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SEC. ANDANAR:
(Recording cut)… Secretary Jess Dureza has informed us that he had an early meeting, at about 3 a.m., dawn, earlier with the President and the President has expressed reciprocating the ceasefire that the CPP-NPA-NDF has declared. As to the official announcement, we should be expecting it within the day.
ELCHICO:
Ah, so it is already expected that Malacañang will also declare a ceasefire with the rebel group?
SEC. ANDANAR:
Yes. Secretary of OPAPP Jess Dureza, according to him, the President expressed his willingness to reciprocate the ceasefire. As to the date, the schedule and how long the ceasefire will be, it is still after discussion with the President and the OPAPP Secretary, and Secretary of the DND. So, we should be expecting the announcement within the day.
ELCHICO:
Within the day, the Palace will issue a statement, yeah—I don’t know…
SEC. ANDANAR:
Yeah. The statement on reciprocating the ceasefire that the CPP-NPA-NDF has declared yesterday.
HOWARD:
Secretary, did the President or even Chair Dureza mentiond any preset conditions for the handing down of the ceasefire or this is it, just as a sign of goodwill?
SEC. ANDANAR:
Well as to the details, Caroline, I’m not privy the details. They’re still discussing it, the Security Cluster. But the most important message here is the President willing to reciprocate the ceasefire as the CPP-NPA-NDF declared last night. And if we all remember, that the government of the Philippines was the first one to declare the ceasefire a month ago.
HOWARD:
That’s right. It is been pretty… how do you call it? Parang tit-for-tat ang nangyayari eh, Secretary. But on the side of the CPP-NPA-NDF, they also expressed the possibility of even extending the ceasefire beyond seven days. Did Chair Dureza mention whether or not government would be open to that as well, in the event?
SEC. ANDANAR:
I was with Secretary Jun Esperon just earlier on the phone, he is now in Brunei and he was the one who recommended that the ceasefire be extended as well. Yes. So, you know, we have different opinions inside the Security Cluster. But in the end, we will come up with a more comprehensive reciprocal ceasefire agreement with the CPP-NPA-NDF and it is for the President to announce this. If not the President, then the designated spokesperson for security who is Secretary Jess Dureza.
ELCHICO:
Sec., will the government be asking the CPP-NPA to probably extend the ceasefire within the duration of the peace talks? In other words, it does not end in seven days. It should be in effect while both camps are talking peace. Will you be asking that of the CPP-NPA?
SEC. ANDANAR:
It is a possibility, but with the recommendation of Secretary Jun Esperon that we extend the ceasefire from seven days to a month from now, then it should be a sign for—or a signal for the CPP-NPA-NDF to also reciprocate. But then again, for now these are all recommendations and the final announcement, the official announcement, which we are expecting today should explain this all.
ELCHICO:
Okay. On other matters, ibang topic naman. Secretary Leila De Lima is going to hold a press conference — I think 45 minutes from now — that will answer the President’s accusations. May we get your reaction, because the President said the evidence or pieces of evidence will be released on a piece-meal basis. Kumbaga ang sabi ng Presidente, “killing me softly”.
SEC. ANDANAR:
I will be tuning in to ANC to watch the entire press conference. But for now, I cannot comment because you know, we still have to watch it and to learn, and to decipher what’s going to be said in the press conference.
HOWARD:
But Secretary, is the Palace aware that House allies or in fact even gathering numbers as well for a pitch to conduct their own investigation into the issue?
SEC. ANDANAR:
Yes, it’s on the papers… (signal disrupted) and the Palace is aware of the move in the Lower House to also have their own investigation and look into this matter of the alleged drug connection of Senator De Lima. And we will leave it up to the Lower House to decide, as the Lower House is a co-equal branch of government and they have their own independence.
HOWARD:
But some lawmakers, specifically the ones in the Minority are expressing fears that they may be next in as much as this could be—I don’t know, call it short of ‘witch hunting’.
SEC. ANDANAR:
Well you know, these are all speculations and I would rather not answer speculative ideas.
ELCHICO:
Secretary, you are one of the President’s strategists, and as the Communications Officer of Malacañang, do you think these kinds of actions from the President will reduce his popularity? I understand he has very high acceptance or ratings in the polls. Do you think this will reduce or shave off some approval points?
SEC. ANDANAR:
You know Alvin, I think the survey says it all – we have 91% of the population believing in what the President is doing and trusting him. And you have at least half of the 9% who are undecided, and half of it are really against the President. Then, whatever the President is doing now, all of his pronouncements, these are the pronouncements that he already made during the campaign and he’s just being true to his words. And, I don’t believe that this will negate or will decrease the popularity or the approval rating of the President. You know, we just do our jobs in government, that’s what we’re tasked to do and we’re appointed by the President also to follow his lead.
ELCHICO:
So that kind of style, personally attacking an opponent will not be—or will not have a negative impact—
HOWARD:
On his political capital.
ELCHICO:
On the President’s approval rating or his political capital?
SEC. ANDANAR:
Well you know, as the President said already that Senator De Lima is a public figure and the President answered the question on—or the appeal of Senator De Lima not to include her family. But the President said that as a political figure, “your life is an open book,” and there are no excuses. And it was just the prerogative of the President with his immunity powers. And if there’s—the President’s idea to announce the names of those who are deemed to connected to the business of illegal drugs—
ELCHICO:
So, do we now—sorry, proceed so.
SEC. ANDANAR:
Well—yeah, yeah. Well the point really is that when all of these tirade happened, the President said that first he has proved that there is connection between Senator De Lima and the illegal drugs – that’s what he said. And then the add on to that was the alleged love life of the Senator, but that’s just really an add on. And may I say that it’s up to the reader, it’s up to the media personality, the reporter to concentrate or to choose which—
HOWARD:
Which to play up.
SEC. ANDANAR:
Yeah. But you know, in our country, sadly what lands on the headline is most likely the private love—
ELCHICO:
Personal, yeah the private love. But if the President, Secretary… if the President has the evidence against Senator De Lima, when can we expect the charges to be filed?
SEC. ANDANAR:
I will leave it all up to the President. Now, I believe that there is a Senate investigation to investigate the alleged extra-judicial killings—
HOWARD:
On Monday. On Monday, sir.
SEC. ANDANAR:
On Monday, yeah. On Monday with the PNP, and I don’t know how the Lower House will decide or when they will decide to have their own investigation — the majority of the Lower House — on the alleged connection of Senator De Lima to some named drug lords inside the Bilibid. Now, it’s really up to the Lower House, Alvin and Caroline.
ELCHICO:
But is it a reasonable expectation for the viewers or for the ordinary Filipinos that somewhere along the way, De Lima will be charged? Because the President said he has evidence that will prove her connection to alleged drug lords.
SEC. ANDANAR:
First of all, I’d like to say that I’m not a lawyer, Alvin and Caroline. And when it comes to one of these legal talks or charges, you know I am not the best person to talk to (laughs). But what I know right now, is the Lower House under the leadership of Pantaleon Alvarez, Speaker Alvarez, they are also conducting their own investigation on De Lima, the same way that Senator De Lima is conducting an investigation against the alleged extra-judicial killings.
HOWARD:
Well, thank you, sir, for bringing it up because this leads to my final question. The question of timing, sir, how does the Palace react now on matters of timing that the move the House and these statements from the President are coming on the heels of the planned investigation by the Senate?
SEC. ANDANAR:
Well you know, with the timing—I don’t know if I got your question right, but it’s really up to the Senate to schedule their own investigation. It’s up to the House to have their investigation. Now, the President also has his own intelligence reports, and you know the President’s prerogative tells him that he should say what he wants, what he has on his table under the guise of preserve and protect the interest of the Filipino people
HOWARD:
And it just happened to have come prior to the Senate probe.
SEC. ANDANAR:
Yeah. But the tirade… it’s already happened even before that. Even the President had to opened his mouth, I think Senator De Lima was already landing on the front pages.
HOWARD:
Well, we certainly look forward to the substance to all these exchanges and we hope to see that in the coming days. Thank you very much, Secretary.
SEC. ANDANAR:
Yeah. We all would like to, you know witness, what will happen in the Senate and Congress. And finally, for the stop to this… you know, to this political or political cacophony which is (laughs) really is—you know, it cost a low down the campaign against illegal drugs.
ELCHICO:
Thank you, Secretary.
HOWARD:
Thank you, sir.
ELCHICO:
Secretary Martin Andanar, Presidential Communications Operations Office.
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