So you want to be president? (Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III)

 MANILA, Philippines - To help voters make an informed choice in May, The Philippine STAR has started a series of interviews, in no particular order, with candidates for president.

 Meetings are hosted by The STAR in the newspaper’s office, with the editorial staff asking the candidates questions on a wide range of issues.

The answers, recorded on tape and in video, portions of which can be viewed online in philstar.com, can later be used as references for campaign promises met or unfulfilled, goals achieved or changed.

The resulting write-ups will include personal information about the candidates, including declared assets and liabilities, as well as family, friendship and business ties that could affect policy making in the next administration.

A condensed version of all the write-ups will be put together and published on the eve of Election Day, for the guidance of voters.

BENIGNO SIMEON COJUANGCO AQUINO III  (Liberal Party)

Campaign slogan: Kung Walang Corrupt, Walang Mahirap

Born: Feb. 8, 1960 in Manila 

Education: Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, Ateneo de Manila University; elementary and high school, Ateneo de Manila University

Father: Former Senator Benigno Servillano Aquino Jr.                                         

Mother: Former President Maria Corazon Cojuangco Aquino

Siblings: Sisters Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, Pinky Aquino-Abellada, Viel Aquino-Dee, Kris Aquino-Yap

Net worth: P13.9 million, declared in latest statement of assets and liabilities

State of health: No major surgery; blood pressure 110/70 (normal), 130/80 (stressed); slightly elevated blood sugar; regular smoker 

Have you ever needed the services of a psychiatrist?  No. 

ECONOMY/TRADE/FINANCE

How will you increase FDI and local investments?

Provide infrastructure, upgrade communications, secure power.

How to lower power costs, improve energy security.

It has to be a good mix. There is a lot of money being spent on renewable energy, biofuels, and jathropa. That is misguided. There is no jathropa industry in the world. 

Infrastructure priorities and how to fund them.

We want to have an inventory of our transport infrastructure

New taxes? Other priority tax policies.

Let’s rationalize all our fiscal incentives first. Make sure there is no overlapping.

Economic sectors for priority development.

Our backbone is job generation and our biggest prospect is the IT field and tourism, and agriculture especially the post-agriculture aspect. There will be an infrastructure program. I also want to revive our manufacturing. 

Are we ready for free trade?

I don’t think so.

Sectors to be protected/subsidized and liberalized.

We will study that. There are so many industries that have fallen to the model of the powers-that-be that they have forgotten how to compete.  

Should foreigners be allowed to own land?

If businesses can make profit here, they will come too especially if there’s peace and order, infrastructure, lack of red tape. They will have other concerns other than land ownership.

OFW deployment - problem or benefit?

(OFW) deployment is both a boon and bane. We have the cash but there is also a social cost.

How will you expand the middle class?

We should provide opportunities for all like tuition fees to areas with an oversupply of students, subsidies from the state.

Mining and exploitation of natural resources.

We have $5 billion worth of minerals. The communities have to be engaged in the safeguards so we will not be abused and misused. 

Can we be self-sufficient in rice?

The focus should be first, maximizing means of the farmers, keep them in agriculture to the farmers and second, ensuring a steady supply of rice.   

How will you stop smuggling?

The task force is not the right method.

Easing Bank secrecy laws and money laundering.

That’s a possibility but at the same time, I’m not that confident that the Anti-Money Laundering Council is doing its job.

NATIONAL SECURITY

Peace in Mindanao.

There are only two of the four parties concerned talking.

AFP modernization: Plans and funding.

Just improve the basics.

The revised National Defense Act, and president’s role in approval of promotions in AFP.

Let me review that.

Fixed term for AFP chief.

Yes. Put somebody who can make a difference.

Will you retain the CVOs?

Only if they are professionally run.

Adopted member of a PMA class? Which one?

I have been invited by several. I refused.

Importance of US military aid.

At some point it seems to be an uneven relationship.

When the political leadership betrays the public trust, should the military intervene?

I am against the military intervening.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

RP’s most important ally is…

America. Hopefully, they’ll shift to a longer term perspective.

Which country should be a closer ally?

There’ll be more cooperation with America to balance strategic forces within the area.

Is China a threat, a challenge, a friend?

My interests have to be the Philippines, period.

First foreign trip as president?

I really would rather not go on state visits.

Should RP strengthen ties with any particular region?

ASEAN.

RP-US relations: Ambassador Kenney presented that face of America that will really redound to both countries’ benefit. Hopefully, the new ambassador will perpetuate the same…

Will you pursue the Philippine claim over Sabah?

Philippine defense capability must be strengthened first.

EDUCATION, CULTURE, ARTS

Priorities in improving education?

Tackle basic education, move from a 10-year to a 12-year basic education program with an additional nursery to prepare them for going to school.

Importance of English proficiency in national competitiveness.

I’m a firm believer in teaching them first in the mother tongue.

Role of arts and culture.

The first freedom is freedom from hunger. Of course arts and culture have a direct bearing on the quality of life, but with limited resources, my first priority is to address freedom from hunger.

HEALTH CARE

Priorities in improving public health care.

There’ll be greater cooperation between the Department of Health, as the provider of these services, and PhilHealth, to become more an active provider of resources for DOH to accomplish the same.

We are hoping that we can implement the Magna Carta for medical professionals, a law that has been extant for the past 15 years.

Re-engineering of medical schools for preventive health care.

Family planning/reproductive health.

Our philosophy is responsible parenthood. As to how many, as to what method to utilize, we leave it up to the couple, who can best decide.

Cost of medicine/cheap medicine law.

It’s a very good start. We want to fast-track its implementation, specially since my partner, Mar Roxas, is the principal author. He will keep reminding me.

ENVIRONMENT

How to deal with extreme flooding

Review construction of San Roque Dam in Pangasinan. For regions devastated by lahar, there are limits to what you can do. Conduct inventory of rain outlets to Manila Bay, Laguna de Bay. Better implementation of solid waste management and many laws.

Climate change

Implement Clean Air Act, eliminate corruption in testing of motor vehicle emissions.

Logging/agro-forestry/water management

Determine forest areas to preserve, then we know what we can utilize for sustainable logging or if we don’t have enough for sustainable logging. You want more rationality in the utilization of water.

HUMAN RIGHTS

Murder of journalists and militants

If enough resources, people are devoted to concentrating on solving the same, we should be able to solve it.

AFP/PNP respect for human rights

All sides (soldiers, cops, rebels) are required, not requested to respect human rights.

Too much freedom/democracy

It’s really a question of exercising that freedom properly.

Is the Philippine press irresponsible?

In certain cases. 

Have you been treated fairly by the mass media?

There are quarters that treated me fairly and there are quarters that upon hearing my name will already start (thinking) or have written something negative.

Economic rights over civil liberties

I don’t agree.

JUDICIARY

Should SC powers be limited?

I don’t think under the Constitution you are allowed to limit the powers of the Supreme Court being a co-equal body.

Should President Arroyo appoint the next chief justice?

No, Article 7 Section 15 (of the Constitution) is very specific.

How will you ensure independence of the judiciary?

We will sit down with them, we will convene the JELAC, Judicial-Executive-Legislative Advisory Council to know why we have tardy justice.

Will you invoke executive privilege?

Only on national security concerns.

CORRUPTION

The main problem is not the absence of laws but enforcing the same.

 Marcos wealth recovery

I want to review (the PCGG) performance, (check) exorbitant consultants, travel, compromise here and there.

Presidential Commission on Good Government

If there have been abuses I want to know why these abuses were tolerated and what loopholes did they exploit to be able to do the same.

SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

Priority of sports development

Sports redirection might be a better term. We don’t have that much in terms of resources. There are sports we excel in. It behooves us to compete in areas where we have the possibility of winning.

Let’s do an inventory of sports where we can excel and devote our resources there. Pag lahat ng sports sasabay-sabayin natin, guaranteed na wala tayong matutulungan.

A situation wherein sports bodies are in conflict with each other will not be tolerated.

First Olympic gold medal under your watch?

Ang hirap mangako. How long will it take? When we have sports meets, I’m really astounded at the ratio of officials vs the athletes. Parang mali.

WHAT'S YOUR STAND ON THE FOLLOWING:

Charter change/ parliamentary system

GMA has pushed the envelope as far as the Constitution is concerned. Within the first month, we convene a commission to study the need to change the Constitution. If there is a public clamor for it, hopefully act on recommendations in time for the barangay elections.

(on parliamentary system)

No.

Cha-cha mode

Concon with time limit.

Provisions to be revised

Abuses of the executive, have safeguards that are better than what you have now.

Federalism/decentralization

There has to be a middle ground. Empower the LGUs, and have a report card of agreed upon parameters. You perform, you get more resources. You do not, you get sanctions.

(on decentralization)

Good idea.

VFA/ US troops in Mindanao

So long as they are visiting.

RH bill/family planning/contraception

Responsible parenthood is my position.

(on contraception)

Leave it up to the couple.

Freedom of Information Act/Right of Reply

I’m for it.

Divorce.

I don’t want the Las Vegas model, but I realize there are couples who are beyond reconciliation. Legal separation with the ability to get married after they go through a very stringent attempt by the state to reconcile.

Keeping the family intact is one of my goals.

On marriage expiration.

I don’t see who benefits from that.

Gay rights/gay marriage

Gays shouldn’t be discriminated against in terms of occupation and other aspects.

I’m not prepared to support it (gay marriage).

Death penalty.

I used to say it is necessary for recidivists, but after reviewing the judicial system, there is a very big possibility somebody can get convicted because he wasn’t adequately represented.

People power for change.

Siyempre, I advocate that.