Presidential aspirant Lacson confronted Boy Abunda’s tough questions head-on, earning him rave praises online.
Boy Abunda’s series of one-on-one interviews on Presidentiables started on a high note, with the aspirant, Ping Lacson, pulling off the questions thrown at him with confidence and ease.
The seasoned journalist asked the senator a set of 10 questions about various national concerns, including the environment, the pandemic, national budget, and even the qualifications of his rivals. On YouTube, more than 50,000 concurrent live viewers on The Boy Abunda Talk Channel, and rave praises for the presidentiable ruled the social media platform, Twitter, where the hashtag #BoyAbundaInterviews became a trending topic.
On mining and environmental concerns.
Abunda reminded Lacson of Duterte’s move to lift the nine-year moratorium on new mining agreements. He was asked whether or not his government will keep the previous government’s choice, to which he responded with an assertion of responsible mining. He took note that mining can not be eliminated in the country as it is currently one of the biggest revenue-makers.
He then called out small-scale mining where most of the violations are made. He said any action or decision to undertake, about mining must be data-driven. “Maski anong endeavor natin, hindi lang mining, dapat data-driven at science-based…’ he asserted.
The Senator agreed that the move to lift the moratorium was valid and timely, but called for responsible operations and noted that bureaucratic standardization must be carried out to avoid corruption. ‘Practice what you preach’, he said, noting that leadership by example must prevail to successfully carry out such standardization.
On COVID 19 response.
Lacson promises his government will be proactive in dealing with the pandemic. Abunda brought to the discussion table the harrowing pandemic numbers—number of cases and deaths, livelihoods lost, number of variants—and asked how his government will handle the unpredictability and viciousness of the virus.
Lacson noted the lack of foresight in Duterte’s pandemic response that he believed have allowed the fast spreading of the virus.
‘Kailangan mag-anticipate, and put the right persons sa tamang posisyon’ he said, and asserted that skill-matching must be carried out.
He then reminded the viewers of PhilHealth which he believed must be headed by either a medical professional or a finance man. ‘Bakit retired army general?’ he quipped.
On poverty incidence.
Boy Abunda cited figures about poverty incidence and unemployment in the country from various sources (SWS, Pulse Asia), and asked what Ping will do assuming he ascended to Presidency. The Senator answered by noting ‘corruption’ as largely the cause of the suffering of the Filipino people. “…sa halip na magastos ang pera ng gobyerno sa social services, livelihood, infrastructure, napupunta sa bulsa ng iilan” he said and asserted that some programs like 4Ps can be continued but must be modified to deliver long-term solutions.
He also argued that proper implementation must be done to make sure that government does not incur unused budget, noting the presence of such is a glaring suggestion of a government’s failure to address issues like hunger and poverty.
On migrant Filipinos and OFW remittances.
Lacson believed that government intervention is needed to avoid what Abunda explained as an ‘unquantifiable social cause that destroys Filipino families’. This is about the repercussions of the exploding number of migrant Filipinos overseas, in the wake of the rising poverty incidence in the Philippines. The presidential aspirant noted the lack of retirement programs intended for OFWs when they come home, while he commanded the passing of the law that creates the Department of Migrant Workers.
“Ang babantayan natin, ‘yung implementation…” he said, noting that while there have been laws passed in the past meant to address chronic OFW issues, a proper and strong implementation was never carried out. The senator pointed out that the government must promote local industry and expand incentive programs to invite Filipino workers to stay in the Philippines.
On cyber-pornography and social media misuse.
When asked his government will tackle problems arising from social media misuse, Lacson was prompt to say that his government will tap the opinions of experts, thereby enforcing again his assertion on a data-driven and science-based policies. Abunda’s question is linked to the rising cases of teenagers becoming addicted to online pornography, and the latest statistics from the adult-streaming porn site, PornHub, which named the Philippines as its top consumer, in terms of length spent on the site.
‘...dapat may alarm bell na ito sa mga awtoridad” he suggested, asserting that resources must be tapped and the help of skill-based personnel must be enlisted to provide a proactive solution on the issue. Lacson believed that the Pornhub statistics are linked to the rising cases of Filipinos getting molested, and that the successful examples of other countries must be duplicated to achieve similar results.
On rape-related abortion.
The discussion on sexual abuse and abortion was brought to the table. Abunda specifically asked Lacson comments on rape-induced abortion in the country, which, as the data he provided showed, are a major cause of deaths in young Filipino women. Abunda asked what Lacson would do on the proposition that seeks to legalized abortion, in the country.
Lacson was honest by saying, he lacks foresight and needs to see data first. “Kailangang malaman natin ano ‘yung far-reaching implication, sa babaeng narape at hindi puwedeng magp-abort” he said, as he demanded for the long-term consequences that should be first studied based on relevant data. The senator suggested that the government must draft programs to ensure that children born out of rape are taken care of, assuming their mothers opted to not choose abortion. The answer is the senator’s response to Abunda’s query about which one should decide who will live between the mother and child if both lives are endangered because of the delivery.
On drug war and drug-related problems.
Lacson argued that the Philippines isn’t a Narco country yet. This is after Abunda recited President Duterte’s words where he admitted his failure to eliminate illegal drugs in the country. “Hindi pa tayo Colombia, Mexico…malayo pa ‘tayo” the senator told Abunda, but acknowledged Duterte’s failure and noted the President’s self-imposed deadline, which made him implausible.
Lacson said the Duterte’s government fixed its lens on law enforcement, that it forgot prevention and rehabilitation, as the two other major components in making the drug war a success. He also noted chronic practices at the Bureau of Customs and other related agencies must be eliminated to ensure the task will work.
On Philippine debt.
Abunda enumerated the figures of the country’s rising debt through the past presidencies until Duterte’s, and asked Lacson, what his programs will he institute to pay them.
‘Ibalance ang budget..kung ano lang ang pangangailangan para umandar ang ekonomiya at makapagbigay tayo ng social services at livelihood, ‘yun lang dapat” he asserted, reminding how government budget rose from PhP800 billion during Arroyo’s time to the currently-proposed PhP5 trillion of Duterte’s government. He then suggested that certain budget reforms must be carried out, and make sure corruption in various government agencies must be eliminated. Those are undeniably great suggestions, but frankly, that didn’t quite answer what his government will specifically do about paying our ballooning national debt.
On the West Philippine Sea dispute.
Senator Lacson does not agree that the Philippines is prepared to wage defensive military war against China, should efforts to carry out peaceful diplomatic protests fail, concerning the country’s territorial brawl with Beijing. He then argued that alliances with strong nations must be first fulfilled to ensure that the country is ready if war becomes inevitable. He also said the joint military exercises with strong military countries like the United States, the European Union, and Australia, to intimidate China.
Lacson acknowledged the importance of The Hague ruling in our assertion over the West Philippine Sea, saying “…permanent yan eh, kaya lang hindi enforceable”.
On his qualifications as President.
Abunda asked Lacson why the Filipinos should not vote for other candidates like Robredo, Pacquiao, Moreno, and Marcos. He gave a simple one liner “…dahil tumatakbo ako”. This is after Abunda enumerated the qualifications set by the Philippine constitution, and the gargantuan responsibilities awaiting for anyone elected to occupy the highest seat in the land.
Lacson also noted that amendments must be introduced to the present minimum constitutionally-mandated qualifications for Presidentiables, arguing “…dapat itaas ang standard”. In the end, when asked why he deserves the vote, he reminded the voters that he is ”…the most qualified, the most competent and the most experienced”
On former President Estrada and his decision to leave.
Lacson told Abunda that he did not regret his decision to abandon Estrada when EDSA Dos exploded, saying…”…nakita ko yung the purest of intentions, but somewhere along the way, when he became the President, maraming mga nagbago”. He noted the many times he warned the ousted leader about the possible repercussions of his government’s choice to allow jueteng and the jueteng lords to thrive. “If he listened, siguro hindi siya na EDSA Dos” he recalled.
On the Philippines’ withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Lacson expressed his intent to allow prosecutors from the International Criminal Court to commence their investigation, about the alleged human rights abuses in the wake of Duterte’s Drug War. The senator emphasized that the ICC is the ‘court of the powerless’, and thus must be allowed to do their work.
‘Gobyerno ang problema, gobyerno din ang solusyon’
Lacson believed that the biggest problem his government and constituents will be facing is the government, that’s why certain reforms must be carried out to turn things around. In the interview, he repeatedly assured his intent to create a government that primarily bases its decisions and policies on facts, science, and data. Although it remains vague as to how specifically will he be able to pull this off, there is a promise. That should keep the hopes up of those who believe in him, that an intelligent and fact-based presidency is just around the corner.
