde,
44:45.5
may involve retired Police General Oscar Albayalde,
44:48.4
who was one of the police chiefs under the Duterte administration.
44:52.4
Albayalde, for his part, says he's ready to face any possible charges against him.
44:58.4
He notes he's grateful that Marcos Jr. has not allowed the ICC in the country.
45:05.4
Wala naman po tayong itatago dyan at lahat po naman ng ating naging operasyon,
45:09.4
lahat yan ay above board.
45:11.4
Imaasa tayo sa ating Pangulong BBM na I think hindi naman po siguro yan magtutuloy-tuloy,
45:16.4
dahil sabi ko nga, paulit-ulit naman po niyang sinasabi na hindi naman na pwedeng magkimasok yung foreign court sa atin,
45:25.4
dahil nga meron tayong sariling justesya dito sa Pilipinas.
45:28.4
Former Philippine Senator and Duterte critic Antonio Trillanes earlier claimed
45:33.4
the ICC investigators were able to talk to dozens of police officers.
45:39.4
Meantime, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva says they will study if their Chamber's concurrence with the ICC,
45:44.4
is needed if the country rejoins the international body.
45:54.4
Alright, and we're now joined by the International Criminal Court Assistant to Counsel,
46:00.4
Atty. Christina Conti.
46:02.4
Atty. Conti, good morning to you. Welcome to Head Start.
46:05.4
Good morning, Karen. A pleasure to be here.
46:08.4
Alright, now let's get straight to the point.
46:10.4
You're being accused of gathering,
46:14.4
gathering dirt. That was what was written in the article by Rigoberto Tiglao.
46:21.4
He says that you are, being one of the highest paid attorneys in the country,
46:26.4
you are gathering evidence and he claims even concocted testimonies,
46:31.4
mere media reports, dirt against President Duterte and others. Let's start with that.
46:38.4
Absolutely false, Karen. I am not gathering dirt specifically against President Duterte.
46:44.4
I was asked by the victims to figure out what happened to the killings
46:49.4
and how to connect the killings to the statements of President Duterte.
46:54.4
What I will admit is, when we first submitted a communication to the International Criminal Court,
47:00.4
this was in August 2018, we submitted transcripts of the statements of the President with regard to the war on drugs.
47:07.4
This is publicly available. And, I mean, if there is dirt at all, it comes from Duterte's side.
47:13.4
What we just did was put together all this information and make it available to the Office of the Prosecutor.
47:21.4
As to the paid part, I think they're just reading too many novels and probably browsing through the ICC materials.
47:29.4
In the article, he actually, this former journalist, journalist says that I get some kind of remuneration from the ICC.
47:39.4
Unfortunately, there's a lot of assumptions.
47:42.4
It assumes that one, there is a case already.
47:45.4
Second, I have been appointed to the court.
47:48.4
And third, that the remunerations, the amount indicated, have already been approved or released by the court.
47:57.4
None of that has happened yet.
47:59.4
And right now, I am engaged pro bono by the victims here on the ground,
48:04.4
both for domestic and international engagements.
48:08.4
Okay, thank you for that clarification.
48:10.4
So, perhaps you can describe,
48:12.4
your mandate being the ICC Assistant to Council.
48:16.4
What exactly does that title mean?
48:19.4
Yes, I realize it must be misleading for some.
48:22.4
For others, it feels as if I am assisting the ICC or a council in the ICC.
48:28.4
But what it really means is that I am registered before the list of assistants to councils.
48:35.4
I am there and I am among so many assistants to council.
48:39.4
There are a few other councils.
48:42.4
The councils who can represent parties before the court.
48:47.4
It may look like in the Philippines, you are accredited, you are registered to practice before the court.
48:53.4
In the Philippines, if you can pass the bar or if you are accredited.
48:57.4
In the ICC, it's similar as well.
48:59.4
Not any lawyer can practice before the court.
49:02.4
You have to be registered.
49:04.4
If a case opens and I am appointed, engaged, and this is approved by the court,
49:10.4
then I can assist in a case.
49:13.4
So, right now, I am one council who can appear before the ICC.
49:18.4
I am pledged for the victims of the war on drugs, just to be clear.
49:22.4
For example, if the detective becomes an accused before the ICC,
49:26.4
he can very well form a team among the people listed in the councils.
49:31.4
If he asks me, I would have to reject the offer because I am already pledged in the particular situation.
49:39.4
in the Philippines to the victims.
49:42.4
Okay. So, it seems there's a misunderstanding of your role, right?
49:46.4
So, number one, what's clear right now that you're explaining is,
49:49.4
one, you're not employed by the ICC.
49:52.4
You're not getting funding from the ICC.
49:55.4
And you are essentially registered to be a lawyer that can actually practice, in effect,
50:03.4
if this goes to trial, in front of the ICC.
50:06.4
So, that's one. Registrado ka sa ICC.
50:09.4
Pero hindi ka bayaran ng ICC. Hindi ka empleyado ng ICC.
50:12.4
Hindi ka nila tao.
50:14.4
But, you are a lawyer for the victims of the drug war.
50:19.4
Which, wouldn't it be logical that instead of the word dirt against Duterte,
50:24.4
you are gathering evidence against Duterte? Is that fair?
50:29.4
That's fair. But, again, it's not exactly against Duterte.
50:33.4
We're not looking at him from the very beginning as, you know, we just have to pin him down.
50:38.4
We started from the bottom. Sa killings kami nagsimula.
50:41.4
We started from documenting these killings and then putting together public statements,
50:47.4
putting together policy pronouncements. Kinunek na lang namin.
50:51.4
In fact, our victims voted for Duterte. Some of them are Duterte supporters.
50:57.4
And when you talk to them, they would say na maybe there was just something wrong.
51:01.4
Maybe there was miscommunication on the ground. Maybe it was our fault.
51:06.4
But then when you process the information, when you analyze everything,
51:10.4
our resolution, our conclusion then was it was Duterte's fault.
51:15.4
And in crimes against humanity, you don't really look at the person who…
51:19.4
What led you to that conclusion? You said, in our conclusion, it was Duterte's fault.
51:26.4
So, based on your conversation with the victims, the families, the stakeholders, what led you to the conclusion
51:35.4
that it leads up to the top?
51:38.4
His statements, Karen, even before he was elected, that there will be killings, there will be blood,
51:45.4
resulted in killings and in blood. And when we traced the processes or the modus operandi,
51:54.4
it appeared to us, and this is important to point out, that Duterte appointees or Davao police officers
52:03.4
were the ones who were leading the police in the areas where the killings were heightened.
52:12.4
And this would be Caloocan in the very beginning, later on Bulacan, and later on Cebu.
52:19.4
There were Davao boys, so to speak, who were presiding or lording it over these areas.
52:26.4
And so the concept of death floods deployed from Davao or deployed by Duterte,
52:33.4
and Bato de la Rosa, became clearer to us as the killings went on.
52:38.4
Okay. So it's not just a rhetoric. Because when you speak with cabinet, former cabinet members,
52:45.4
former President Duterte, they would say, that's a rhetoric. He never actually issued an executive order
52:51.4
to kill like this, right? So there's no EJK. They always excuse it and say that it's how he speaks.
53:00.4
They claim it was not literal.
53:03.4
I wish I could support that. But, I mean, it's not just those kinds of statements.
53:11.4
It was also, I will protect you. Ako ang bahala sa inyo kahit anong mangyari.
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Kung nalaban, patayin mo. Kung walang baril, bigyan mo.
53:22.4
And so the entirety of the statements, I mean, it would be difficult to backtrack,
53:27.4
to say that it was just hyperbole or it was just a challenge.
53:33.4
Really, right now, before the ICC, are many cases against top officials, even presidents,
53:39.4
who have made similar statements. And it is for their appreciation how these statements can be made.
53:44.4
And we are confident that it's not just Duterte's statements, but possibly some actions,
53:51.4
some hidden statements, or some secret missives or directives he has made.
53:57.4
Okay. Now, recently, in an interview, you said, and you can correct this,
54:01.4
you said you were pretty sure, did you use those words?
54:05.4
You were pretty sure that former President Duterte, and this is in quote,
54:10.4
will be considered as one of the most responsible for the war on drugs during his administration.
54:17.4
When you say pretty sure, do you believe an arrest warrant will be issued against him?
54:23.4
What is the state of the investigation today?
54:28.4
Well, right now, the investigation is at night.
54:31.4
It's at that point where it is determining who is most responsible.
54:34.4
That's the question that has to be established.
54:36.4
We've already established during the preliminary examination that crimes against humanity occur in the Philippines.
54:43.4
The Philippine government said, oh, maybe you forgo the investigation, defer it, because we will investigate.
54:51.4
Later on, the ICC says, what kind of investigation are you doing? You're doing 52 cases?
54:56.4
Ah, we step in again.
54:58.4
And so it started technically in September 2020.
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Then in June 2021, re-approved again in January 2023.
55:07.4
And it's been too long.
55:09.4
So I think at this point, they have their finger on things already.
55:14.4
And the name of President Duterte has been there in the OTP, in the Office of the Prosecutor documents, since June 2021.
55:24.4
He's been named as someone who was enabled, at the least, tolerated, or even ordered,
55:32.4
And so it's not just me who's saying that President Duterte will likely be looked into.
55:39.4
At the minimum, there will be someone's issue, someone's meaning.
55:43.4
Please come and cooperate with the court.
55:45.4
But at the maximum, I think really, there will be a warrant of arrest.
55:49.4
And President Duterte's...
55:51.4
And when do you believe will the warrant of arrest be issued?
55:55.4
Ah, that's the thing.
55:57.4
Actually, the process right now is confidential.
55:59.4
The investigation itself is confidential.
56:01.4
Unless you are the one who's being talked to.
56:04.4
So that's why I think some of these officials might have the audacity to talk about, to confirm things from the ICC.
56:11.4
But then, even the application for a warrant of arrest is under seal.
56:16.4
It's confidential.
56:17.4
And as I have discussed in some other interviews, no news is good news, in a sense, with regard to warrants of arrest.
56:27.4
Because if they announce the warrant of arrest, it...
56:31.4
It says that maybe there's no chance that this warrant will be served.
56:35.4
As in the case of President Duterte.
56:37.4
So are you saying that it's possible that there's a warrant that will be issued but they won't announce it?
56:44.4
And then you can have members of the ICC in the country and just arrest him?
56:53.4
It's not just possible.
56:54.4
It is the rule that a warrant of arrest is issued, confidential, secret warrant of arrest.
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It's only announced in certain instances when the court approves it.
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As in the case of President Putin, when there was no chance of him being arrested.
57:08.4
So a secret, quote-unquote, warrant of arrest has to be coerced to members of the ICC.
57:16.4
And this is where it could become public.
57:18.4
So if the members of the court receive this warrant of arrest, if the Interpol, with whom the ICC has a cooperation agreement, receives a warrant of arrest and issues a red notice,
57:29.4
then perhaps it becomes public.
57:31.4
But from my understanding, the ICC as much as possible reaches out to the country where the accused is at
57:41.4
and asks the police, the local police, to execute the warrant.
57:47.4
It will not be ICC officials executing the warrant.
57:50.4
The ICC has no police.
57:52.4
It depends on the police forces of its member organizations.
57:57.4
So just an update on the ICC.
57:59.4
You can correct me on this.
58:01.4
The one I have here is as of June 2018, it has issued public arrest warrants for 42 individuals.
58:12.4
Is that still the number?
58:16.4
Because there were two warrants issued two months ago, I think, against two Russian officials.
58:21.4
Now six of the individuals are already in custody of the court.
58:26.4
Of those issued, you have six that's actually been arrested and they're in The Hague right now.
58:32.4
So just very quickly, can you give me an instance of at least one of those who were successfully arrested?
58:39.4
Were they arrested in their own countries or were they traveling and there was no more jurisdiction of the country
58:48.4
and that's when they were arrested?
58:52.4
Those two instances that you mentioned, that has happened.
58:55.4
And this is not only in the case of the ICC.
58:57.4
In other international tribunals or courts, there was one who was arrested in another country.
59:05.4
He was president of his own country, traveled to another country.
59:09.4
Was he vacationing?
59:10.4
I think he sought asylum.
59:14.4
So he sought asylum and despite seeking asylum, he was arrested in that country where he was granted asylum.
59:22.4
Because things can change.
59:24.4
In another African situation, the elections turned the other way.
59:31.4
And so this accused was not protected anymore by the ruling party.
59:37.4
And as such, he was surrendered actually by the country.
59:42.4
I'm just not sure about his name, but this was in Sudan if I recall.
59:47.4
So what happens, attorney, I don't need to cut you, but we don't have enough time.
59:51.4
What happens now?
59:52.4
President Marcos Jr. has repeatedly said that one, well, we're no longer a member of the ICC.
59:59.4
Do they still have jurisdiction even if we're not a member to arrest who they believe to be a suspect, a leader they suspect of being guilty even if the country is not a member?
60:13.4
Can they still do that?
60:15.4
As to investigation, the ICC has jurisdiction over the situation.
60:20.4
But as to arrest.
60:21.4
It will really have to be the local police to execute that warrant of arrest.
60:26.4
If you're no longer a member?
60:28.4
If you're no longer a member.
60:29.4
But that's a question actually that's interesting.
60:31.4
It's very good that we're discussing the process.
60:35.4
Because this is where it gets very confusing.
60:39.4
So if you are no longer a member, which we are not, the Philippines is not, if the ICC issues a warrant, it's the local police who has to implement the warrant.
60:50.4
And for them to implement the warrant, is it right to say the president has to order the police to cooperate and implement the warrant?
61:00.4
If President Marcos Jr. refuses, then stalemate.
61:06.4
Essentially, that's it.
61:07.4
Unless, and this is an option, we can move to confirmation of charges if a council comes in and represents these accused.
61:15.4
Instead of the accused being in custody, they would voluntarily submit in one sentence.
61:19.4
And question maybe jurisdictional issues before the court.
61:24.4
That's one option.
61:25.4
And I've heard about a few of them engaging the services of council who is ICC accredited.
61:31.4
As to this arrest, we've always maintained that, yes, it is a matter of political will.
61:40.4
But we appeal on the basis of continuing cooperation that is required under Article 127 of the Rome Statute.
61:47.4
Under the agreement that we signed before, it says that even after you have exited, even after you have withdrawn from the ICC, you have continuing obligations.
61:59.4
And if the president reads the briefer, a fair and thorough briefer supplied by the DOJ, then I would suppose he would come to the conclusion that, yes, we still have that obligation.
62:10.4
This is interesting because the Philippines is only, I guess, I think two of two countries.
62:17.4
The second country to have withdrawn from the ICC.
62:20.4
So this is actually new territory for even the court itself.
62:24.4
I mean, just withdrawn countries.
62:27.4
Yeah. But then why should, I mean, the problem with the situation is the United States, one of the founding members of the ICC, I believe they were, they're not even a member, right?
62:38.4
Yes, they were initially.
62:42.4
But then they moved out when the crimes against aggression was put into the charter.
62:48.4
So, but just to move on, just my last question is there in another article at the Manila Times, it said that this was a May 13 article.
62:58.4
It says that former President Duterte is actually not named in any of the ICC investigation documents.
63:08.4
And I think it's important to say right now, just factually speaking, that this is false, right?
63:16.4
He is not named, specifically named.
63:19.4
So this isn't an idea of posibleng si Duterte.
63:27.4
No, he is in the ICC documents.
63:32.4
He is in the ICC documents from the report of the Office of the Prosecutor on the preliminary examination in the request for investigation.
63:42.4
And it's inescapable that he will be.
63:45.4
It's inescapable that he will have to be in these documents because the materials that are available to the court, especially those who are, which are reliable information, that's how they start.
63:57.4
They start from reliable information.
63:59.4
So really, the article mixes some true things but some false things.
64:05.4
So former President Duterte is named in the ICC documents.
64:10.4
Is Senator Ronald Bato de la Rosa named?
64:13.4
Yes, as well as Albayalde.
64:16.4
This is in one of the reports of the Office of the Prosecutor because they mentioned that they were the chiefs of police.
64:25.4
I think the period covered covers also their terms.
64:30.4
So we left the ICC March 2019.
64:33.4
I think Albayalde was the chief of police.
64:36.4
So just for the record, there are three names officially mentioned in the documents.
64:42.4
Duterte, de la Rosa, and Albayalde.
64:46.4
And the ICC wants to look more into more mid-level police officers.
64:51.4
And they've identified directors of, well, the PIDEA, probably the drug agencies.
64:59.4
And you haven't seen these?
65:00.4
You haven't seen those documents, those names?
65:03.4
Well, the names are in the report of the OTP, which is publicly available.
65:08.4
But the actual, like the investigation documents?
65:11.4
Those are under seal as yet.
65:13.4
We expect these to be unsealed or to be submitted before the court sooner rather than later, hopefully within the year.
65:21.4
On that note, I want to thank you for joining me today.
65:24.4
Thank you for, I mean, actually explaining how the process will go if it does go in the next few months.
65:31.4
Thank you so much, ICC Assistant to Counsel, Attorney Christina Conte.
65:37.4
Thank you for the opportunity, Karen.
65:40.4
Let's get started today.
65:42.4
I'm Karen Davila.
65:43.4
Thank you for watching.
65:44.4
You can play back this episode on the ANC YouTube channel.
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Stay informed and stay with ANC.
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We'll be right back.
