(Sixth of a series)
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.
EDUARDO ‘Bro. EDDIE’ CRUZ VILLANUEVA Bangon Pilipinas
Slogan: Anim na Taon na Walang Korupsyon, Pilipinas ay Babangon
Born Oct. 6, 1946 in Bulacan
Married to Adoracion ‘Dory’ Villanueva, Doctor of Divinity
Children: Eduardo Jr., 37; Emmanuel Joel, 34; Eleanor, 31, and Edelisha, 26
Education: Bambang Elementary School; St. Mary’s Academy, Meycauayan Institute (high school); BS Commerce major in Economics, minor in Finance, Philippine College of Commerce (now Polytechnic University of the Philippines); Bachelor of Laws, University of the Philippines
Siblings: Romeo, Joaquin Jr. (deceased), Eddie (deceased), Consolacion, Leonor, Caridad, Gerardo, Jesus (deceased), Simeon, Avelina
Father: Joaquin T. Villanueva, Army captain, sprinter
Mother: Maria Cruz Villanueva, church veil manufacturer in Manila
Major surgeries: appendectomy
Blood pressure: 120/80 (regular)140/80 (taken yesterday)
Medication: multivitamins, vitamin C, vitamin B complex; Norvast (maintenance)
Smoker? No
Ever consulted a psychiatrist? I don’t remember
Blood pressure: 120/80 (regular)140/80 (taken yesterday)
Medication: multivitamins, vitamin C, vitamin B complex; Norvast (maintenance)
Smoker? No
Ever consulted a psychiatrist? I don’t remember
Economy/trade/finance
What country is your model for economic development?
Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong (in fighting corruption).
How to lower power costs, improve energy security.
For emergency measures, a mobile electric generator. Order a serious review of EPIRA law. Explore all sources of energy. Promote inventors and scientists. Welcome advanced technology.
Alternative energy policy.
Must explore other sources, not just hydropower, but wind, solar, biomass, and I am even open to nuclear energy, but not the Bataan plant.
Infrastructure priorities and how to fund them.
Fight corruption and poverty simultaneously. Moral ascendancy and leadership by example would convince Filipinos to pay taxes. Fund infrastructure with what we can save from corruption, efficient collection of revenue, and condonation of debt.
Economic sectors for priority development.
The masses, through SME generation, growth and development to narrow the gap between rich and poor. Strengthen the middle class. Create a national cooperative bank to give soft loans, without collateral, to farmers and fishermen.
Are we ready for free trade?
Previous governments failed to protect industries from globalization. The Supreme Court ruled that the Philippine government has the legal right to implement reciprocity and equality. Renegotiation of treaties entered into by previous governments.
Should foreigners be allowed to own land?
For specific industries and industrial needs only. Not agricultural land.
OFW deployment – problem or benefit?
Expansion of OFW industry an admission by the government that it failed to provide employment. Put up strategic growth centers, set up national cooperative bank, then convince OFWs to come back as entrepreneurs or employees.
Benefits of growth to the grassroots.
Economic security for all government personnel – high pay, guaranteed educational, medical and retirement benefits. Implement small-scale enterprises and national cooperative bank.
Mining and exploitation of natural resources.
Suspend large-scale mining until the government is ready to process deposits into finished products. Stop open-pit mining, but allow small-scale mining if local communities agree.
Can we be self-sufficient in rice?
Yes.
Agricultural production, agribusiness, tourism.
Empower farmers, low-interest loans to help farmers and fisherfolk modernize.
Agrarian reform.
Appoint a no-nonsense secretary. CARP should be completed within six years. Fair and just compensation to landlords. Convince farmers to organize themselves.
How will you stop smuggling?
Within a week, I will get the big-scale smugglers. Overhaul BOC, appoint the right commissioner. Establish dedicated desk in each government office to receive suggestions. Absolute transparency.
Bank secrecy laws and money laundering.
In favor of easing bank secrecy. Absolute transparency for those working in government.
National Security
Peace in Mindanao.
Create a national commission for peace, development and progress which will hasten the completion of the peace process both for leftist and rightist rebels. I will challenge them to show sincerity and submit legitimate demands.
AFP modernization: Plans and funding.
We will modernize AFP to the fullest, without any plans of using it against the Filipinos.
Adopted member of a PMA class? Which one?
No.
Fixed term for AFP chief.
Absolutely. Politics should not intervene in the merit system of promotion in the entire bureaucracy. Meritocracy should be the prevailing system.
How do you stop corruption in the PNP/AFP?
Two aspects of corruption – wholesale (80%) and retail (20%). The wholesale involves top government officials; retail are the lower ranking officials, small-time corruption. Promote absolute transparency, give more teeth to the law, overhaul the justice system and lead by example.
Importance of US military aid.
I welcome all foreign aid as long as this will help in the modernization of the AFP without sacrificing the sovereignty, honor and dignity of our state.
Foreign Affairs
RP’s most important ally is…
US, Japan, even China and India. Also Singapore or any other country that gives fair and just treatment to our nationals.
First foreign trip as president.
I have no special interest in visiting countries.
Will you pursue the Philippine claim over Sabah?
All legal and moral rights of the Philippines over all territories, we will study carefully. We deserve to regain these territories.
Education
Priorities in improving education.
Immediately implement the Millennium Development Goal in education, which calls for allocating six percent of GDP to education.
Additional years in grade school and high school.
Additional hours, yes. But we have to study carefully the wisdom of adding more years to the educational system.
Free universal kindergarten.
I am for free education in all levels because that is the government’s primary responsibility.
Importance of English proficiency in national competitiveness.
Very important. But I believe in the multilingual system of education, and use of the mother tongue for first three to four years.
How to improve national competitiveness.
The rewards and incentives policy of the government must be fully implemented.
Role of arts and culture.
Absolutely important. There can never be genuine sense of greatness in a nation without a sense of history and identity.
Health care
Priorities in improving public health care.
Appoint right people in the health department. Make health care accessible and affordable to all Filipinos, regardless of social background.
Allocate six percent of GDP to health care. Medical insurance should be available to all citizens. Establish tertiary government hospitals in all provinces.
Family planning/reproductive health.
In favor of sound family planning program and responsible parenthood but against all forms of abortion. Call for a complete review of the controversial RH bill and remove contentious provisions. Artificial contraception must not be harmful to mothers.
Keeping doctors, nurses and other health professionals home.
Give incentives to medical health professionals, reward them for their patriotism. Establish good governance so that all doctors/nurses won’t have to travel abroad.
Lowering costs of medicine.
Support local pharmaceutical laboratories in producing world-class medicine.
Environment
How to deal with extreme flooding.
Government should have a disaster preparedness program, not band aid solutions.
Policies on climate change.
Implement all progressive laws in the country for the protection of environment such as Climate Change Act, Solid Waste Management Act, Clean Air Act.
Logging/agroforestry/water management?
I will give 24-72 hours ultimatum to all illegal loggers/miners in my capacity as Defense Secretary. I will review all dams, water utilities. All basic utilities should be run by the government.
Human rights
Murders of left-wing militants/journalists.
I have a special abhorrence against violators of human rights, especially people behind extrajudicial killings. I know what to do. I have a special program for victims of extrajudicial killings.
Respect for human righs in the AFP/PNP.
That is why I want to serve as secretary of national defense in my concurrent capacity as President and commander-in-chief because I want to overhaul the system. I want to put values, rekindle patriotism and restore dignity and honor to soldiers and policemen in the country
Economic rights over civil liberties.
It must be a balanced decision.
Do we have too much freedom? Is democracy working for RP?
Democracy in RP to a great extent is a farce. My dream is to have a genuine democracy.
Is the RP press irresponsible?
Many people are responsible journalists but there are also scalawags in the media just as there are scalawags in the PNP and the AFP, because of economic need.
Have you been treated fairly by the mass media?
With due respect, I was in a way mistreated by a certain influential institution in the mass media.
Judiciary
Should SC powers be limited?
Yes. If the SC is interfering and creating damage to the economy because of its decisions over some issues.
Should GMA appoint the next chief justice, and will you respect the appointment?
Her appointing the next chief justice is the most illegal, the most immoral and unconstitutional act. She must be losing her mind in appointing the next chief justice. She will be condemned by history. It is beyond sanity.
Independence of the judiciary.
In appointing the members of the judiciary, the appointee should be automatically independent from the appointing power which is the President. I would suggest to follow what the Constitution says to maintain the independence and integrity of the judiciary.
Will you invoke executive privilege, and under what circumstances?
Never. No one should be above the rule of law. And I will tell my Cabinet members and officials to behave themselves and be transparent in all their actions.
Corruption
Transparency in government.
Absolute transparency of all officials in the government. They have the moral obligation to be transparent in the government. Also open to excluding government officials from the Bank Secrecy Law, among others.
How will you deal with corruption?
A fresh start in the government, review all the transactions, agreements, treaties, and overhaul bureaucracy. Put up task forces on the major corruption issues – fertilizer scam, broadband, Northrail, Southrail.
Prosecution of GMA for corruption?
Yes. No one is above the law. (She) should be held accountable and answerable for her misdeeds.
Marcos wealth recovery.
It should have been pursued long time ago. Justice has been delayed because of corruption and endemic flaws in law enforcement.
Sports
Sports development as a priority.
Physical fitness is a vital ingredient in the holistic rebuilding of the nation. Bring sports back to the Department of Education and rationalize the sports development program.
First-ever Olympic gold under your watch? How?
I have faith for that. I believe in the Filipino ability to achieve, given the proper push and support of the government.
What’s your stand on the following:
Charter change/ parliamentary system.
Yes. Federal presidential system.
Cha-cha mode.
Con-con.
Provisions to be revised.
Look at the 60-40 provision.
VFA/US troops in Mindanao.
Review VFA.
RH bill/family planning/contraception.
Review RH bill. Family planning, responsible parenthood. Absolutely no abortion.
Freedom of Information Act/Right of Reply
Will seek immediate passage of freedom of information act. Will not allow any form of suppression of press freedom.
Divorce.
Will follow Bible. There are exceptions, such as infidelity.
Gay rights/gay marriage.
Will follow constitutional provision on civil and political rights. Will not suppress the rights of Congress and the people through a referendum to determine.
Death penalty.
Formerly, against, because of the bankruptcy of the judicial system where the poor are convicted because of lack of proper representation. But now, in favor of death penalty as form of initial justice, for moneyed people who are convicted of crimes like plunder, syndicated murder, syndicated kidnapping, drug trafficking.
What can we expect in your first 100 days.
Exciting mood of hope will overwhelm the entire nation. Within a week I know I can stop smuggling of the big scale. Immediately implement full transparency and accountability policy; no government transaction will be hidden from the public.