00:54.6
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
00:57.2
Her campaign also raising a record $81 million in 24 hours.
01:03.9
And the Director of the U.S. Secret Service rejecting calls of House lawmakers for her to step down.
01:12.2
Welcome to the program. We begin with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. finally taking a stand on the controversial offshore gaming industry.
01:20.3
During his third State of the Nation address, the Philippine leader announced a total ban.
01:24.6
Pogos, earning a standing ovation and loud applause from those in attendance.
01:30.2
Pia Gutierrez with the highlights of the President's speech.
01:34.8
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. finally breaking his silence on Pogos
01:39.4
by announcing the complete ban on all Philippine offshore gaming operations
01:43.5
during his third State of the Nation address on Monday.
01:47.3
The grave abuse and disrespect to our system of laws must stop.
01:51.1
We need to stop this mess.
01:54.6
Save our society and re-establish our country.
02:03.4
Effective today, all Pogos are banned.
02:15.4
I hereby, I hereby instruct.
02:24.3
Pag-iigayeste sa kasuhay niyo. I hearby instruct.
02:24.4
At pag-iigay. I hearby instruct.
02:24.5
Pag-iigayeste sa kasuhay niyo. I hearby instruct.
02:24.5
At pag-iigayeste sa kasuhay niyo. I hearby instruct.
02:24.6
The announcement comes amid calls from various groups to ban Pogos,
02:33.7
which have been embroiled in a host of controversies such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, torture and even murder.
02:44.5
The DOLA, in coordination with our economic managers, shall use the time between now and then to find new jobs for our countrymen who will be displaced.
03:04.5
This will solve many of the problems that we are encountering.
03:09.4
It will solve many of the problems that we have been encountering.
03:13.3
But it will not stop.
03:14.5
It will solve all of them.
03:17.4
To solve all the problems that we have been suffering under, all officials, law enforcers, workers in government, and most of all, the citizenry,
03:30.1
must always be vigilant, principled, and think of the health of the nation.
03:35.8
Also in his speech, the President touted his administration's bloodless anti-legal drug strategy,
03:41.0
which he says has led to the confiscation of buildings.
03:44.5
Billions worth of illegal drugs and the arrest of thousands of drug personalities.
03:49.4
Our bloodless war on dangerous drugs adheres and will continue to adhere to the established eight E's of an effective anti-illegal drug strategy.
04:01.6
Extermination was never one of them.
04:04.1
The President in his speech also made the assurance that his administration is working to bring down the prices of food and addressing the effects of climate change.
04:14.5
The President welcomed the decision for the Philippines to host and have a seat at the Loss and Damage Fund,
04:18.9
which he hopes will help countries like the Philippines, who are both affected by climate change.
04:24.0
This welcome development shall complement all our other climate adaptation and mitigation measures
04:29.3
and give us a strong voice to access the needed financial assistance for climate-related initiatives and impacts.
04:36.9
As the administration works to stabilize the country's power supply,
04:41.2
the President called on Congress to undertake a study of the IPIRAR law.
04:45.0
Marcus Jr. also vowed to increase the wages of government workers.
04:48.7
For our government, they have a medical allowance as an additional benefit for the next year.
05:03.3
And not only that, they also have a payment for the salary they will get from the four tranches.
05:11.1
He also announced additional benefits for public school teachers.
05:14.5
Whom he called the foundation of the country's education system.
05:18.2
Clearly, of course, the quality of our education rests on the quality of our teachers.
05:24.9
And so, as we build and upgrade schools, so too must we uplift and upskill our teachers,
05:31.8
whose competence and trademark Filipino patience, determination, and compassion will be at the core of our national learning recovery.
05:41.3
Marcus Jr. also issued this directive to newly install the IPIRAR law.
05:44.3
He also told Education Chief Sonny Angara as he admitted that the quality of the country's education system needs to be vastly improved.
05:51.8
Marcus Jr. also vowed to increase by a thousand percent PhilHealth's coverage for the treatment of breast cancer and other diseases,
06:05.6
the construction of mobile hospitals and specialty clinics, the continued funding for feeding programs,
06:12.0
and policies to protect PWDs.
06:14.3
And the mental health of Filipinos.
06:16.6
The President, meanwhile, thanked OFWs and vowed that the administration is working for their protection.
06:23.2
Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News.
06:28.8
Joining us now in Hot Copy, we have with us Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission Spokesperson, Winston Cascio.
06:35.1
Good morning, sir. Thanks for joining us.
06:37.7
Hi. Good morning, Katerina. Good morning to all of your viewers as well.
06:41.3
Alright. We all heard the very clear directive given by President.
06:44.3
President Ferdinand Marcus Jr. against BOGOS during his third State of the Nation Address.
06:49.2
How close was that rhetoric to the PAOK's recommendation?
06:54.1
Well, very close. In fact, we've been calling for a gradual phase-out leading to a total ban of the offshore gaming industry
07:03.1
inasmuch as they basically have no beneficial effects, beneficial advantages for our country for that matter.
07:11.1
So, we're pretty happy.
07:14.3
We're elated, in fact, that he made that presidential directive.
07:18.3
And do you think that one year or less than a year, by year-end, is enough to actually wind down all BOGO operations in the Philippines?
07:28.1
Yeah. Well, if all of the agencies of government will really get their heads together and get their acts together,
07:33.6
then six months, five months to six months is more than enough.
07:37.1
Well, for one, all of us have an inventory of the illicit.
07:44.3
Offshore gaming operators out there.
07:46.2
For PAOK and PAGCOR, we've got a list of 58.
07:50.1
So, if we get the cooperation of the National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation,
07:56.1
we're fairly confident that we'll be able to operate, say, one per week or two every week.
08:03.1
I mean, one for every two weeks.
08:06.0
Then, by the end of the week, we'd have, by the end of August, we'd have a chilling effect for most of these operators.
08:14.3
And I would imagine a good number of them would voluntarily leave the country.
08:18.7
But then again, that doesn't mean that all of them would leave and voluntarily pack up their bags.
08:24.0
A good number of these would still remain and simply go underground.
08:28.1
Now, that is the challenge.
08:30.2
But the different agencies of government are fairly competent to meet that challenge head-on.
08:36.2
So far, do you have any intelligence information with regard to some BOGO operators already starting their businesses?
08:44.7
Underground, already starting, putting up their shops?
08:50.1
Right after Bamban and right after the Bamban and Porac raids of PAOK and CIDG,
08:55.8
a good number of those who were able to escape from those BOGO hubs
08:59.1
were able to set up their operations in some areas of Central Luzon and Metro Manila.
09:04.8
And we've been keeping a close track on them to make sure that once we get the search warrants to operate against them,
09:12.7
then we'd be able to switch.
09:14.3
Open them and file charges and eventually deport those who cannot be criminally charged.
09:20.1
And how many clandestine operations are we looking at as of the moment, sir?
09:24.6
At the minimum, Katrina, we've got 58.
09:27.8
And 58 identified illicit offshore gaming operators with their identified locations, buildings, and the like.
09:38.0
But given that we have 58, I'm pretty sure that there are a few more that we have yet to find.
09:44.3
And would it be safe or fair to say that these 58 underground POGOs that we are monitoring
09:52.3
are so far linked to Chinese syndicates?
09:57.5
Yes, a good number of them are.
09:59.9
A good number are linked to Chinese syndicates.
10:02.4
A good number are linked to even Korean syndicates.
10:06.4
So our goal is to be able to operate against all of this,
10:12.1
hopefully eradicate all of this,
10:14.3
all of them by the end of the year with the help of the Philippine National Police.
10:18.4
We can't do this alone.
10:20.1
The Commission can't do this alone.
10:22.0
That's why we are very happy that the Philippine National Police
10:25.5
and the Department of the Interior and local government
10:28.0
headed by Secretary Ben-Hur Avalos was able to create a task force dubbed Schemer.
10:35.7
So with Task Force Schemer, working alongside Task Force Schemer,
10:39.5
the Commission, the Department of Justice, Interagency Council Against Trafficking,
10:44.3
Bureau of Immigration, as well as the Anti-Money Laundering Council,
10:48.9
all of us working together will be able to put an end to these rogue scum farms,
10:54.6
to these rogue POGOs by the end of the year.
10:57.9
We'll do our very best to follow the marching orders of the President.
11:03.2
Alright, sir. Based on your analysis,
11:05.1
why are most of these illegal operators concentrated in Central Luzon and in Metro Manila?
11:14.3
The primary enabling factor, so to speak,
11:18.0
would be their proximity to urban areas with high-speed internet connectivity.
11:24.2
Second is their proximity to the international airports
11:28.8
and other transportation facilities that allows them mobility.
11:33.9
So what you have in Central Luzon is basically the class international airports
11:37.9
that provides them an almost daily access in and out of class.
11:44.3
Now, that's very crucial to them.
11:48.2
That allows them to bring in their foreign workers
11:51.3
and likewise that allows them an exit point when the going gets tough for them.
11:56.2
And so does Metro Manila.
11:57.8
So these are pretty good enabling factors that pushes them towards these particular two locations.
12:08.1
Alright, sir. We saw yesterday that the President received a standing ovation
12:12.7
from legislators.
12:14.3
And other guests in the Batasan Pambansa
12:17.1
when he announced that he is banning all POGOs in the Philippines.
12:21.5
How does this clear directive now affect the PAOCS operations
12:26.2
against offshore gaming operators in the Philippines?
12:29.9
Well, it affects us positively, beneficially,
12:32.9
because now we've got a much better directive,
12:37.6
much clearer directive, I mean,
12:39.8
that would impel not only the Commission
12:42.4
but the other agencies of government
12:43.9
to support the game.
12:44.3
To support our drive against these POGOs.
12:47.4
But mind you, Katrina,
12:50.1
way before the Presidential Directive yesterday with the SONA,
12:54.3
the President to the Executive Secretary
12:56.2
has already given us a Presidential Directive
12:58.7
to be able to go against these rogue POGOs.
13:04.0
So this is not new to us,
13:06.2
but what it basically means for us yesterday is that
13:10.3
this would provide us the necessary support
13:13.9
We require from the different agencies of government.
13:17.5
With this kind of support coming from the President,
13:20.4
do you expect a hike in your budget
13:22.9
for under the 2025 national budget?
13:27.0
Because as we all know,
13:28.0
next week, the DBM is set to submit the NEP to the Congress.
13:34.9
Well, that's something for the policymakers to decide.
13:38.2
That's way above my pay grade.
13:40.4
But of course, it's on our wish list, of course.
13:43.1
So far, how much?
13:43.9
How much does the PAOC have for it to operate?
13:48.2
Well, that is a confidential matter
13:49.9
that I'd like to keep to within the agency, Katrina.
13:52.9
I hope you don't mind.
13:54.0
Yes, I don't mind, sir.
13:55.0
But I also hope you don't mind me asking
13:57.5
how much do you actually need
13:59.3
for you to improve your operations
14:02.0
against these rogue POGOs?
14:04.7
Well, let's look at it this way.
14:07.1
A four-month operation against a POGO operation
14:10.8
with the size of Borac and Bamban
14:12.8
costs the community a lot of money.
14:13.9
I mentioned around 35 million pesos
14:16.1
on a four-month period.
14:17.8
That would involve from the case build-up,
14:21.5
basically the pre-operation phase,
14:23.5
all the way to the deportation phase.
14:25.7
But let me qualify,
14:27.4
now that the People's Republic of China
14:29.6
is handling the deportation costs
14:32.7
of the foreign nationals,
14:33.9
that would significantly decrease
14:37.3
the amount we need
14:38.4
for every operation against POGO hubs.
14:43.9
smaller POGO farm,
14:45.3
say you've got a 2,000 square meter POGO farm
14:49.9
would require a much lower amount for us.
14:54.0
Let's talk about Lin Kide.
14:56.2
Did I pronounce his name correctly?
14:58.2
This is the 40-year-old hacker
14:59.7
recently arrested in La Union.
15:03.7
Lin, how do you pronounce his name again?
15:07.5
I likewise have a great difficulty
15:10.5
pronouncing his name.
15:11.4
Let us just say that the Chinese hacker,
15:13.9
we caught in La Union.
15:15.5
Or let's just call him Mr. Lin.
15:18.0
Okay, let's talk about Mr. Lin here.
15:20.8
What do we know about him so far?
15:22.7
So far, the Bureau of Immigration says
15:25.3
that he is a 40-year-old fugitive.
15:27.6
He is wanted in other countries.
15:30.0
He is a 40-year-old hacker
15:31.7
who was arrested in La Union.
15:34.4
What other information can you provide
15:36.2
about Mr. Lin so far?
15:40.3
The Bureau of Immigration and PAOC
15:43.1
have been running,
15:43.9
running after the fugitives
15:45.7
who were able to escape
15:46.9
from Bamban and Parac.
15:48.7
And we've got a good number
15:50.3
of mission orders
15:51.8
and search warrants,
15:53.7
arrest warrants, I mean,
15:56.1
that we need to serve
15:57.7
against these foreign individuals.
16:01.1
And one of them is Mr. Lin.
16:03.0
Mr. Lin is a fugitive
16:04.3
from the People's Republic of China.
16:06.2
He's got an arrest warrant
16:07.5
that was shared to the Immigration
16:09.3
and to the Commission
16:10.4
by the People's Republic of China
16:13.9
Now, over the weekend,
16:15.5
I think that was late Friday,
16:19.0
we got information
16:21.5
together with a good number
16:22.6
of foreign nationals,
16:23.9
Chinese nationals,
16:25.1
are trying to set up
16:26.3
a new POGO operations
16:30.1
in one of the high-end resorts
16:33.2
So, armed with a mission order,
16:36.7
the Bureau of Immigration,
16:37.7
with the assistance
16:38.6
of the Commission,
16:39.5
with the assistance of PAOC,
16:40.8
went to La Union,
16:42.3
San Fernando, La Union,
16:43.6
if I'm not mistaken,
16:46.6
did a welfare check
16:47.7
of all of the foreign nationals
16:51.3
in that particular resort.
16:53.2
And then, incidentally,
16:54.8
during the service
16:57.0
of the mission order,
16:58.5
during implementation
16:59.5
of the mission order,
17:01.1
we found that Mr. Lin
17:02.5
didn't have his proper documents
17:06.1
and more than that,
17:07.1
he had an outstanding warrant
17:09.0
for the People's Republic of China.
17:11.0
So, we brought him to Manila,
17:13.6
he's now at the Bicutan,
17:15.5
and with the assistance
17:17.9
he will be subjected
17:19.4
in the next few days
17:20.7
to be able to ascertain
17:22.3
his criminal liability
17:23.6
in Philippine jurisdiction.
17:26.5
And I believe that he was found
17:28.7
hiding in a luxury villa resort
17:32.7
in Freeport, La Union.
17:35.1
Should the government
17:37.0
actually impose sanctions
17:39.0
to some accommodations
17:41.8
or other establishments?
17:45.0
certain individuals
17:46.9
who may be linked to Pogos.
17:51.2
we'd like to call on
17:52.8
all of these facilities,
17:57.2
hotel industries,
17:59.2
tourism facilities
18:00.1
in areas that are
18:02.1
within export processing zones,
18:05.2
Freeport and the like.
18:06.4
We hope that they do
18:08.1
more due diligence
18:09.1
in accepting clients
18:18.8
that the president
18:19.5
made mention last night
18:21.0
would not only cover
18:23.5
outside the export processing zones.
18:26.3
Remember, Katrina,
18:28.3
before they became normal
18:29.8
outside within Metro Manila
18:32.0
and other places of the Blue Zone,
18:33.8
they were already operating
18:36.7
in areas controlled
18:38.6
by the Philippine Export Zone Authority,
18:41.7
So they're all over.
18:42.7
They've been all over.
18:43.6
They've been all over the country
18:45.6
export processing zone areas.
18:48.7
that the total banning
18:50.1
of this offshore gaming
18:51.1
would not only cover
18:52.4
Pagco-related sites,
18:55.7
but likewise cover
18:57.1
all of those areas
18:58.3
in these export processing zones.
19:02.8
the president's statement
19:04.1
during his sauna yesterday
19:06.0
to actually be enough
19:07.8
to discourage syndicates
19:09.6
from operating in the Philippines
19:11.2
and actually push them
19:14.5
and find another haven
19:15.7
for their illegal activities?
19:18.0
Well, this would be enough
19:19.1
for a chilling effect
19:20.9
for those who are
19:22.4
not sophisticated
19:29.3
by sophisticated criminal agencies.
19:32.1
The typical money launderers
19:35.2
difficult to operate
19:36.7
now in the Philippines
19:37.9
most of them would pack their bags.
19:45.7
transnational organized
19:47.5
crime syndicates,
19:50.1
I wouldn't presume
19:51.7
that they would simply
19:52.5
pack their bags and go.
19:59.6
and then deported.
20:02.6
we've got our work
20:04.7
but I'm pretty confident
20:08.3
of the Philippine National Police
20:09.6
and the National Bureau
20:10.6
of Investigation,
20:11.9
Department of Justice,
20:13.6
and the other agencies
20:17.4
to neutralize them
20:18.5
given the time period
20:19.7
that the President gave us
20:21.4
the end of the year.
20:23.3
while the President's
20:24.3
anti-phobo policy
20:30.5
if this similar stance
20:32.7
by future administrations.
20:37.2
anti-phobo stance
20:39.7
and more insulated
20:40.9
from political headwinds?
20:41.8
Thank you, Mr. President.
20:42.8
Well, technically,
20:50.4
if a new administration
20:56.7
But what we need now
21:01.1
a better understanding
21:02.8
for the general public
21:04.4
for the other members
21:07.7
to the local government
21:08.8
to simply put out
21:16.0
respective localities
21:18.9
that this particular
21:20.5
offshore gaming operations
21:23.0
do not come back,
21:24.9
resuscitate itself
21:29.4
it's too far off.
21:32.2
into the midterms.
21:33.4
So, let's wait and see.
21:34.9
As the administration
21:36.6
a whole-of-government approach.
21:38.5
thank you so much
21:41.5
PAOK spokesperson,
21:44.5
Thank you, Katrina.
21:46.5
And we will take a quick break.
21:48.5
We'll be right back.
22:05.3
Welcome back to Head Start.
22:07.0
Philippine senators
22:08.7
overwhelming support
22:10.5
by President Marcus Jr.
22:13.0
offshore gaming operators.
22:15.1
Authorities are confident
22:29.6
At over an hour long,
22:31.4
President Ferdinand Marcus Jr.'s
22:32.8
third State of the Nation address
22:36.3
The most applauded part,
22:37.6
his ban on Pogos.
22:39.9
Senator Risa Ontiveros
22:41.1
was prompted to give
22:42.0
the chief executive
22:42.4
a standing ovation.
22:44.3
First time I stood up
22:46.0
to clap for the president.
22:48.6
This one was the first time
22:49.9
for me to stand up
22:51.7
and applaud at a sauna
22:55.6
disisyon laban sa Pogo.
22:57.7
I was very relieved
22:59.0
and of course very glad
23:00.5
kasi there was a certain point
23:05.4
and incredulous ako na
23:08.3
ano, hindi niya babanggitin
23:12.3
biglang sa huli pala,
23:13.9
malaking tagumpay ngayong araw
23:15.7
sa mga babae at bata
23:20.8
tagumpay sa mga whistleblowers
23:22.9
na nagsumbong tungkol sa Pogo.
23:25.3
His man and the Philippine Amusements
23:27.0
and Gaming Corporation
23:28.8
despite concerns it will lead
23:30.4
to the proliferation of illegal Pogos
23:32.5
and the displacement of workers.
23:34.3
I think what's very clear,
23:35.4
the president has already spoken.
23:37.6
Meron tayo hindi kitukuwa
23:39.6
para ating gambaran
23:41.3
at ating gambaran
23:47.2
pagpatuloy pa ang Pogo.
23:50.9
Ang concern ko talaga
23:52.0
yung mga trabaho doon
23:54.3
na mawawala ng hanap buhay.
23:56.8
yung mga ibang negosyo
23:58.7
na nakakabit sa mga Pogo.
24:03.0
called it one of the best parts
24:05.1
while Senator Sherwin Gatchalian
24:06.6
who has been advocating
24:08.0
for the eradication of Pogos
24:09.6
couldn't agree more.
24:15.5
at ito yung masasabi natin
24:18.4
na magbibigay ng katahimikan
24:21.1
at kayusan sa ating bansa.
24:22.8
House Ways and Means Committee
24:24.0
Chair Joey Salceda
24:25.1
points out that the president's decision
24:26.7
affects his own office
24:28.3
because PagCorp emits money
24:30.0
to the office of the president.
24:31.6
The curious there is that
24:33.3
Pogo is just part of a
24:34.9
small part of a bigger Pag
24:38.3
which is the Internet Gaming
24:41.7
That's 43 billion
24:43.6
or 43% of PagCorp.
24:45.8
The president's assertions
24:46.9
on territorial integrity
24:48.1
also garnered resounding approval
24:50.1
from the audience.
24:51.2
Ang tagal kong hinihinta yun eh.
24:53.2
Sa simula, sa gitna,
24:54.7
hanggang doon sa bandang huli.
24:55.9
So yun pala yung mga last jolts
24:59.0
and nagkaroon di umano
25:00.7
ng exchange of diplomatic notes.
25:02.9
Matatag pa rin yung posisyon
25:07.0
hindi natin ibibigay
25:08.8
yung ating pag-aari.
25:10.9
ilahad yung nilalaman
25:14.0
ng diplomatic notes
25:16.9
doon sa pagpapayag
25:18.3
ng pagpasok natin
25:21.1
para mag-resupply.
25:22.2
Other parts of the sonnet
25:23.7
that received applause
25:24.6
were his pronouncements
25:26.2
and his administration's
25:27.6
bloodless campaign
25:28.4
against illegal drugs.
25:29.8
What really struck me
25:31.6
was the latter half,
25:37.2
the political aspect.
25:46.7
of his predecessor
25:49.4
particularly the policies
25:53.1
of his predecessor
25:54.3
President Rodrigo Duterte.
25:56.3
His approach to the drug war
25:58.0
which he claimed to be bloodless.
25:59.9
Former Senator Panfilo Lacson
26:01.3
praised the President
26:03.0
on what is right and wrong.
26:04.9
House Deputy Minority Leader
26:06.8
however scored the sauna
26:08.1
for not saying anything
26:10.1
the entry level of drugs.
26:10.9
While Gabriela Wimens
26:13.2
part of this representative
26:15.0
found the speech lacking
26:18.0
Very generalizations
26:22.4
Kung hindi mo talaga
26:23.1
gagawin yun ng programa,
26:25.4
at kung ano-ano pa,
26:35.1
The Philippine Interior
26:36.3
Secretary debunks
26:38.2
supposedly showing
26:39.2
President Marcos Jr.'s
26:40.3
sniffing cocaine.
26:42.1
Secretary Benjur Abalos
26:43.3
dismissed it as a deep fake
26:46.3
destabilization attempt
26:47.6
against the President.
26:49.3
Abalos has ordered
26:50.3
the Philippine National Police
26:53.3
and spread the video.
26:56.6
Maigi ang tenga rito.
27:06.3
yung ano bang tawag nito
27:10.3
tignan nyo yung nasa kanan.
27:17.5
The Philippine Defense Secretary
27:22.6
of a destabilization plot
27:24.2
against the government.
27:27.8
And we're now joined
27:28.9
by political scientist
27:32.0
Thanks for joining us.
27:34.0
Hi, good morning.
27:35.4
Thank you for having me today.
27:37.3
what are your impressions
27:38.3
on the President's
27:43.9
a markedly different
27:45.3
state of the nation
27:46.7
address for Bongbong.
27:49.8
his take on the Pobo
27:53.2
on the West Philippine Sea issue
27:54.6
was really celebrated
27:56.1
yesterday, right?
27:58.0
But I also think that
27:59.4
it's quite apparent
28:02.0
that the President
28:03.9
he has popularity issues now
28:06.6
has to really stress
28:08.0
what his government
28:10.3
What he plans to do
28:11.3
on fish and rice issues.
28:14.3
the issue on the price of rice,
28:16.3
the prices of food,
28:17.3
it was repeatedly mentioned
28:19.3
in this particular address.
28:22.3
state of the nation address
28:25.3
to actually rescue
28:27.3
or at least respond
28:29.3
to popularity issues.
28:33.3
I also observe that,
28:36.3
there's less ambition
28:37.3
in this state of the nation address.
28:39.8
If you compare it
28:40.8
to his previous addresses.
28:42.8
or this is more or less
28:47.8
facing the realities
28:49.8
and how difficult
28:50.8
that is in a country
28:53.8
The President started
28:55.8
by directly hitting
28:57.8
the number one criticism
28:59.8
against his administration,
29:02.8
his administration's
29:04.8
to tame and combat inflation.
29:06.8
And then he ended
29:08.8
with a standing evasion.
29:15.8
as one of the strongest SONAs
29:18.8
in recent history?
29:23.8
what other observers
29:25.8
and that in public conversations
29:26.8
it's being referred to
29:27.8
as a really strong
29:28.8
state of the nation address.
29:31.8
I would beg to differ though.
29:34.8
because it's peppered
29:38.8
populist-nationalist rhetoric,
29:39.8
meaning it's always tempting
29:41.8
to and find comfort in,
29:46.8
we will stand our ground
29:47.8
in the West Philippine Sea
29:51.8
We are banning all pogos.
29:53.8
But I think it's lacking
29:57.8
on the West Philippine Sea
29:59.8
because this has been
30:00.8
an ongoing issue with China.
30:02.8
This has been an ongoing problem
30:06.8
I didn't really hear
30:08.8
and I really wanted to hear
30:12.8
the kind of like,
30:13.8
is there a development
30:14.8
in how the Philippine government
30:16.8
is approaching this,
30:19.8
our external defense?
30:20.8
What are the actual investments
30:22.8
and what are the actual
30:23.8
strategic directions
30:24.8
that the government will take?
30:26.8
Is there going to be a change
30:28.8
or are we going to continue
30:30.8
our transparency approach, right?
30:34.8
Supporting international allies,
30:36.8
whenever there is an incident
30:38.8
in the West Philippine Sea.
30:43.8
what we are experiencing
30:45.8
and what we have witnessed last night
30:47.8
is still really the effect
30:50.8
the rally around the flag effect, right?
30:54.8
on a fighting note
30:58.8
are really quite popular.
31:01.8
So I think we felt comforted, right?
31:06.8
That the president shares our stand,
31:10.8
our position on these particular issues
31:12.8
and therefore he's,
31:13.8
you know, he's being celebrated for that.
31:15.8
Please, before we talk about
31:16.8
some of the issues one by one,
31:18.8
before we dissect into these,
31:20.8
let's first talk about the strategy
31:21.8
of this current administration
31:23.8
to keep the SONA speech very short
31:25.8
and then hold more in-depth details
31:29.8
and talks coming from
31:32.8
secretaries, cabinet members
31:34.8
in the next one or two days.
31:36.8
What do you make out of that strategy?
31:38.8
Is that actually a good strategy
31:40.8
and should future administrations
31:45.8
Well, I do miss the time
31:49.8
the president's address
31:51.8
is complemented with a technical report, right?
31:54.8
And was, you know,
31:55.8
and this is immediately
31:56.8
also made available to the public, right?
31:59.8
Because the challenge here
32:00.8
is that of course
32:01.8
we expect the president
32:04.8
highlight the achievements
32:06.8
in terms of like the numbers,
32:08.8
in terms of the projects, right?
32:10.8
But to be able to really appreciate
32:13.8
the context and be able to assess
32:15.8
whether the administration
32:18.8
has done a good job,
32:19.8
whether it was able to reach its target,
32:22.8
we really have to see those
32:24.8
technical elements as well, right?
32:27.8
So, yeah, I think on the one hand,
32:30.8
it's good that the address is,
32:32.8
you know, short and straightforward.
32:35.8
And delivered really
32:37.8
in a way that is, you know, clear.
32:40.8
And, you know, the president
32:41.8
is quite articulate yesterday, right?
32:43.8
But on the other hand,
32:45.8
I also think that
32:47.8
because the audience of the SONA
32:49.8
is not just the broader public in general,
32:52.8
but also key sectors in our society, right?
32:55.8
And even the international community, right?
32:59.8
So, more action plans
33:02.8
would have been appreciated, I think.
33:04.8
And I think given, you know,
33:07.8
and how the speech was delivered,
33:08.8
I think there's still some space, right?
33:11.8
For the president to flesh out
33:13.8
actually policy details,
33:14.8
especially on issues that are actually
33:16.8
really significant and important at present.
33:19.8
So, I've already mentioned
33:21.8
the West Philippine Sea,
33:22.8
but also on Pogo, right?
33:24.8
He did give a marching order
33:26.8
to DOLE to make sure that
33:28.8
between, you know, yesterday
33:30.8
and the end of the year
33:32.8
that there will be
33:33.8
some programs regarding those
33:35.8
who will lose their livelihood
33:37.8
with the banning of the Pogo, right?
33:39.8
But that's the only detail
33:42.8
that we got, right?
33:44.8
So, yeah, I'm still wondering
33:46.8
up until now, right?
33:47.8
I think most of the conversations
33:49.8
we're having is that
33:50.8
how is this really going to be implemented, right?
33:52.8
Will this really be a blanket policy?
33:55.8
Will this be a top-down approach?
33:57.8
So, yeah, I would have appreciated
33:59.8
more details on that.
34:00.8
And I think there's still
34:02.8
for the President to talk about
34:04.8
these details of his policy pronouncements.
34:06.8
Alright, so with all these observations,
34:08.8
how would you rate
34:09.8
the President's sauna yesterday
34:11.8
on a scale of 1 to 10?
34:13.8
On a scale of 1 to 10,
34:14.8
10 being the highest,
34:16.8
I think this is on a 7.
34:18.8
Especially that we came from,
34:21.8
you know, I think
34:23.8
the time of President Duterte
34:26.8
was quite traumatic for those who
34:28.8
are really observing
34:29.8
the state of the nation at this.
34:32.8
So, it seems though
34:33.8
that the President,
34:35.8
actually did good
34:36.8
on his promise of unity
34:37.8
because yesterday,
34:38.8
we saw even opposition figures
34:40.8
joining that standing ovation.
34:42.8
But what's ironic is
34:44.8
the person who was beside him
34:46.8
when he promised unity
34:47.8
during the election campaigns
34:51.8
What do you make out of that
34:53.8
of Vice President Sara Duterte's refusal,
34:57.8
not just to attend the sauna,
34:58.8
but to even watch the sauna
35:00.8
from the comforts of her office
35:07.8
when I saw that statement,
35:08.8
that was like a couple of hours
35:10.8
before the sauna.
35:13.8
it's really a declaration
35:15.8
that the election season is upon us
35:18.8
and it's really now open season
35:20.8
for negative campaigns,
35:23.8
political mudslinging,
35:24.8
and even those kind of like
35:28.8
Underhanded dinks, right?
35:30.8
So the Vice President,
35:32.8
she didn't have to issue that statement
35:34.8
that she wouldn't be watching the sauna.
35:37.8
I remember that the statement said that
35:40.8
not even from any of,
35:41.8
you know, any gadgets.
35:42.8
So she wouldn't really watch the sauna
35:45.8
even remotely, right?
35:46.8
So it's a very strong statement
35:48.8
and I think this is really just proof
35:50.8
that the UNITEAM coalition
35:53.8
is not just over,
35:55.8
there's not just a collapse
35:56.8
in the coalition,
35:57.8
but they're now political enemies.
35:59.8
I think it's pretty clear now.
36:03.8
And you're right.
36:05.8
If you will recall
36:08.8
the address of the President,
36:10.8
there's marked absence
36:13.8
of the unity rhetoric
36:15.8
that used to be so prominent
36:18.8
in the President's speech, right?
36:21.8
Even the Bagong Pilipinas
36:22.8
has taken a backseat
36:24.8
in terms of how its use
36:26.8
is a rhetorical device.
36:31.8
there were no direct digs
36:33.8
on the Vice President.
36:35.8
She was not mentioned.
36:36.8
The relationship,
36:38.8
the breakdown in the relationship
36:40.8
with the President
36:41.8
wasn't really touched upon as well.
36:44.8
So, which is expected
36:47.8
given, you know, what we know
36:48.8
about the character of the President
36:50.8
in terms of handling
36:51.8
these political issues.
36:53.8
But I think he also knows
36:54.8
that the collapse of the UNITEAM
36:56.8
and this, you know,
36:58.8
now that he cannot really deliver
36:59.8
the promise of the unity,
37:02.8
unpopular development, right?
37:04.8
And I think they also know
37:06.8
that this is driving
37:07.8
a decrease in public support
37:10.8
but also the Vice President.
37:12.8
So I think it's a good idea
37:14.8
that he really did not touch on it.
37:17.8
But as a citizen,
37:19.8
I'm also quite disappointed
37:20.8
because it's a major development
37:21.8
that the Vice President
37:23.8
and that the coalition
37:25.8
that he sold the country
37:27.8
is no longer present.
37:29.8
So I would also have appreciated
37:31.8
some comments on the part
37:33.8
on how he wants to move forward.
37:35.8
But admittedly, of course,
37:38.8
I think that's an unreasonable expectation
37:42.8
given what we know
37:43.8
about President Marcos.
37:44.8
He rarely directly comments
37:46.8
on these kinds of issues.
37:48.8
He's quite averse to frictions,
37:51.8
not only with his critics
37:53.8
but even with his allies.
37:55.8
Aside from Vice President,
37:58.8
other noticeable absentees
38:00.8
during the third SONA
38:02.8
of President Marcos Jr.
38:03.8
were Duterte loyalists
38:05.8
and Davaoano Sen. Bong Go
38:07.8
and Ronald Batod de la Rosa.
38:10.8
What kind of message does this send?
38:13.8
I think just like what I said,
38:18.8
the UNY team is not just over.
38:21.8
They're now enemies, right?
38:23.8
Political enemies.
38:25.8
And as an observer,
38:27.8
I actually expected
38:28.8
that this term SONA
38:30.8
will actually be used
38:32.8
as a campaign speech
38:33.8
for the 2025 midterm elections.
38:36.8
I was expecting that
38:37.8
we would try to highlight
38:39.8
or give prominence
38:44.8
of his supposed Senate State,
38:48.8
for example, right?
38:49.8
But it didn't come.
38:51.8
It was surprisingly tame
38:53.8
because, you know,
38:54.8
because he had the opportunity
38:56.8
to make it a partisan event as well, right?
38:59.8
Or to soft launch, for example,
39:01.8
his Senate's name.
39:02.8
He did not do that.
39:05.8
some of the Duterte-allied Senators,
39:08.8
including Senator Bong Go,
39:10.8
would have expected
39:11.8
that that would have happened,
39:13.8
that that is a possibility,
39:16.8
and hence that might explain
39:19.8
his absence, right?
39:21.8
Because traditionally,
39:22.8
that's also the purpose
39:23.8
of the State of the Nation address
39:25.8
prior to the midterm elections.
39:29.8
I think it's because
39:32.8
the administration is in this awkward position
39:36.8
that they are quite aware
39:38.8
that they have popularity issues
39:41.8
and that they have serious issues to address.
39:44.8
I think they have decided
39:45.8
to really face those issues
39:51.8
before actually going forward
39:53.8
in a campaign mode.
39:54.8
So that's probably for the better as well
39:56.8
for the Marcos administration.
39:59.8
And speaking of strategies,
40:01.8
let's now talk about the deepfake video
40:04.8
of the President allegedly using cocaine.
40:07.8
How effective was that
40:08.8
in actually throwing shade
40:10.8
and stealing the spotlight from the President?
40:15.8
It wasn't successful.
40:17.8
I think that's the first thing
40:18.8
that we should say, right?
40:20.8
It wasn't successful.
40:23.8
a very deliberate attempt
40:26.8
to actually, as you've said,
40:28.8
steal the spotlight from the President.
40:30.8
It was released on the day
40:31.8
of the State of the Nation address.
40:33.8
So all eyes are on the President.
40:37.8
if they succeeded,
40:39.8
it would have been a really big issue
40:45.8
for the administration
40:46.8
and it would have really overshadowed
40:48.8
whatever the President declared, right?
40:55.8
because I'm also taking a look
40:59.8
I'm not an expert on deepfake
41:01.8
and these kinds of technologies, right?
41:03.8
It appears that according to the notes
41:05.8
of some experts that I have seen,
41:08.8
this one is fake.
41:10.8
It's unlikely to be
41:13.8
the true video of the President, right?
41:18.8
But I think the context here is that
41:21.8
the 2025 election season is upon us
41:25.8
it's really open season
41:26.8
for all political players
41:28.8
to do negative campaignings,
41:30.8
political mudslinging,
41:31.8
and to resort to,
41:35.8
a really big problem now
41:37.8
in Philippine politics,
41:39.8
which is disinformation, right?
41:40.8
The use of this informative context,
41:43.8
fake news, deepfakes,
41:44.8
and the likes, right?
41:45.8
And what I want to say here
41:49.8
is that, of course,
41:50.8
the President is now at the,
41:53.8
is now sort of like the victim, right?
41:55.8
Is now at the end of this particular
41:58.8
disinformative campaign, right?
42:02.8
and the Vice President's campaign
42:06.8
according to many research,
42:08.8
really benefited a lot
42:10.8
from disinformation campaigns as well, right?
42:13.8
So now they're also experiencing
42:16.8
and getting a taste
42:17.8
of their own campaign strategy.
42:19.8
So it's the boomerang
42:21.8
hitting them back.
42:23.8
I think it also deserves
42:25.8
to be noted and mentioned
42:27.8
that the administration,
42:29.8
particularly the DILG and the DND,
42:31.8
were quite quick to dismiss the video,
42:35.8
to debunk the video.
42:36.8
That kind of strategy,
42:37.8
I think, played well
42:39.8
for the President.
42:40.8
Instead of them just being passive,
42:42.8
waiting for media to ask for interviews
42:45.8
or to ask for statements,
42:47.8
they actually mounted a press conference
42:48.8
and even uploaded a video
42:51.8
of the National Defense Secretary
42:53.8
saying that there is
42:54.8
a destabilization attempt
42:56.8
against the administration.
42:58.8
Now, all these developments, Cleve,
43:00.8
makes you wonder,
43:01.8
makes one wonder,
43:02.8
how deep the fissures are
43:04.8
between the President
43:05.8
and his Vice President.
43:07.8
My final question
43:08.8
to wrap up this interview,
43:09.8
what should the Philippines expect
43:11.8
in the next two months
43:13.8
in the run-up to the filing
43:14.8
of the certificates of candidacy
43:15.8
for the 2025 elections?
43:18.8
Yeah, I think if there's any indication
43:22.8
of how the battle lines,
43:28.8
will be drawn in the coming months,
43:31.8
I think we are getting a preview,
43:38.8
in the yesterday's address, right?
43:43.8
It's looking like this administration
43:45.8
will really distinguish themselves
43:47.8
from their political rivals,
43:50.8
with three issues.
43:52.8
How they're handling
43:53.8
the anti-drug campaign,
43:55.8
how they're handling
43:56.8
the West Philippine Sea issue,
43:58.8
and the banning of the hobo.
44:01.8
So, nothing on unity now.
44:04.8
You know, even Bago Pilipinas
44:06.8
may play a secondary role
44:08.8
in the rhetoric of the President now.
44:12.8
I think these will be
44:13.8
the lines that will be drawn
44:15.8
by the Marcos administration.
44:16.8
And they are allies.
44:19.8
Because if you will look
44:21.8
at the economic policies
44:23.8
and what was discussed
44:24.8
on the economic side,
44:26.8
there's really not much controversy
44:28.8
among our different political players
44:30.8
of these particular economic policies, right?
44:33.8
For example, price importation,
44:36.8
but also trying to give priority
44:39.8
to our local agricultural production, right?
44:42.8
Emphasis on building infrastructure,
44:45.8
even the use of the four Ps
44:48.8
or the conditional cash transfers, right?
44:50.8
As a poverty reduction mechanism, right?
44:54.8
So, there's really not much disagreement
44:57.8
on these particular policy issues.
44:59.8
But the three that I've mentioned,
45:00.8
drug war, the West Philippine Sea,
45:03.8
it appears that the campaigns
45:04.8
were centered around this.
45:06.8
And this is also the issues
45:07.8
that the Marcos can really distinguish themselves
45:14.8
from the Dutertes,
45:16.8
because the Dutertes
45:17.8
have a really completely different take
45:20.8
on these issues, right?
45:23.8
I also want to say that
45:25.8
I think what's also probably not being highlighted
45:29.8
in public conversation so far
45:31.8
that I think the banning of the hobo
45:33.8
is not just an innocent policy declaration
45:39.8
on the part of the president, right?
45:41.8
I could also see it
45:43.8
heating so many birds actually
45:45.8
with just one stone, right?
45:47.8
I think that somehow,
45:49.8
again, as I've said,
45:51.8
what we're seeing is that
45:52.8
there's a trajectory of decline
45:55.8
in the public support for the president
45:57.8
and they know that that has to be arrested.
46:00.8
They know that the banning of the hobo
46:02.8
is an issue that has popular demand.
46:05.8
And I think that the president,
46:06.8
given these considerations,
46:08.8
was cornered into policy declarations.
46:12.8
He may have feared or...
46:16.8
Just very quickly,
46:17.8
we just have to insert and point out
46:19.8
that the president actually underscored
46:22.8
that his administration was quite successful
46:25.8
in underscoring and in proving
46:28.8
that there is no need to kill anyone
46:30.8
just to curb the illegal drug rate.
46:34.8
Well, it's very true
46:36.8
that we now have less drug killings,
46:39.8
but to completely say, for example,
46:41.8
what I remember is that the president
46:43.8
called it a bloodless war on drugs
46:46.8
and that there is no place for extermination
46:50.8
in the anti-drug campaign of Malacanang.
46:53.8
I think that it's quite premature to declare
46:56.8
that this is really a complete success
46:59.8
and achievement, right?
47:01.8
those who are still monitoring
47:02.8
the number of drug-related killings
47:05.8
found out that at least 700 people were killed
47:10.8
as far as I know.
47:11.8
That's a lot of drug-related killings
47:13.8
in the Marcos anti-drug campaign
47:15.8
in his first two years in power.
47:17.8
That's still a high number.
47:20.8
We've also not heard from the president
47:23.8
about, for example,
47:24.8
the status of seeking justice and accountability,
47:29.8
for the many victims
47:30.8
of the previous administration's drug war.
47:34.8
I know that, you know,
47:35.8
some people might say that,
47:36.8
oh, that's not his drug war.
47:38.8
That's true, but it is responsibility now.
47:41.8
To a proper anti-drug campaign,
47:44.8
to a rehabilitative approach
47:46.8
to anti-drug campaign,
47:48.8
he must also seek justice for those.
47:50.8
I also note that there were only few cases
47:56.8
that was filed against state agents
47:59.8
as part of the deterred drug war,
48:01.8
and most of it were closed
48:03.8
without even the filing of a criminal complaint.
48:08.8
So I think there's a lot
48:09.8
that the Marcos government
48:10.8
can actually do to put action
48:13.8
and to put really money
48:15.8
into the words that they're claiming
48:18.8
that they have a new approach
48:19.8
to the war on drugs.
48:21.8
And the big question remains,
48:22.8
will the president actually have the guts
48:25.8
to go after former president
48:29.8
the architect and perpetrator
48:31.8
of the drug war here in the Philippines?
48:33.8
We will have to wait and see
48:34.8
what happens next.
48:35.8
Again, thank you so much
48:36.8
for joining us this morning,
48:37.8
political scientist Cleve Arguelles.
48:40.8
Thank you, Kat, and good morning.
48:43.8
And moving on with more news,
48:45.8
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris
48:47.8
seeking to reset the Democratic campaign.
48:50.8
Harris made a stop in Washington, D.C.
48:52.8
for her first public appearance
48:54.8
since launching her White House bid.
48:57.8
There, she praised U.S. President
48:59.8
Joe Biden's leadership
49:00.8
and the work he's done
49:02.8
in the past three years.
49:06.8
Joe Biden's legacy of accomplishment
49:08.8
over the past three years
49:09.8
is unmatched in modern history.
49:12.8
In one term, he has already
49:15.8
Yes, you may clap.
49:21.8
In one term, he has already surpassed
49:25.8
the legacy of most presidents
49:27.8
who have served two terms in office.
49:29.8
And I first came to know President Biden
49:32.8
through his son, Beau.
49:33.8
We worked together as attorneys general
49:36.8
and back then, Beau would often tell me
49:39.8
stories about his dad.
49:41.8
His honesty, his integrity,
49:44.8
his commitment to his faith
49:51.8
deep love of our country.
49:53.8
And I am first-hand witness
49:58.8
our President Joe Biden fights
50:00.8
for the American people,
50:02.8
and we are deeply, deeply grateful
50:04.8
for his service to our nation.
50:07.8
Biden's departure
50:08.8
was the latest shock
50:10.8
to a White House race
50:11.8
that included the near assassination
50:14.8
during a campaign stop in Pennsylvania.
50:19.8
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris
50:21.8
is making strides
50:22.8
in what U.S. President Joe Biden failed to do,
50:24.8
unite Democrats in the race
50:26.8
for the White House.
50:27.8
Her latest endorsement,
50:29.8
coming from former House Speaker
50:32.8
Pelosi played a leading role
50:34.8
in persuading Biden to step aside
50:36.8
as concerns over his ability
50:38.8
to beat Donald Trump grew
50:40.8
after their debate last month.
50:42.8
The Vice President's campaign said
50:44.8
it raised $81 million in just 24 hours
50:47.8
since Harris announced her White House bid.
50:50.8
The massive haul represents
50:52.8
the largest 24-hour sum
50:54.8
reported by either side
50:56.8
in the 2024 campaign.
51:00.8
Over now to the Capitol Hill,
51:01.8
as House Republicans and Democrats
51:03.8
take a rare united stand.
51:05.8
Both sides of the political aisle
51:07.8
are calling on U.S. Secret Service Director
51:10.8
to resign over security failures
51:13.8
that led to the assassination attempt
51:15.8
on Donald Trump in Pennsylvania last week.
51:19.8
the Republican chairperson
51:20.8
of the House Oversight Committee,
51:22.8
and top Democrat Jamie Raskin,
51:25.8
who are bitterly divided
51:27.8
called on the Civil Service chief
51:32.8
the Secret Service chief to step down.
51:35.8
But she repeatedly rebuffed
51:37.8
on the resignation calls.
52:07.8
At a very urgent and tender moment
52:10.8
in the history of the country
52:12.8
and we need to very quickly
52:14.8
move beyond this.
52:16.8
Despite her refusal to step down,
52:18.8
the Secret Service chief admitted
52:20.8
she and the agency failed to do their job.
52:24.8
The Secret Service's solemn mission
52:26.8
is to protect our nation's leaders.
52:29.8
On July 13th, we failed.
52:32.8
As a director of the United States Secret Service,
52:35.8
I take full responsibility
52:37.8
for any security lapse of our agency.
52:40.8
We are fully cooperating
52:42.8
with ongoing investigations.
52:44.8
We must learn what happened
52:46.8
and I will move heaven and earth
52:48.8
to ensure that an incident like July 13th
52:50.8
does not happen again.
52:56.8
And that's Head Start today.
52:57.8
I'm Katrina Domingo.
52:58.8
Thank you for watching.
52:59.8
You can play back this episode
53:00.8
on the ANC YouTube channel.
53:02.8
Stay informed and stay with ANC.
53:07.8
Thank you for watching!
