By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY – Former Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan on Saturday (May 3) said that he will finish the many unfinished jobs in the Senate of the Philippines if he is elected in the May 12 midterm elections.
During the Pandesal Forum at the Kamuning Bakery Café hosted by Wilson Lee Flores, Honasan said “The problems are real. They are real. They are economics,” Honasan said.
On the endorsement of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Honasan said that good manners and right conduct means “I have to thank him. Thank you, Mr. President.”
Honasan has 17 years of experience as a soldier, 7 years as a rebel, 21 years as a Senator and two and a half years as Cabinet Secretary under President Duterte.
“Political parties in this country do not function. They should focus on programs more than personalities,” he said.
“Our system is not perfect. It is working. The former president came back from Hong Kong and he was not even able to change clothes and he was immediately brought to the ICC in the Hague, the Netherlands, Honasan noted.
“We have launched a petition asking the ICC to make a ruling to bring back President Duterte to the Philippines. The country is being divided by this tension,” he said.
“Bring him home so that he will be brought to due process such that under the Constitution, nobody shall be deprived of life, liberty, and property without due process of law,” he added.
“To erase the tension,” Honasan said, “President Duterte should be brought back to the Philippines and subject him to due process of law.”
When Honasan was fugitive for seven years under the administration of then President Fidel V. Ramos, Commissioner Heidi Yorac told him that he was sent by President Ramos and he was asked to return to the mainstream society and run for Senator.
Honasan went to the Comelec and tell them that he would run for Senator but he was told that how can you run for Senator and you have no resources.
According to Honasan, he was elected Senator in 1995 and for four times he was elected Senator of the Republic.
On the internet in the Philippines, Honasan admitted that he is not “techie”, but he was asked by President Duterte to head the DICT to harness the power of information and communications technology. His mission was “Connect technology to the government. Connect technology to the people and to the business.”
Honasan boasted that 800% was the signal of the broadband. Free wifi with 500% percent – connectivity.
He went to the local government units and asked the mayors to connect to the government through the internet or WIFI.
“Sabi ng government inclusive growth sabay-sabay. Nilagyan ng kalsada, tulay at signal, dadami ang tao, dadami ang botante, dadami ang kita,” he said.
He was asked by then Senator Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to join the “Unity Team”, but the group of Marcos and group of Duterte have separated ways and the unity was gone, which is supposed to be a good ingredient for the country.
Seven days before the elections, Honasan said that voters should consider candidates who could answer their questions on education, medicines, and information.
“The members of the responsible media should propagate timely and right information so that the people can properly decide, and not fake news with AI (Artificial Intelligence),” Honasan said.
“As a former soldier,” Honasan said “you should protect the life, liberty and property of the people and if needed, sacrifice your own life.”
Honasan recalled that it’s just okey that soldiers are injured, during which time, then President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. was then ill, there were animosities between the people and the government, which led to the birth of the RAM (Reform the Armed Forces Movement).
“We formed the RAM to pave the way for reforms in government and not to topple the government,” Honasan clarified.
On the West Philippine Sea, Honasan was asked whether the country has water cannons to counter the water cannons of a foreign country, he said “wala”.
“National security is everybody’s concern. Peace and order is everybody’s concern. How can the people file their complaint to the police? There should be reforms. Harmony in our families – concern, monitoring of the children – where are they? Who are with them? Communication.”
“Inclusive growth for our nation. Contribute to serious peace and order. Contribute to serious nation-building,” Honasan said.
Honasan explained that he is not approaching the PDP-Laban for endorsement for his candidacy for Senator in the May 12 national elections.
He stressed that the job of a lawmaker is to legislate laws and not distribute “ayuda”. Honasan’s platform is security for every Filipino.
Honasan would be thankful if ever he will be endorsed or not by the PDP-Laban as one of their senators in the May 12 elections.
He is pushing for the right information on agriculture, water for irrigation.
“Every 30 years, the population of the country increases. In 1986, our population is 55 million, and now it’s 115 million. It would mean that the need for food, and transportation doubles,” Honasan said.
With 21 years in the Senate, Honasan noted that the “datos” of every Senator differs from each other. 115 million experts and talking simultaneously. The information should be the same so that we can agree on “datos” or data management.
“We have many laws but without IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulations) and different data,” Honasan said.
National priority without funds, Honasan said, the far-flung areas should be prioritized such that the government should move fast, especially during extreme weather disturbance, with fast internet and communication, the government would know who needs the most.
“Let us strengthen the political parties, especially properly inform the youth – Ano ka sa buhay ko? (What are you in my life),” Honasan said.
Honasan has passed into law the “National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act”, which immediately reinstalls power, communication and the fast normalization of the lives of the affected people in the disaster areas.
On the West Philippine Sea, Honasan said, a strong country like China would not engage in a war.
“The root cause of insurgency is poverty which can be addressed by providing food, shelter and clothing to the poorest of the poor. We have the longest running insurgency in the world,” Honasan said.
In his trips in the countryside, Honasan had met many rebel returnees who were complaining, which for him, should have a “sustainable” support from the government.
On the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte in the Senate, Honasan said “Let’s not preempt the Senate. Will it help in food, housing, if it can help, do it, if not, let it go. Let’s relate it in real life.”
“Let’s not just hope. Be ready. We should be pro-Filipino,” Honasan said, which made him an Independent Senator.
On food security, Honasan asked “is it a distribution problem or a supply problem? He noted that if a farmer has money, he would acquire a cellphone, which will arm him the right information on rice distribution or rice supply.
He cited that the Philippines taught a neighboring country about rice farming, which means, “we should first take care of our own backyard.”
Honasan said that he has lot of unfinished jobs, which he plans to complete if he is able to return to the Senate in the 20th Congress.
“Amend the Local Government Code. Devolve the functions. We have been doing the same things politically and historically over and over, and the result is the same. Reform,” Honasan said.
At 77 years old, Honasan has five grandchildren. He would like to have a good life and not just to wake up everyday without thinking about economic development just like many Filipinos are doing.
“We are Filipino. We are not pro-China. We are pro-Filipino. Promote one flag, one nation, together dreaming hard, working hard. God bless us all!” Honasan said.
He cited Baguio City Mayor Ben Magalong, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, who are members of the Mayors for Good Governance. ###
