PRESIDENT FERDINAND R. MARCOS JR.: Good afternoon.
Q: Sir, on budget lang po, sir. May we have your reaction doon sa finile (file) lang po na challenge before the Supreme Court ni former ES Vic Rodriguez? What do you think of this, sir? Unconstitutional daw ‘yung GAA?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, that – I have read some of the filing, the complaint.
Well, the SolGen of course, will be the ones who will argue for the government and he tells me – SolGen Menard tells me that we are on a solid footing in terms of constitutionality.
It will… I don’t know why they bother to file that because napakahirap ng kanilang assertion. It’s clearly doesn’t…
Well, anyway, it’s not for me to make the argument. We will let the SolGen make the argument before the Supreme Court and we are very confident that our case is strong.
Q: Pero just in case lang, sir, na pumabor not in favor of the admin ‘yung decision ng Supreme Court, mayroon po ba tayong contingency?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: No, we shut down everything. I guess that’s what they want. They want the government to cease working so ‘yung matuloy ‘yung kanilang mga destabilization na ginagawa.
Q: Sir, do you have plans, sir, to meet President Trump?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ano? That?
Q: Do you have plans to meet with President Trump?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Trump? Yes.
Q: Amidst the possibility that US will freeze the aid?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: The US has freeze – frozen it. But that – I will meet with President Trump because I should because there’s much that we need to discuss between the US and the Philippines in terms of the trade, in terms of defense and security, and now, the new policy on immigration. Nagpauwi na yata ng ilang daan na Pilipino.
So, this is something that we have to work through and hopefully resolve. Because the Filipinos in the United States, especially, have really formed a very important part already of their workforce. So, we’ll see how we can influence the policy-making in terms of immigration.
Q: Sir, how concerning is that? Iyong sinasabi po na pag-freeze ng aid?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Hindi pa maliwanag kasi. Hindi pa maliwanag. It’s hard to comment because nagkaproblema… On the freezing of the aid, the – sa court – that blocked it. So, it’s not yet… It’s very unclear what it is.
Because even the agencies in the US government hindi nila naintindihan what it means. Ano ‘yung tatamaan, saan ‘yung babawasan ang aid funds. So, well, this is what happens – these are the growing pains of a new administration.
But I’m sure that with time, these policies will crystallize and will become clearer. And by which time, I will have a chance to visit with President Trump and we can discuss it with a better understanding of what the policies are.
Q: Mr. President, ano pa po ba ‘yung mga maaasahan na mga projects ng inyong administrasyon dito po sa Cebu po?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Nako, madami-daming listahan ‘yan. Cebu is one of the largest areas for public investments. So, it is…
Well, we had a discussion today in the RDC. There are several major projects in the city. There are several major projects in the province both in terms of connectivity, physical connectivity, in terms – napag-usapan pa namin sa agri baka mayroon tayong program na ibubuo para matulungan ang mga – matulungan ng gobyerno na local governments ang national government para sa pagbaba ng presyo ng bigas.
Marami kaming napag-usapan. There are several infrastructure projects that are ongoing. And dito mga malalaki kasi ang kaibahan sa Cebu, Cebu tends to take on the smaller projects. The province sila ang – ang probinsya ang gumagawa.
So, lahat ng pumupunta sa Cebu karamihan ng pumupunta sa Cebu na project are very significant at saka legacy projects na priority ng national government sa socio-economic plan. Yeah.
Q: Reaction niyo lang po sa manifest of support among Cebu local leaders po?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, it wasn’t just Cebu. It was Region VI, VII, and VIII. At talagang napakalaking bagay para sa atin because you remember I ran under the flag of unity. And we have seen and I think this is something that the local governments immediately recognize that we can really get very much – very much done pagka talaga sabay-sabay nagtatrabaho. Pagka nag-aaway-away, naglalaban, kinokontra, hinaharang, naghahanap ng paraan para harangin para lang maka-political points, eh walang mangyayari talaga sa atin.
So, we should put those attempts to one side and stay together. And this is a big, big bloc, it is the Visayas bloc. And with that – with them as our partners in the national government, there are so much that we can do. And I’m very grateful to all the governors of the – of Regions VI, VII, and VIII for their expressions of support. It is a very, very important part of our nation-building na malaman na at the very least, dito sa Visayas ay may maaasahan tayo na tutulong – magtutulungan para sa mga programa na dinadala ng pamahalaan.
Q: Mr. President, what is the importance of improving our airports in the country po particularly regional facilities — ?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: What is the importance?
Q: Opo, particularly…
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, it’s important for everything – for business, for tourism, for political diplomacy. It affects everything. Sabihin mo na lang walang airport. Papaano tayo? Eh ‘di maiiwanan tayo ng buong mundo. And if we want to be part – you cannot be part of the global community and the global economy if you have not let connectivity.
So, that’s what airports serve. That doesn’t only refer to the international contacts and alliances and partnerships that we have, but also for the efficiency of the delivery of public services within the country, for the government, for the different agencies, and for the business community as well. It is – top priority ang airport talaga. It always has been.
Q: Sir, your comment on the alleged Chinese spies in the country and the opposition of China of the typhoon missile system?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, I don’t understand the comments on the typhoon missile system. We don’t make any comments on their missile system, and their missile systems are a thousand times more powerful than what we have.
So, I don’t understand. You know… Let’s make a deal with China: Stop claiming our territory, stop harassing our fishermen and let them have a living, stop ramming our boats, stop water cannoning our people, stop firing lasers at us, and stop your aggressive and coercive behavior, and we’ll return the typhoon missiles. Itigil nila ‘yung ginagawa nila, ibabalik ko lahat ‘yan.
Q: Thank you.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Thank you.
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