Three days before the national elections, former Interior and Local Government secretary and now senatorial candidate Rafael Alunan III said the Filipino people is growing “hungry for change.”

“They are looking for permanent relief from their miseries, because year after year, their hopes are raised but nothing happens,” he said during Manila Bulletin’s “Hot Seat,” a roundtable interview, yesterday. “When I talk to them and look into their eyes, some are already resigned while others are hopeful.”

Alunan, who is running under the ticket of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, said that the presidential candidate is seen by the people as a symbol of “revolt” against all the lies, inaction, and failures they have endured during the past administrations.

FIVE-POINT AGENDA

In the roundtable discussion, Alunan set out a five-point agenda should he win a Senate seat: Total national well-being and total quality of life; human and ecological security; criminal justice system reform; poverty reduction and national development; and internal security, public safety, and national defense.

He also said that it is important to set a definition for “good governance.”

“During my time, [good governance] was defined as a government comprised of people who are matino and mahusay (well-bred and well-functioning),” Alunan said. “Therefore, there’s a need to remove from the government those who are not matino and mahusay (not well-bred and well-functioning.)”

In order to attain this, he said that he will look into different laws to see if they are properly aligned or if there are provisions that have to be amended or added.

“The role of a senator is not just limited to making laws; it also extends to executive oversight, which means looking over the shoulders of the executive to see whether they are implementing the laws passed by Congress,” he said.

ON PORK BARREL

Alunan also admitted that while there are many justifications for the pork barrel system, he is still “very much against” it.

“That’s well and good if everybody is moral and legal about it, but since we live in an imperfect world, you can be sure that the pork barrel will always be misused and abused, so we’d rather not get into that,” he said.

ENHANCING THE ARMED FORCES

Alunan also noted the importance of a credible deterrence in the country.

“All self-respecting nations have had strong armed forces, not to go to war, but to defend themselves against any threat,” he said. “But the reality is whether we like it or not, war can come at our doorstep… and we better be ready for it.”

 Alunan also mentioned China is enough reason for the Philippines to enhance the country’s defensive capabilities.

“China today is the enemy, but tomorrow it may not be the enemy. Maybe somebody else,” he said. “And what’s the common denominator? You still need a strong Armed Forces.”

Alunan also explained how strong-armed nations can attack the Philippines not in military fashion, but in the economic aspect.

“They will attack us economically. They will attack us in ways where it won’t cost them anything, but it will cost us everything,” he said, citing as an example the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), which was privatized under the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“The National Grid has been in the hands of the sixth largest employer in the world — the China State Grid Corporation, which has 40 percent stake, but has full control of the NGCP,” Alunan said.

He said that if war is declared between China and the United States, the Philippines will automatically be sucked in because of the Mutual Defense Treaty, and China will not send war planes in the country, but instead switch off the Grid.

“Anything connected to the Grid will just have to go on vacation indefinitely. There goes the economy, our national security, our social media life,” he said. “In short, we’re screwed.”

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Jaimie R. Aberia

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