KAREN DAVILA (KD): All right, joining us on a Hot Copy we have Senator Chiz Escudero. Senator Escudero, good morning to you.
SENATOR CHIZ ESCUDERO (CHIZ): Hi Karen, good morning. Sa lahat ng televiewers natin, magandang umaga rin. Good morning.
KD: All right, before we conduct the interview, I’d like first to run a clip that you posted on your Instagram over the weekend. This is a clip from the Philippine Economic Briefing, December 11, 2013 in Iloilo a part of Speaker Martin Romualdez’s speech. Can we run that clip, please?
All right, so we heard three different statements from Speaker Martin Romualdez in December 2023 speaking of a people’s initiative to amend the Constitution and then another speech his letter to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri that you guys proceed to a constituent assembly, and the last in a press conference saying just to hear the will of the people bring it to court if it’s deemed to be illegal. What are your thoughts on the people’s initiative, the statements of the Speaker both to the Senate President and what really is going on?
CHIZ: Karen, may naniniwala ba na hindi si Speaker Romualdez o mga mambabatas ang nasa likod nito? Huwag natin lahatin. May ilan sigurong hindi nila kinausap lalo na ‘yung tutol. Pero wala naman sigurong duda na sila ang nasa likod nito maliban sa speech niya noong December, maliban dun sa sulat niya kay Senate President Zubiri na sinabi niyang kung gusto niyo mag-people’s initiative rin kayo.
Tinatagalog ko lang ‘yung Ingles niyang salita na susuportahan din naman namin. Pangatlo, noong unang kinompronta ni Senate President Zubiri si Speaker Romualdez tungkol dito sa ginagawa nila, ang sabi nga ni Senate President Zubiri, you mentioned people’s initiative but you’ve mentioned economic provisions not this, not diluting the Senate. Ang naging sagot at tugon lamang ni Speaker Romualdez sa pag-uusap daw na ‘yon, wala ako dun, ay nakalayag na ‘yung barko, mahirap ng pabalikin sa puwerto ‘yan. Nakalabas na ‘yung toothpaste sa tube mahirap ng ibalik ‘yon dun. Wala siyang sinabi sa harap ni Senate President Zubiri na, “Uy, ba’t ako ang sinisisi mo, wala ‘yan hindi kami ‘yan?” Hindi. I think it’s safe to assume, Karen, even the instructions, and the timelines, and the dates that came out that Senator Imee brought out. It came from members of Congress na hindi naman kami magkakagalit personally, Karen, kaugnay sa bagay na ‘to, magkaiba lang ng pananaw marahil.
Now, at the bulwark of any democracy or government is transparency and accountability. Why aren’t they being transparent and accountable for this? Habang dini-deny nila, habang multo lang ‘yung nakikita namin, ang blow-by-blow naman na nagbibigay ng update tungkol sa people’s initiative ay puro mambabatas. Bakit ganoon?
Maliwanag ang naging desisyon ng Korte Suprema, marahil nagising sila ng huli dun. Ang sabi ng Korte Suprema sa Lambino, kapag ka ang isang people’s initiative ay hinaluan ng sinumang opisyal ng gobyerno o grupo sa gobyerno, hindi na ito people’s initiative talaga, pambababoy na ito ng prosesong ‘yan sa ating Saligang-Batas, at politician’s initiative na ito. ‘Yon ang salitang ginamit ng Korte Suprema sa Lambino case. Marahil huli na lang nakita ‘yon kung kaya’t medyo umaatras at nagde-deny na bagaman obvious na pinagmalaki na nila ito last year, sila ‘yung nagsulong at nagismula nito at the beginning of the year, at sila’y nagbibigay ng update kaugnay nito hanggang sa ngayon.
KD: OK, so Senator Chiz you are not technically against changing the Charter, or are you?
CHIZ: I don’t know. What are the proposals, Karen? ‘Yung proposed na Charter Change nila a gawing joint voting is a revision. It’s not an amendment. I saw your interview with Justice Carpio and I completely agree. In fact, if you look at Webster’s dictionary the definition, the distinction between revision and amendment is quite simple. Kung mayroon kang tinatanggal, revision ‘yon. Kung mayroon kang idadagdag, amendment ‘yon. Ito may tinatanggal sila. Dinefine rin ng Lambino ‘yung revision: kapag ka binabago mo ang system of government o system of checks and balance, revision ‘yon hindi ‘yon amendment, bagaman simple lamang yung nakalagay sa people’s initiative. Bakit, Karen? Binabago mo ‘yung bicameral system ng checks and balance natin kung saan kung kailangan nga magkahiwalay bumubuto ang Kamara at Senado ‘pag aaprubahan ka ng local bill, pagpapalit ng pangalan ng kalye, ng eskuwelahan sa isang barangay kailangan magkahiwalay na bumoboto tapos pagpapalit ng Saligang-Batas sabay ng boboto? Binabago na nila yung sistema. It’s clearly a revision and not a mere amendment. Nasa ilalim ng COMELEC rules mismo hindi saklaw ‘yon dahil inadopt ng COMELEC rules noong 2020 ‘yung Lambino case at ‘yung Lambino decision.
KD: Senator, what do you think then is really going on? Because sources have told me that, at one point, the President intervened and, actually said, the Senate will take the lead when it comes to economic provision. Do I remember that the Senate President even assigned Senator Sonny Angara to head that and I think it moved to Senator Robin Padilla and then suddenly all the senators, all of you signed unanimously a resolution that you are all against the ongoing people’s initiative. So ano po ba ito? Iba pa po ba ang hinaharap na mukha sa inyo? Is it two-faced? How do you describe it?
CHIZ: Well, Karen, I was not there in those meetings, but it was relayed to be my Senate President Zubiri. Kaya siya nag-commit na mag-file para masimulan ang pag-uusap kaugnay sa economic provisions dahil nag-commit din ang Speaker. Kaya nagulat kami noong biglang hindi na inaamin na titigilan din ito ‘yun ang quid pro quo dapat nun. Nasabi na rin ni Senator Pimentel ‘to nang hindi tumitigil ‘yon tumutuloy-tuloy at tila nagde-deny na hindi daw sila ‘yon parang ang ginogoyo hindi lang kami pati ang Pangulo dahil nandoon ‘yung Pangulo noong nag-usap-usap sila na, “OK, why don’t you take the lead ang klarong kapalit nun ay ititigil nila ‘to.” Subalit hindi naman tumigil at ngayon ay dine-deny pa na hindi naman daw sila ‘yon.
So, para sa akin Karen, hindi lang siguro ito double-face, budol na siguro ang tawag doon, sa simpleng salita o pananalita ng ating mga kababayan dahil itong people’s initiative na ito ang layunin nito talaga pasimplehin ang pagpapalit ng saligang batas kung saan ang gusto nila sa Kamara ay siyang masusunod nga. That is not a democracy, Karen. In a democracy, you convince each other to take your side. In a democracy if you cannot convince each other, then in an election you face each other and whoever the majority wants and votes for then that what we should respect whether we agree with it or not. Ito ang ginagawa nilang stratehiya dahil ang Senado hindi makumbinsi burahin na lang sa equation pagdating sa pagpapalit ng Saligang-Batas.
And one more question, Karen. The house pulled a fast one when they removed money from the operations of COMELEC to prepare for 2025 Elections and move most of it about P12-P14-B to the fund of COMELEC for plebiscite, initiative, and referendum as if to say or admit na mas importante ‘to dahil kapag ito ang natuloy natin hindi na kailangan magprepara ng COMELEC para sa 2025 Elections and it’s slowly coming out too. Some congressmen are speaking the last one I saw was Cong. Villafuerte who said, “Well, we have to look at term limits because unfair naman anim na taon ‘yung mga senador kami tatlong taon lang.” Pagsamahin mo ‘yung tatlong term naming, siyam na taon lang ‘yon sila, labingdalawa. Nagsalita din si G. Onate, ‘yung tinuturong nilang convenor daw nitong bagong pirma initiative na ito. Ang salita niya, well, ang layunin talaga naming gawin unicameral ‘to. Hindi naman papayag ang Senado maging unicameral ‘to kaya kailangan gawin ito.
Pangatlo, in-interview mismo si Pangulong Marcos kaugnay nito kung napanood mo ‘yon, Karen, binanggit niya hindi lamang economic provisions, pati term limits dahil ‘yon daw ang nagiging sanhi ng political dynasty sa ating bansa dahil kapag nag-graduate yung lalaki papatakbuhin yung asawa at kapag nakatikim na ng puder kailangan na hanapan ng ibang pwesto kaya daw nagkakaroon ng dynastiya sa ating bansa.
Now these are indicators that it’s not limited to economic. That it’s not limited simply diluting the Senate, moving the Senate’s position, in so far as bicameral system in amending the Constitution or even passing laws. Obviously, unti-unti nang lumalabas ‘yung talagang pakay o nasasaloobin nila kung kaya’t ginagawa ito.
KD: So, the real intention of what you’re saying and others I’ve also interviewed is it’s not really economic. That’s like the icing, just the icing on the cake, but really, it’s changing the political system.
CHIZ: Let me address the economy, Karen. You’ve covered foreign chambers of commerce, in none of the surveys I’ve seen for the past ten years. Did they say that opening up the economy is a condition sine qua non, a condition present before they would do business in the Philippines? The number of complaints for the past ten years or even longer has always been power. Number two is the absence of a level and stable playing field where the rules of the game were not changed. Number three is red tape. Number four is corruption. Number five is that whenever an administration is coming in all of us suddenly have to start from square one.
That has always been their complaint. None of them actually mention opening up the economy. Now if you compare our country for example with China, a communist country where there is no private ownership and everything is owned by the state. ‘Yon ni walang 60-40, 100%. You cannot own land, period. Then why is business flourishing in China? Why has it flourished in China for the longest time? I don’t get and understand that, so it’s nice to debate and it’s nice to talk about it. It’s nice to hear their side and what they’re basis is. Nasaan ba ‘yung basis niyo na sinasabi niyong ‘yan ‘yung kailangan para lumago ‘yung ekonomiya? I’ll bring it a step further. ‘Yung sinasabi ng House ng ginawa ni Senate President Zubiri na amendments buksan ang advertising, yayaman ba tayo kapag binuksan ang advertising sa mga foreigners? Buksan ang media, yayaman ba tayo dun, biglang papasok ‘yung mga negosyo at trabaho dito? Buksan daw ang higher education or huwag daw ‘yung basic education. So ganoon kalalaki ‘yung mga bagay na ‘yon, ganoon talaga?
I don’t see it, Karen. I don’t see it as being an urgent priority really and that’s what the people said to him. The latest survey where 1% only said that it’s needed, 99% said it’s not. So maliwanag naman na ginagamit lamang na behikulo ‘yon, justification ‘yon, pero unti-unti naman ng lumalabas yung mga iba pang problemang nais daw nilang baguhin. Ang problema talaga, Karen, dito ay lahat ‘yon magiging posible na at bukas at napakadali na kung mapapasa at kung matutuloy itong people’s initiative.
KD: And I’d like to add just because we’re talking about it. I’d interviewed Christian Monsod just to strike a balance. I mean wholistically to the conversation, he said manufacturing as it is can be 100% foreign owned, power as it is can be 100% foreign owned. And Senator, what about mining, you can be foreign-owned if you’re partnered with the government. Ano ‘yung situation?
CHIZ: There has been a way around it which all mining companies have been doing in the Philippines, Karen. They have a financial agreement with the Filipino that says, since the foreigner provided the capital, he will control the share of stock until he recovers his capital which is the practice. Wala namang Pilipino, Karen, na ganoon kayaman na nagsimula ng mining dito ng walang tulong mula sa foreign capital higit pa dun sa kanyang shareholding dun sa mining company. And that has been the practice for quite some time and people are looking the other way because there’s a legal instrument, a legal document that fits our existing laws.
Also remember, Karen, Congress already passed a law the publics amendments to the public service law that basically opened up our economy to the tune of what needs to be opened up. It’s question before the Supreme Court, it’s spending there right now but that has already been done by Congress as well. So again, if the score was 50-50, 60-40, 55-45, but the score in the latest survey is only 1% of our people think that this Cha-Cha is necessary. People want the government to address, basically, the high prices, the lack of opportunities and jobs, and certain security concerns.
KD: And let me add also just for our viewers. Telecom and railway can now be foreign-owned, right?
CHIZ: Yes.
KD: So that was a big shift in the Public Service Act.
CHIZ: ‘Yon mas malaki pa ‘yon, Karen. Pinag-uusapan dun sa amendments na gusto nilang isulong daw ay ‘yung eskwelahan, advertising, ganoon. Parang hindi naman yata.
KD: So, you agree then with Senator Risa Hontiveros that Charter Change may actually lead to more instability than attracting more foreign investors.
CHIZ: Well, we’re seeing that now, Karen. In fact, two days ago our NEDA Chief Secretary Balisacan said as much that all of this noise and talk about Charter Change, the discord, the disunity is scaring businessmen. Number two, you saw that yesterday as well, a lot of people were surprised with the remarks of former President Duterte. And you see disunity not only within the supposed Uniteam but also within and amongst our people in so far as business is concerned. No president wants this, Karen. No president would want instability, divisiveness, and absence of unity when you’re trying to govern and go through an economic crisis or trying to recover or rebound from an economic crisis brought about by the pandemic years ago.
KD: OK, all right. Now let’s talk about political changes. Charter Change or the attempt of it, isn’t it new, right Senator? Even from the time you were an opposition regarding this during the time of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. FVR tried it. Former President Arroyo tried it. Former President Duterte in his own way tried it put up a commission to study federalism. I believe only former president Estrada wasn’t able to venture this far because of the impeachment trial but what makes the others different from today?
CHIZ: They learned from the mistakes of the past, Karen. That’s why now more than ever this so-called people’s initiative what Senator Joel calls “pekeng initiative,” what the Lambino case politician’s initiative is closer than ever before to achieving this because before, Karen, there was no budget for a plebiscite for this purpose pero gaya ng nasabi ko nalusutan ng Kamara ang Senado kaugnay sa bagay na ‘yan so ngayon may budget para diyan.
Noon kasi nagsisimula pa lang sila at kung tumututol ang mayorya ng mga senador, imposible ng ma-budgetan ‘yung plebesito pero ngayon may budget so mas malapit-lapit sa katotohanan kumpara dati. Pero ‘yung reaksyon ng tao, Karen, noon man o ngayon ay pareho at ang basehan ay pareho it doesn’t matter what they are saying for public consumption that they will amend like now economic provisions. May duda ang tao, malakas ang duda ng tao na politika ang babaguhin at hindi naman talaga ‘yon sa ekonomiya rason kung bakit marami ang tumututol dito. Siguro reflection din ‘yan na lahat ng nagtangka noon man o ngayon kulang ang tiwala ng tao na hindi pakikialaman ‘yon para sa pansariling interes lamang at hindi sa kapakanan talaga ng bayan.
KD: OK, all right. I’m curious about this. What do you think of it, some of course term limits were brought up and for many people, it feels self-serving but you do have suggestions for the change in voting for the president and the vice president? May mga nagsabi na dapat gawing tandem voting para hindi na nag-aaway daw ‘yong pangulo at VP. When there will ever be a time or do you think there would be a right time to change certain political provisions?
CHIZ: Ang tawag dun, Karen, “block voting.” Nangyari na ‘yan noong panahon ni dating Pangulong Marcos. Semi-block voting tayo noong 1986 Snap Elections. Bakit semi? Kapag binoto mo ang president at blangko ang bise, automatic boto na ‘yon para kay Tolentino automatic boto na ‘yon para kay Doy Laurel nung mga panahong ‘yon pero kapag binoto mo ang bise presidente at blangko ang pangulo hindi automatic na boto kay Pangulong Marcos at Pangulong Aquino ‘yon. May semi-block voting na tayo noon dahil nilagay ‘yon sa batas nung mga panahong ‘yon.
Karen, again, it’s not a question of timing it’s a question of credibility, it’s a question of trust or the absence or lack of trust. Lahat ‘yan magagawa kung buo ang tiwala ng mas nakakaraming Pilipino sa nagpapatupad ng pagbabago sa Saligang-Batas—na hindi ito magiging makasarili na ito’y para sa kapakanan lamang ng bayan, na hindi ito minamadali, hindi ka nagtatago at nagde-deny ka, inaamin mong ito talaga ang gusto ko at tatayuan mo, papaliwanag mo sa tao at hindi ‘yung kung anu-ano rason ang ibinibigay sa pagpapapirma ng hindi naman talaga pinapaliwanag ‘yong issue.
Ang isang bagay na tumama sa akin sa sinabi ni Pangulong Duterte kagabi, na parang minamaliit, trinatratong ignorante ‘yung tao na isang mahalagang bagay tulad nito ang pinag-uusapan tapos nagpapapirma lang kung saan-saan ni hindi man lang pinag-uusapan, wala man lang malayang debate, wala man lang malayang diskusyon bago magpapirma kung saka-sakali o palawigin man lamang ng kaunting panahon para tulugan man lang niya, balikan sa sususnod na lingo. Hindi ‘yung pagpunta pa lang sa barangay ay pirmahan na agad iba’t ibang rason ang ibinibigay sa iba’t ibang parte ng bansa. Hindi ganyan dapat trinatrato ang isang seryosong bagay tulad ng pagbabago ng saligang batas.
KD: All right. Now you mentioned former President Duterte, part of his speech yesterday. So, over the weekend, we saw I would have to say two rallies, right? Two gatherings of a huge number of people: one in Manila and the other one in Davao. Let’s talk about Davao first. Number one, are you seeing a breakdown in the so-called Uniteam, Senator?
CHIZ: Yes, Karen to the tune of about 98-99 percent. Bakit may naiwang 1-2 percent? Dahil nagpunta muna si Vice President Sara sa Luneta bago siya nagpunta ng Davao. So may kaunting tira pa. May naiiwan pa pero dahil sa presensya niya sinabi ‘yung mga maanghang na salita, hindi man nagsalita si Vice President Sara. Although baka hindi ko na lang inabutan maanghang na salita ang binitiwan ni Pangulong Duterte, ni Mayor Baste, ni Cong. Pulong sa kanyang presensya na hindi naman niya ipinagtanggol ang Pangulo at hindi naman niya pinigilang magawa o sabihin. So mga 98-99 percent, Karen.
And it all began, as you have seen, noong nag-propose si Pangulong Marcos ng confidential funds para sa OVP at DEPED. ‘Di ba budget niya ‘yon? Siya yung nag-submit nung budget na ‘yon? Kakampi naman niya ang Speaker, Majority coalition ay hawak niya, pinsan pa niya ang Speaker. Bakit tinanggal ‘yon ng hindi man lang din siya pumapalag o pumupusisyon unless pinayagan niya? Dalawang bagay ‘yon, pinayagan niyang tanggalin, sumang-ayon siyang tanggalin o hindi na lang niya pinakialaman at hinayaan na lamang ang Kamara at Senadong gawin ‘yon.
Pangalawa, Karen nung pumosisyon si Vice President Duterte laban sa peace talks, laban sa amnesty. Wala rin naging kasagutan o katugunan mula sa Pangulo dun. Ngayon mula sa bagay na ito ang panawagan ni Pangulong Duterte gayundin siguro ako sasang-ayon ako doon is for him to rein in the speaker, for him to rein in not only his political ally, not only his fellow member in the coalition but also his first cousin. I hope he will not simply shrug his shoulders and look the other way as if nothing is happening.
Right now only the speaker being pointed to at this point is responsible for it. But at some point tatamaan, babalingan, tulad ng ginawa ni Pangulong Duterte sa rally at aabutan na rin siya maliban na lamang kung poposisyon nga siya. His silence will always be interpreted as acquiescence. I hope he will not remain silent on this issue and that nothing simply happens at the risk of creating instability in our country, even perhaps in his administration. I hope that will not happen because that will become bad for our economy, that will be bad for our people and the poor will only get poorer if that situation should explode.
KD: Now you said you want the President to rein in on the Speaker who is also his first cousin. That’s the same sort of statement that Senator Koko Pimentel said when I asked, “What’s your message to the President? My message to him is to speak to his cousin and say stop all this foolishness.” ‘Yun ‘yung mensahe niya. But when you reign in on someone it appears that person is in control. Are you saying at this moment in time that the Speaker has more power or is running things already beyond possibly the president’s? Go ahead.
CHIZ: Clearly, Karen. Legally and constitutionally, the president is by far more powerful unless he lets people with less power, and less stature in position do the things they want to do and by silence or acquiescence can do so. That’s the only time people of lower positions become more or seem to be more powerful than the president himself, who should be the most powerful official in our country. Doon lang naman nagkakaroon ng poder ang mas mababa ang puwesto kapag pinapabuwelo ng mas makapangyarihan, hindi nagsasalita ‘yung mas makapangyarihan o binabalewala nung mas makapangyarihan.
KD: OK. But then what does one do in this situation just to balance the conversation when the new president has different policies from the previous one? I mean let’s be honest, when it comes to peace talks you have some sectors that are happy that the president is now open right the possibility of getting into peace again with communist rebels and you have the vice president saying that’s making a deal with the devil. So, you have two extremes that’s one. Number two, with the West Philippine Sea issue you have the president who opened our relations with the United States but the former President was also too extreme to China. So technically, you have two leaders that just in terms of ideology and leadership believe in different things.
CHIZ: You can now have the third one, Karen. Itong people’s initiative again by silence or seeming acquiescence, he is for it and the former President is not. At the end of the day, the time of President Duterte is over but he is still a citizen, an influential and who can influence a lot of people the one who carries the baton is the sitting and incumbent president and that is President Marcos. Now in a democracy, it is OK to disagree, as the saying goes, “I will shout to the highest heavens that we should oppose on top of yours but we should not go at each other and come to blows.” Itong hindi pagkakaunawaan sa pagitan ng Kamara at ng Senado, hindi naman ‘to darating sa puntong magbardagulan, hindi naman ito darating doon that’s why I’m coming out even in your program or other programs I’ve been out I have been calm and objective about it and simply calling a spade a spade and proceeding with all legal means available to us either as an individual or as a Senate.
KD: OK. Now, the level of discussion, considering that it’s only, hasn’t been half term yet for President Marcos Jr. it’s roughly been two years right, two and a half years, am I correct?
CHIZ: Yes.
KD: Yes. Two and a half years is you already have this kind of bardagulan, as you said. Number one, the former president already calling him a drug addict right and you have the president’s son calling him lazy, and ineffective. I’m rewording it lazy, unfeeling, lack of compassion—told him actually to resign. So, it’s gotten to this level of discourse and it’s not even campaign period yet. What are your thoughts on this? Because I don’t think the president will go down to that particular level.
CHIZ: We saw this in our history, Karen too, if you remember former President Estrada’s ended in a little over two years. The level of rhetoric early on in his administration too was far worse than this one and it culminated in EDSA Dos. Again, we should look at history always to learn from it so that we won’t repeat it instead of being cursed to repeat the mistakes of the past over and over again and that has been said too about President Marcos by the former President as well in his speech. Na sana ‘wag mangyari sa kanya ‘yong nangyari sa kanyang ama at sana ‘yong kabaliktaran nun pagpulutan niya ng aral ‘yung mga pinagdaanan ng kanyang ama para hindi niya na pilit pang ulitin pa.
KD: And then you are colleagues with Senator Imee Marcos, so it’s a bit confusing to the public seeing her supporting former President Duterte and the words uttered by the former President and the son against his brother who is now the president. You won’t even see this in U.S. politics when you have a family member on the other side. What is going on Senator, I mean you sit there and, in the hall, you see the behavior of your colleagues. So, tell us what is this? Is this real or is it for show?
CHIZ: I think it’s real, Karen. To begin with, ‘di ba nagagalit ‘yung tao minsan kapag magkakampi, magkakasundo ang iisang pamilya at pinagkakaisahan tayong lahat. Ang sabi natin, “Uy, sindikato, conspiracy na ‘yan.” Mas gusto natin, ‘di ba? Minsan may mga ibang pananaw na nagmumula sa isang pamilya para makita natin na kahit papaano ‘di man sila gobyerno, pamilya man ay may checks and balances. But to be fair to Senator Marcos, she has not directly hit the President yet, to my knowledge. For example, noong nag-attend siya sa rally sa Bulacan, ‘di ba ipinalangin niya na lubayan daw ng mga masasamang espiritu ang Pangulo? Hindi naman niya sinabing masama ‘yung pangulo pero may mga masasamang espiritu daw sa palibot niya. She’s not yet directly hitting the president; she’s blaming for example, this PI on the Speaker and not yet squarely on the President. But as I said, if the president continues to be silent on this or simply allows it or lets it pass like nothing is happening then at some point the blame will be laid squarely in his office and his person.
KD: I think my last question on this is you had your share of historical knowledge, and background experience with different presidents. Your father at one point also served the late President Marcos Sr, right? And you have former President Duterte saying, kumbaga, I’m rephrasing it, he could end up like his father. If the president keeps pushing the people’s initiative is there a threat or danger that he will not be able to finish his term? Does that still exist today?
CHIZ: I do not know, Karen. Quite frankly, I do not see it and I hope that will not happen. To be fair to former President Duterte, he also said, that he wishes, he does not wish this to happen to him as well. Nobody wants that, Karen, because nobody wins should that happen. Basically, what happened in 1986 was a coup d’etat, which was later supported by the people through EDSA People Power I. So baliktad, ‘yung tao ang nagprotekta sa military matapos gumalaw ng military laban sa pamahalaan. Nobody wants that. It was never in the interest of any country for that kind of instability to befall a country, its government, or its people. And I hope, again I hope, that the president will see this not because his position might be endangered but because the country doesn’t need this noise, this divisiveness, and this kind of rhetoric we should all be focusing on what’s important to the poorer segments of our society instead of simply talking about our respective welfares as to how we extend our term, remove term limits, unli-run. These are not helping our country and government right now.
KD: All right. On that note, I want to thank you so much for joining me today. Thank you, Sir, Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero. And by the way, before I leave, congratulations to you and Heart. I know you have a renewal of vows very soon. Let’s add that because that is still part of, I mean you have press people that wanted to hear this. Why did you decide to do that? So, you are married, was it February 14 or 15?
CHIZ: Fifteen.
KD: You were married on February 15. Would that be ten years ago?
CHIZ: Yes.
KD: Roughly ten years ago, right?
CHIZ: Yes. You don’t celebrate the ninth.
KD: You don’t celebrate the ninth. OK, so you were married ten years ago. I was there at your wedding and you have decided both of you to have a renewal of vows ten years, this February 15. Now, you have some couples that do this on their twentieth, or twenty-fifth. Some might say ten years, that’s too soon. Why would Chiz and Heart do it for ten years?
CHIZ: Well, I have friends who do it every—not every—but in the fifth year.
KD: Really?
CHIZ: I have friends who do it in the seventh year, especially given the seven-year itch so to speak. So it depends because if you are truly in love with each other you can do it every year if you want.
KD: Walang rule?
CHIZ: Tenth is just a number.
KD: But why did you choose this year?
CHIZ: Only because we have a lot of things to celebrate which I guess we won’t be able to share and announce in a couple of months to our friends. It is not something that the public needs to know coming from us, but there is a lot to celebrate in life right now in our family, and our marriage. With her not so much with me but that’s good enough for me as well, my marriage, my family and—
KD: All right. Well, on that note, congratulations to you, Senator Escudero. Deserve all the happiness when it comes to your family. Thank you for joining me today. Thank you.
CHIZ: Thank you, Karen. Good morning, everyone.