By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY – Senatorial aspirants on Tuesday (Feb. 25) bared that when they are elected Senators in the 20th Congress come the midterm elections, they would push for the correct narrative on the West Philippine Sea (WPS), negate corruption in government and people’s agenda.
During the Kapihan sa Eurotel Media Forum hosted by Dr. Danilo Mangahas and journalist Alvin Pelobelo, Marine Col. Ariel Querubin (Ret.), Senatorial Aspirant, said that they had a “meeting of the minds” with Cong. Boni and they had one principle such as “commonalities” to be pushed in the Senate.
What is needed in the Senate is a courageous Senator and with Cong. Boni they can easily work with in the 20th Congress.
Querubin would like to commemorate the EDSA Power Revolution as a “bloodless revolution”
It started on the 21st of Feb. 1986, when they were ordered to bring the 19 reformists to be brought to the El Fraile to be thrown to the crocodiles.
We should correct the narrative there. The group of then Minister Enrile, it was a civilian-backed revolution. For Noynoy Aquino, it was a military-backed revolution.
We were given the chance to unite, but up to now we are disunited. The corruption has been eliminated in the ranks of the military. Many reforms were effected.
We opted to choose new set of officers, but just the same – elitist and very vindictive. Where is the meaning of EDSA, when there are troubles and misunderstandings.
Querubin fought against corruption, but what is now the meaning of EDSA Revolution that we are now celebrating.
“Why don’t we sit down and talk about peace. We should unite because we have a common enemy,” he said.
He cited the “bullying” in the West Philippine Sea. “Bloodless People Revolution will be useless or meaningless, if we don’t unit.”
Querubin said that they are not questioning whether or not its holiday today. We should ask the youth what they are remembering about the EDSA People Revolution.
1-Rider Partylist Rep. Bonifacio Bosita, Senatorial Aspirant, said that they are the same with Col. Querubin who both have the principle to stand on to prioritize the public and stand for the people and not just for some.
Querubin said that the impeachment is “very divisive” as it is a political process, citing what happened to the previous impeachment of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato C. Corona.
“It’s all political process. It does not depend on evidence and it is not based on merit,” he said.
Querubin would not inhibit as he is “impartial”, meaning that he does not side with anyone, but would base his decision on the merits.
When he was just a Lieutenant in the Philippine Marine Corps, the Marines are the sentinels of the West Philippine Sea. He became an operations officer of the AFP West Command.
They studied very well about the Strategic Plan Against the NPA.
“We know for a fact that some members of the PMA, are scalawags,” Querubin said. The CPP-NPA are Mao-inspired, Deng-inspired.
He added that the NTF-ELCAC is very effective.
Querubin is pushing for the “Self-Reliance Defense Posture Act”. “It’s just a matter of time, that we should strengthen our military, including the maritime,” he said.
He noted that there are the maritime boats of China at the tip of the airport in Pag-asa Island in the Spratly’s Group of Islands.
Querubin stressed that the issue on the West Philippine Sea should be clarified once and for all.
He insisted on the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) where the Philippines has the sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea, hence, we should be the one to harness and explore the natural and marine resources in the area.
“Filipinos should unite and say that the WPS is ours,” Querubin said.
He cited that the Marines were previously assigned in “troublesome” provinces of the country because of “corruption” – lack of schools, dilapidated roads, floodings, spiraling cost of basic necessities.
“Because we come from the military, we have the ‘political will’ and if there are courageous Senators, they will enact laws for the Filipino people,” Querubin said.
Almost 2,000 senior military officers, 24 of whom are generals, have signed a manifesto and expressed their full support to Querubin with “unity beyond politics’.
“The love of country is not about money. It should be service to the people. I want to serve our country,” he said.
Bosita noted that the 20% discount should also be implemented fairly with the motorcycle riders and assured that it will be fair for all.
He said that there are many laws that are being implemented for motorcycles.
Republic Act 10930 where there is a ten-year validity of the license of a vehicle, but in the IRR there was a “demerit system” which was not provided in the law.
Overall, there are many laws that are not properly implemented for the benefit of the public.
Bosita said that whether the issue is big or small, what they focus on is the pulse of the people.
He did not sign in the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte because of principles and what he is standing for and without politics, saying that are there any government officers which are inappropriately using the public’s money.
Bosita pointed out that there is a bigger problem that should be taken into consideration first.
The misuse of public funds should be given the right and proper attention. The side and situation of the people should be prioritized.
Bosita just heard about the P150 million fund for the impeachment of Vice President Duterte. During the signing of the impeachment articles, he had a meeting with the Muslim sector. He would not speculate and he has no evidence about the matter.
He has been a soldier, a policeman and a congressman. Bosita vouched for his principles and stance.
Bosita announced that for those who are seeking for medical assistance, he has no funds for medical assistance.
“There is nothing better than a diplomatic approach on the West Philippine Sea,” he said.
“Kung hindi naghihirap, walang korap,” Bosita said. He was not defending or justifying those who are receiving money from politicians such that we have fellow Filipinos who seem to idolize politicians.
He stressed that he is not discriminating anyone because he has a sibling who did not finish schooling.
“We often times talk about transparency and accountability, which just remain a folklore,” he said.
Allen Capuyan, Senatorial Aspirant and former Chairperson of the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), said that the EDSA People Power Revolution is the People’s Revolution.
What is the agenda of the people. The Constitution was enacted in 1987. He will push for the people’s agenda. Where is the social justice that is enshrined in the 1987 Constitution.
The people’s agenda seems to have been forgotten. The social justice should be the spirit of the EDSA Revolution.
