I will send my guilty relatives to jail, Jamby says in Davao forum

Davao City, Philippines - Errant relatives of Senator Ma. Ana Consuelo “Jamby" Madrigal should beware. If elected president, she wouldn’t have second thoughts about bringing them to jail if found guilty of any crime, the senator said during the Sukatan 2010 presidential forum. When asked what she will do that no other Philippine president has done, Madrigal, who belongs to a wealthy clan, said: “That’s an easy question. I will jail any of my relatives, any and all who do not pay taxes." “You have to start with your relatives if you are to govern the country by example and I know who they are. I will file the cases because I do not believe I should make them an exception for people to pay taxes. The President’s family should be set as an example," she said. If her relatives committing more than tax evasion, I will make sure that they are prosecuted in the courts, she added. “I think all public servants should put the country’s good above family and personal good," Madrigal said. During the event, Madrigal didn’t spare any chances of hitting Nacionalista Party standard bearer Senator Manuel Villar Jr., saying that voters can never be sure about politicians who spend a lot of money for their campaigns. “Those who spent money now, hindi tayo nakakasiguro na hindi yan kukunin sa kaban ng taumbayan, hindi nakakasiguro na hindi nila papaboran yung kanilang pamilya, na magkakaroon ng nepotism," said Madrigal, who filed an ethics complaint against Villar regarding the C5 road extension project. (We can’t be sure that the money they spent on campaigns won’t be taken from the public coffers. We can’t be sure that they won’t favor their family members, that nepotism can be avoided.) Madrigal to nip nepotism in the bud The senator promised that she will nip nepotism at the bud, if elected President. “I will go one step beyond nepotism and kill nepotism if it ever starts. None of my family can hold public office. I will file cases against any of my family who has broken the rules," she said, immediately before forum moderator lawyer Romulo Macalintal gave a signal that her time was up. But she was still able to butt in, saying that she would jail her errant relatives. “Filing cases is not enough," she said. “Should there be speedy trial and they are prosecuted and found guilty they should have to serve time in a real jail." The other presidential candidates who attended the forum organized by Kingdom of Jesus Christ led by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy were former President Joseph Estrada of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, Senator Richard Gordon of Bagumbayan, Nicanor Perlas (independent), former defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, and Eddie Villanueva of Bangon Pilipinas. Senators Benigno Simeon Aquino III and Villar confirmed attendance to the forum but were absent, disappointing Quiboloy and his members. KJC has six million members, half of whom are registered voters, Quiboloy told reporters after the forum. At the start of the forum, the candidates were given three minutes to explain their platform to the audience. They were then given one minute each to answer the questions from a three-man panel composed of Mike Abe, Cecilia Calzo, and lawyer Shermalou Aldevera. Presidential bets’ take on the Mindanao power crisis Asked about plans for their first 100 days in office to address the energy crisis in Mindanao, Gordon said he would move for the use of power barges and study the possibility of giving tax incentives. Madrigal, for her part, said she would order an audit and create a commission to study all outstanding debts, because most debts go to energy. She would also push for small hydroelectric dams instead of large hydro-dams, which she said are not only ineffective but destructive. She would concentrate on promoting the use of biofuels, solar, and wind energy. “We need clean energy that will not destroy the environment," she said. Perlas said he would push for energy efficiency. He opposes the use of nuclear power plants, particularly the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, maintaining that the mothballed facility remains unsafe. Teodoro said he is open to removing tariffs in the energy industry. Villanueva said he would order a review of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA) and would push for the repeal of the oil deregulation law. Standard bearers to walk the talk When asked on how they would bring back the trust of the people in the presidency, Gordon, Madrigal, Perlas and Villanueva were one in saying that they would walk their talk. Teodoro, for his part, said he would serve with integrity, transparency, and competence. He added he would be very clear to the people with what they should expect with their President, what the President can do, cannot do, and should know “so that there will be no failed expectations." Although KJC members were satisfied with the presidential forum’s results, they said it would have been better if Aquino and Villar were present. "Sayang para sa kanila (Aquino and Villar) sana napakinggan namin sila," Virgie Feliciano, 56, of Agdao, Davao City told GMANews.TV. The forum was helped them greatly since they were able to meet and hear the candidates, she said. "Nakatulong ito, narinig namin ang plataporma nila, kung ano ang gagawin nila pero titimbangin pa namin. Ang importante nagpunta sila dito," Feliciano said. (The forum was helpful because we were able to listen to their platforms. But we will still weigh our options. The important thing is they came over.) - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV