Grace under pressure
Good should always overcome evil. You’ll always be proven right naman. Why should I be afraid kung alam ko namang wala akong kasalanan?
By Rachel C. Barawid, Angelo G. Garcia, Ronald S. Lim, and Jaser A. Marasigan, Photos by Lj Pasion
March 2, 2013, 1:24pm
Former Isabela governor Grace Padaca certainly started her tenure at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) with a bang.
Shortly before being installed as a Comelec commissioner in October of last year, Padaca, along with Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas, arrived at the Snadiganbayan to pay the P70,000 bail bond required for the graft case and the malversion case she is currently facing for awarding to a non-government organization the management of a P25-million credit facility for rice farmers.
While she had earlier refused to pay bail, Padaca had no choice but to accept the P70,000 that came from the President’s personal funds after being appointed as Comelec commissioner. Since then, she has had to ask for her arraignment to be postponed as she challenged the cases filed against here before the Supreme Court.
It’s easy to be thrown off by all this hullabaloo, but the indomitable Padaca took it all in stride and is now knee-deep into the preparations for the upcoming midterm elections, even with the threat of an arrest looming over her.
“Ilang buwan na akong may overnight bag sa sasakyan, waiting to be arrested,” she reveals with a laugh. “Pero kahit ako pinapana, kung hindi naman totoo, hindi lalanding. ‘Yun na lang sinasabi ko.”
She certainly behaved like someone with a blameless conscience during this interview held at her office in the Comelec headquarters in Intramuros. Laughs were quick and easy with the commissioner, who joked around not just with the Students and Campuses Bulletin but also with her staff and even Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes, who dropped in on the interview to say hi to Padaca.
She admits that her new responsibilities have certainly played a hand in her new lightheartedness. After serving as Isabela’s governor for six years, she says that not being a politician is a welcome change.
“My staff and my family say that I smile more often now and I get mad less. The big difference is that if you’re a politician, you can hardly say no to everyone. But as a commissioner, you can say na ‘I am a commissioner, bawal lumapit,’” she says.
That’s not to say her time as governor isn’t helping her out now.
“We talk about medical expenses for Comelec officers, mga nadisgrasya sa field, mga nakikipag-away, mga dinedemanda. My background as a governor, where I handled more than 1,000 employees, comes in handy,” she reveals.
She is also looking to use her position on Comelec as a way to further an advocacy especially close to her heart – electoral reform. She says she longs for the day when everyone gets a fair chance to get elected into public office.
“I was a reluctant governor. Pero ang ganda sana if this is given to the people who have the knowledge, experience, training, and enthusiasm. Sana we can make our elections saner, fairer, so that people like me would not have to run anymore,” she says.
In this 60 Minutes conversation, the 2008 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee talks about preparations for the May elections, her desire for young Filipinos to be educated about the electoral process, and the strength that comes from not having to hide. (RONALD S. LIM)
STUDENTS AND CAMPUSES BULLETIN (SCB): How are you settling in as Comelec Commissioner?
GRACE MAGNO PADACA (GMP): No pun intended, but I had to hit the ground running (laughs) even if I cannot run. They were in the middle of deliberating the party-lists, and they had to finish everything so the Commission can focus on the preparations for the automated elections. So on my second day, they let me wear a robe kaagad! There were hearings on some cases so I had to adjust quite quickly to things.
The other commissioners are very supportive. In my office, I am entitled to a staff who are mostly lawyers, so that they can assist me with the legal matters that I have to deal with, and the decisions I have to write as commissioner.
In this table, we discuss issues. Cases are raffled off. We discuss the merits of the case and we come up with a decision. I am guided by my advisers, lawyers, and my background too. And then we draft the decision, we route it and then we finalize it.
SCB: Ano ang mas mahirap, your job now or when you were still governor?
GMP: My staff and my family say that I smile more often now and I get mad less. I can sense that also because as governor, pasan mo ang daigdig. Parang everyone wants a piece of you. You have to take care of health, social welfare, agriculture, etc. Kapag may bagyo, sunog, dapat andun ka. At least dito hindi ganun. The big difference is that if you’re a politician, you can hardly say no to everyone. But as a commissioner, you can say na I am a commissioner, bawal lumapit (laughs).
SCB: So you don’t miss being governor?
GMP: I was governor for six years. But I have been telling the people of Isabela my message 14 years before that as a broadcaster. It’s time to move on, go to another level, and be of help not only to Isabelinos but perhaps, the whole country.
BRINGING HER EXPERTISE INTO THE COMMISSION
SCB: Don’t you get overwhelmed with all the issues and challenges that Comelec has to face every election? GMP: Thank God, I have experience naman and I’m coming in not with zero knowledge. Last November, I was with one election expert, the president of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, the organization that hosted us when we observed the Obama-Romney election. I told him that some partners don’t like the fact that it was a politician that the President appointed as the new commissioner. But he actually likes the idea because I bring to the Commission my background as a politician. Here they talk about politics. They talk about elections. They talk about candidates, voters, and parties. I bring in my perspective and experience into a table full of lawyers. The commissioners are lawyers. Chairman (Sixto) Brillantes is the lawyer of many politicians (laughs), even my enemy.
SCB: Anong nangyari nung nagkita kayo? Wala bang friction?
GMP: Actually even sa Twitter, I found out that “Sixto Brillantes is now following you.” Ibang-iba ‘yung experience na ‘yun sa akin! I was appointed last week of September but I did not come into the Comelec until a week after. So I think they were waiting for me. They were expecting me to arrive but there were things I had to settle first. Siguro nung hindi na niya ako mahintay, finallow na niya ako sa Twitter. That was quite strange. But we’re fine, in fact we’re good. I think it’s because of my background as a media person who has this passion towards things. Nasanay ako na hindi ko pinepersonal ang bagay-bagay. I try to understand where they’re coming from.
May kuwento siya sa amin, during that time that he was still lawyering, sabi sa kanya ng Commission, “O, ‘yung argumento mo kanina baliktad ng argumento mo ngayon.” Sagot niya “Siyempre, I work for my clients.” That kind of perspective is also good for the Commission kasi both sides kitang-kita na niya. Pinag-aralan na niya at hasang-hasa siya dun. When I see him lead us in our en banc meetings, makikita mo talaga mabilis, talagang sanay na sanay.
SCB: Are there skills that you learned as an executive official that you find useful now in Comelec?
GMP: Yes. Our functions sa Comelec are two – one is administrative and one is quasi-judicial.
We talk about medical expenses for Comelec officers, mga nadidisgrasya sa field, mga nakikipag-away, mga dinedemanda. So my background as a governor, where I handled more than 1,000 employees, comes in handy.
SCB: You also mentioned that you can use your accounting skills in your position as commissioner. Has that come into play?
GMP: Yes, especially in the special bids and awards committee hearings on what are needed for the elections. ‘Yung background ko on the laws of procurement because I was very strict with those things in Isabela. Kahit ‘yung mga simple skills ng CPA (Certified Public Accountant), ‘yung nagdi-divide by unit, they come in handy. Plus campaign finance, registered voters, percentages. For example, ‘yung sa party-list controversy na people say bakit maraming naaprubahan na controversial party-lists? Yeah, I agree. Many of those hindi rin ako nag-a-agree but for most of the party-lists, I took no part kasi hindi ko na naabutan ang deliberations. Pero kung galit kayo na may sampung hindi dapat nandun, please know that 158 applied, only 21 were approved. So, 13 percent lang ‘yun. And of the existing 160 party-list organizations, 58 lang ‘yung na-approve. So naipapakita ko ‘yung big picture. For someone like me with an accounting background, I look at things that way.
Another example ‘yung sa ARMM, hundreds of thousands ang nag register pero natanggal kasi may mga hakot, or minors. We have pictures of registered voters na kitang-kita, mga bata pinapapasok. If you look at the percentages, you will have better basis in making decisions. You will put to task ‘yung mga nasa baba, bakit ganun? Bakit ganyan? Diba may biometrics na tayo? Bistadong-bistado na talaga. Kahit magsombrero sila sa picture sa susunod, o magpagupit, nabibisto pa rin sila.
Hopefully, with technology, we can clean things. It’s better, easier and faster to make things right.
PUSHING FOR ELECTORAL REFORM
SCB: Meron din ba kayong mga advocacies na dinala niyo sa Comelec?
GMP: There are things close to my heart not only as Comelec Commissioner but even when I was still governor. More than the issues of people with disability, women or even agriculture, ang number one cause ko is electoral reform. That was my flagship platform as governor of Isabela. Because having been governor for six years, I realized na power can be a good thing. That one person can make a big difference.
Dun sa anti-logging campaign namin, we were able to confiscate 172 truckloads of illegally cut trees from the Sierra Madre. Tapos ‘yung program namin with the farmers galing dun sa natipid naming pera ng pamahalaan.
What if you give this power dun sa mga talagang experts at may fire in their bellies? Ako, I was a reluctant governor. Pero ang ganda sana if this is given to the people who have the knowledge, experience, training, and enthusiasm. Kaya lang nawawalan sila ng gana kasi ang pangit pangit ng elections. Kailangan mong isangla ang bahay at lupa mo para meron kang pang kampanya.
Kailangan mong masanay na hindi ka pa bumabangon, may mga tao nang nakapila sa labas ng bahay mo. Napakaraming reasons not to join government. Kung minsan tuloy ‘yung mga pure-hearted na pumapasok sa gobyerno, nagiging mga loko-loko na lang sila. Kasi ang dami mong isa-sacrifice. I distinguish those with good motives and the ones who don’t have. Ang sarap-sarap pumasok sa gobyerno kasi may cut ka sa jueteng, sa illegal logging. Diba? Parang tiis ka muna umutang, mangurakot ka muna para makapasok ka sa gobyerno. Pero those who will really do good sa gobyerno, sila ‘yung nahihirapan pumasok.
Sana we can make our elections, saner, fairer so that people like me would not have to run anymore.
Kaya lang ako pumasok sa pulitika kasi wala nang may gusto. Hindi mo kasi maatim na ‘yun ang nangyayari sa pamahalaan at pababayaan mo na lang na ganun. Sana, the system will allow people to enter government and politics with open eyes. And you know you have a fair chance in making it.
Kaya basura ang nangyayari sa ating pamahalaan kasi basura ‘yung mga kandidato. Sayang naman, billions of pesos ‘yan.
SCB: ‘Yung Comelec, isa sa mga ahensiya ng gobyerno na hindi maganda ang image, how are you changing this image now?
GMP: I think malaking bagay ‘yung how we will fare sa automated elections this year. I don’t know kung sa inyo nakabawi ng kaunti ang Comelec with the automated elections in 2010?
SCB: Yes in a way…
GMP: Pinasa ko ‘yung tanong sa inyo kasi ako, bad ang experience ko. It’s easy to count, it’s easy to cheat din. Iba ang point of view ko as a candidate who got automated in 2010. Pero natutuwa naman ako na you appreciate na it’s mabilis. If we can only really work more for the integrity of the elections, ang ganda ganda sana.
ELECTION EDUCATION
GMP: Ang isa rin na gusto ko sana ma include sa curriculum ng mga high school students and even Grade 6 ang tungkol sa halalan o botohan. Sa ngayon, young people only think of the elections when it’s their time to vote. What image do they have? Epal campaigning and money politics. A young student from Tawi-Tawi told us that in the 2010 elections, naka P14,000 siya from the candidates.
‘Yun ang image nila. For them it’s not wrong, and even something to get excited about. Imagine that perception that election pala is about money. Election pala is about using Julia Montes or Sarah Geronimo. Epal campaigning. Sana man lang bago sila mag 18 years old, malaman nila kung ano ba dapat. Sana magkaroon ng partnership with the Department of Education later so that these things can be worked on.
SCB: Have you talked to Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro about these plan to include election education in the curriculum?
GMP: Hindi pa para hindi muna mamuddle ang activities and thoughts. Kumbaga timelines ‘yan.
Pagkatapos ng 2013, we will try to push for that. Pero ang nasa isip ko, sana kasama ang civil society, kasama ang youth para this will not just be Comelec-initiated.
Even in the matter of the political dynasty, ang dami kong gustong ayusin ngayon palang, pero I think too late na pag-usapan natin na labanan ang political dynasty by means of a law. Dahil matagal pa yan. But that is not to say na hindi natin kayang labanan ang political dynasty, lalo na sa darating na elections. Puwede namang magkaroon ng pagbabago by means of the direct vote of the people. Perhaps after 2013, we can call on our legislators to come up with a law against political dynasty or explore the people’s initiative option. I think mukhang Comelec din ang makakagawa niyan. Pero first things first muna.
SCB: Do you think other agencies can help you execute these ideas?
GMP: There were some things that came out in our confidential discussions with the Department of Education that time that gave me reason to be thankful that aside from the things that we’re trying to do in the Comelec, mayroon ding partner sa DepEd.
The PNP is also a big partner. Tinanong ko si Gen. Alan Purisima, sabi ko you have the secure and fair elections for 2013. Diba dati nang may hope? May honest, peaceful and orderly elections kasi Bombo Grace pa ko, yun na ‘yung binabalita namin eh. Sabi niya “Kasi ang gusto ng Presidente hindi ‘yung nag hohope ka lang, ‘yung umaasa ka lang. Mas gusto niya na it’s not just a statement, that we can do it now, that we don’t just hope for it.” ‘Yun din ang lagi kong sinasabi noon. I had not the simple idea na ma-aapoint ako sa Comelec. Buhay pa si Secretary Jesse Robredo, and whenever we had dialogues in the provinces, na kami lang ng Kaya Natin!, sabi ko I expect the next elections to be better than 2010. Kasi Noynoy na ang presidente natin, Robredo na ang local government secretary. Hindi puwedeng pareho pa rin. As a Filipino citizen, I expect things to be different kasi iba na ang Presidente, iba na ang local government secretary, iba na ang AFP chief.
LOOKING AFTER PWDS AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
SCB: Are there steps being done to make elections more accessible to the differently-abled?
GMP: Before I even came in, Commissioner Rene Sarmiento was already busy with it. Siya ‘yung champion on this issue – making elections accessible for people with disabilities and even for indigenous peoples (IPs) and prisoners.
I like it that way because mas maganda kung ang isang walang kapansanan ang nagcha-champion sa isang may kapansanan. Ang sabi ko nga, sana hindi ako mabox dun sa mga issues na kasi pilay si Grace, ‘yun lang ang concentration niya. So I’m very thankful to Comm. Sarmiento because of his efforts in addressing these issues. They were able to schedule special days for registration for people with disabilities and indigenous peoples. Pinuntahan nila sa mga liblib na lugar at kabundukan ‘yung mga IPs. I think the plan for election day itself is there will be a few voting centers which will really be for people with disabilities. Kaya lang hindi naman niya macocover lahat. The best thing is in every barangay, mayroon lang sanang consciousness to help PWDs. For example, sana sa voting center sa eskuwela, ‘yung first classroom na malapit sa gate, doon sila pagbotohin. Mga ganun.
ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES!
SCB: The students from the College of Computer Science of De La Salle University created their own election system. They’ve devised a way to make their campus automated elections free from glitches, especially manipulation. With the system, you don’t even have to use thermal paper because everything is through the computer. Can Comelec entertain such ideas from students?
GMP: Maybe not at this point, pero napakaganda nga that they care enough. But the things that you have to consider is medyo controlled ‘yung environment nila. Walang ARMM ‘dun (laughs). Walang mga goons na may hawak ng baril (laughs).
When I was being briefed by one of the department heads here during the registration of voters, ‘yung dami ng security measures na gagawin ay reflective of the culture of people.
Dati I held an election protest here. I transported all the ballot boxes from Isabela to Comelec, and even hired a 24/7 guard to look over it kahit tatlo tatlo ang kandado. Hindi ka pa rin kasi makakasiguro na kahit andun na sa Comelec with their own security na hindi ka dadayain ng kalaban mo.
Dun sa Amerika walang indelible ink pagkatapos bumoto, kasi tapos ka na eh. Dito kailangan maglagay. Tapos nilalagyan ng scotch tape para maalis, pagkatapos nun puwede na ulit bumoto.
Tayo dapat nasa booth at walang nakakakita when you’re voting. Sila when they went into the precinct, nakita namin sinusulat sulat lang sa table. Okay naman sila kasi wala namang nakikialam. No one was looking over the shoulder of others. Tayo ang dami-dami nating kailangan paghandaan to guard ourselves. Our past experiences have made us become this way eh.
Mayroon pang kuwento. Nung hindi pa automated ang elections may mga madre nagbabantay sa mga balota, tinali tali nila. Naka chain pa sa mga gamit nila at mahigpit ang pagbabantay nila. Pero nung napagod na sila, may nagbigay ng juice. ‘Yung juice may pampaantok (laughs). Pag gising nila, wala na (laughs)!
Ang galing natin gaguhin ‘yung sarili natin. So is it any wonder why it is taking us so long to progress? Nakakahiya sa inyong mga kabataan. Ang tagal tagal nang ginagawa ito and we cannot even make it work. So it’s time to make it work...
AN HONEST CONSCIENCE
SCB: We’re surprised that your case still hasn’t been decided in the Supreme Court.
GMP: Hindi pa. Ilang buwan na akong may overnight bag sa sasakyan, waiting to be arrested (laughs). My opponent has not responded to our certiorari. Hindi kasalanan ng Supreme Court. Kaya pala hindi pa nagde-decide ‘yung SC, wala pa ‘yung side ng aking kalaban na palaging naga-ask ng extension.
Some people think naman that I am associated with the President or Secretary Robredo, kaya daw hindi ako naaaresto. That’s not true, because when Sec. Jess and I talked, sabi ko huwag siyang magugulat kung maaresto ako dahil hindi ako magpapa-bail. Sabi naman niya aayusin niya ‘yung kulungan ko. Hindi man lang ako pinigilan (laughs)! Even between the two of us, no word was exchanged towards the direction na hindi ako papahuli. We respected each other so much na parang insulto para sa amin to even think about that.
I-compare mo halimbawa kung ikaw magpapaaresto sa kapitbahay na nagnakaw sa iyo, o gumawa ng kalokohan sa iyo, di ba ikaw ang nagfofollow-up? Why didn’t this Santiago Respicio call the attention of the police to arrest me? Ako, I went about doing my job, dahil kung hindi naman, alangan naming matetenga na lang ako ng ganon. After ng activities, nagpo-post pa ako sa Facebook. Nung namatay si Sec. Jesse, I would go to a lot of TV interviews. Paglabas ko, iniisip ko na baka nandiyan na ‘yung pulis. I was always ready for that. Ang tanong ko lang, kung talagang me kasalanan ako sa iyo, kung talagang merong bigat iyong akusasyon mo laban sa akin, bakit hindi mo ifollow-up. I was waiting to be arrested because I had a message to proclaim. I was ready to say na maling mali ‘yung sistema ng katarungan na tumatakbo. ‘Yung ibang government officials, magpa-piyansa kaagad bago malaman ng media. Ako hindi, I will wait for you to arrest me because I want to expose something.
SCB: But doesn’t the threat of jail hinder you from doing your job well?
GMP: The original plan for me was to not to post bail. But when I received that appointment, I posted bail na because it would be unfair to the Commission na may pupunta dito to arrest me. Respeto ko na rin naman sa Commission and the other people here, para hindi na sila ma-confuse. I want to spare them that.
Tinatanong nila, bakit ko tinaggap ‘yung bail ng Presidente? I could have easily said no. Ang original plan si Sec. Jesse magdadala. Eh namatay siya. Ang naging successor niya si Sec. Mar Roxas, eh marami siyang political opponents. Bakit hindi ko ni-refuse? Because it was a good chance for me to tell my message. Give me this before I shut my mouth as Comelec Commissioner. Behave na behave na kaya ako ngayon (laughs)! Hindi na ako make-like sa Facebook! Mga friends ko kasi dati mga pulitiko, eh commissioner na ako eh. When I go to this office, I cannot be unconventional anymore, which I have always been. Bago naman ako pumunta dito, I wanted them to give me this one last bang. The truth will bear me out in the end.
SCB: Anong worst possible scenario if the case goes against you?
GMP: Since I am a member of a Constitutional commission, the only way daw to remove me is by impeachment. Only Congress can do the impeachment. What if the Sandiganbayan goes against me again and tells me that I should be removed from office? But if I am removed from office, hindi na ‘yun by impeachment, but by Sandiganbayan decision. You will be violating a Constitutional provision. Kaya my lawyers put before the court that the case be suspended while I’m still commissioner.
That idea actually came from the other commissioners. Sabi ni Chairman Brillantes na there is a case na Constitutional commissioners can be free in the meantime from all these hearings. So I told my lawyer about this at ‘yun ang sinabi namin sa korte. Pero ang sabi nila ang arogante ko daw. Ayaw ko daw magpailalim.
There was a point in my life when it seemed that to a lot of people, I can do no wrong. These are times in my life now when it seems I can do no right (laughs). Pero kahit ako pinapana, kung hindi naman totoo, hindi lalanding. ‘Yun na lang sinasabi ko.
SCB: Where do you get all this strength?
GMP: Good should always overcome evil. You’ll always be proven right naman. Ang analogy na ginagamit ko when I talk to students is nung bata tayo, kapag may nakabasag ng flower vase ni mommy, takot na takot na tayo. Hindi ba kapag may curfew tayo na 6 p.m. tapos dumating tayo ng 1 a.m., tayo ang nagsasabi na “Mommy, among oras na ako dumating! Uwi ba ito ng matinong tao?” But we don’t realize that a lot of government people who take money from government, who kill people, sila pa ‘yung feel na feel na tawaging honorable. Baliktad eh. Kung sino ‘yung may kasalanan, dapat siya ‘yung takot. Dito kasi may kasalanan ka na nga, pumatay ka na nga, nagnakaw ka na nga, ikaw pa ‘yung bully. Dun nanggagaling ‘yung strength ko na may halong rebellion, na may halong galit. Bakit ba ang yabang yabang mo eh ikaw ‘yung masama? Dapat ikaw ‘yung nahihiya. Why should I be afraid kung alam ko namang wala akong kasalanan?
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 20.jpg | 33.55 KB |
Print
Email