Two rivals offered to buy me out of presidential race, Perlas says

Presidential candidate Nicanor ‘Nicky’ Perlas revealed on Wednesday that two leading rivals have tried to buy him out of the race by offering a spot in their senatorial line-up, including an all-expense paid campaign. “Kapag tumakbo ako sa Manila, siya na daw ang bahala sa campaign ko bilang senador," Perlas said, albeit he refused to name both candidates, over radio dzBB in “Ikaw na ba? The Presidential Interview." (If I ran in Manila, [the candidate who offered to buy me out] would take charge of my senatorial campaign.) One of the candidates met him personally while another sent an emissary even before he filed a certificate of candidacy before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in November, Perlas said. "For one of them, the offer was sila na ang bahala sa lahat ng mga expenses if I accept the position as senator," Perlas added. (One of them offered to cover all expenses if I accept the position as a senator.)

Perlas, who neither has a vice presidential candidate nor a senatorial slate, reported he was campaigning under a budget of P6 million, a minuscule amount compared to the hundreds of millions spent by other presidential candidates. Of the total amount, a third – or P2 million – come from Perlas’ personal funds, with the rest sourced from donations from private individuals here and abroad. “Ultimately, ang botante ang mag-iisip, dahil marami ang naghahangad ng pagbabago," he said, emphasizing that money will not win anyone the presidency. Strong support Perlas claimed he had strong support from the government’s inner circles as well as the military on Wednesday, assuring him of support from ‘principled people’ should he win the presidency. “Marami tayong suporta from inside the government. Malakas rin ang ating military support, kaya ‘kapag tayo ay kumilos na, sigurado tayong we will be working with principled people in government," Perlas said. (We have lots of support from inside government. We also have strong support from the military. That is why if we take action, we will be working with principled people in government.) Perlas also claimed an eighty-percent awareness rate among the local communities, especially in Iloilo, Cebu, and NCR. “Eighty percent kilala tayo, at least facially. Alam nila kung sino tayo, na tumatakbo tayong presidente". (Eighty percent recognize me at least by face. They know who I am and that I am running for president.) On his potential Cabinet On his first 100 days, Perlas vowed to create a cabinet on civil society affairs composed of civil society groups such as Greenpeace and Gabriela, involving them in the decision-making of various government departments. He also named fellow rivals Senator Maria Ana Consuelo Madrigal, Olongapo City councilor John Carlos De los Reyes, and Bro. Eddie Villanueva in his Cabinet, calling them the “principled cast" — non-traditional politicians compared with five survey frontrunners Senators Benigno Aquino III, Manuel Villar, and Richard Gordon; former defense chief Gilberto Teodoro, and President Joseph Estrada whom he called the “traditional cast." “Iaappoint ko iyong mga nasa baba…hindi iyong mga traditional politicians natin na pera at popularidad ang pinapatakbo," said Perlas. (I will appoint people on the ground. Not traditional politicians who use money and popularity to run their campaigns.) He said he will appoint Villanueva as his anti-corruption czar, while Madrigal will head the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Other potential Cabinet members, he added, must have “zero tolerance for corruption, qualified in their respective positions, and must take a participatory stand, hindi iyong naghahari-harian sa kanilang sariling departamento." (Not those who lord it over their respective departments.) Perlas named Antonio Oposa, an acclaimed environmental lawyer and Ramon Magsaysay awardee for 2009 to head the environment department. Oposa is also the choice of presidential rival Gilberto Teodoro for the environment portfolio. In the meantime, Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan will be appointed by Perlas to the health department for his “clean record." Tan served as health chief during the Ramos administration. On his experience in government Despite not having held any government position in the past, Perlas resolved that his decades of experience as adviser for various government offices make him fit to fulfill the functions of the highest chief executive. “I’ve had 20 to 30 years of experience working in advisory positions from the Office of the President (OP) down to the local offices… so alam natin lahat ng kalakaran niyan…But since I was [not part of the government itself], wala akong utang na loob, kaya pwedeng pwede kong linisin ‘yan directly," he said. (I know all the ins and outs of government since I’ve got 20 to 30 years experience of working in advisory positions from the Office of the President (OP) down to the local offices. But since I was not part of government itself, I have no debts of gratitude to pay that makes me able to clean up all these departments.) Perlas has served as a technical consultant or a resource person to various institutions including the Office of the President, the Senate, House of Representatives, as well as to the DSWD, Department of Agriculture (DA), and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), according to his website. He has also worked for various United Nations (UN) bodies and was part of the official Philippine Delegation to the UN and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Views on various issues Perlas emphasized the need to rid the executive branch of corruption, which he said has bred power-greedy individuals in government. “The Office of the President is one of the most problematic and corrupt offices. Kailangan ‘yang linisin…If I ran for a position lower than the presidency, I will just get frustrated because this is the executing body of the government," Perlas said. “If there is enough evidence, yes, ipapakulong ko si Gloria Arroyo…pati si Mike Arroyo," said Perlas, who refused to address the First Gentleman as such. “I do not consider him a gentleman. He doesn’t deserve it." (If there is enough evidence, I will jail Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, including her husband Mike Arroyo.) Besides the OP, Perlas vowed to clean up the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BoC). “May proteksyon kasi galing sa taas, kaya hindi malinis-linis." (These agencies have protection from above. That’s why it can’t be cleaned up.) Perlas also said he was offered to head the environment department in 2003, which he turned down because of the differences in his and President Arroyo’s management styles. “Command-control style ang kay [President Arroyo]…I am for participatory governance." (The President’s management style is command-control.) Environmental protection with poverty alleviation Perlas, a known environmental activist, cited his vision for a “pang-masang kalikasan" [pro-people environment policy] and the overall modernization of the agriculture industry, where environmental protection runs parallel with poverty alleviation. Perlas said artesian wells were used in his Iloilo home, which he said was not only environment-friendly but also pro-poor. He added that he will promote the use of these cheap alternatives as part of his anti-poverty and pro-environment platform of governance. Perlas also expressed opposition to the distribution of condoms to the public, but emphasized the need for reproductive education. “I am not against condoms per se. If people can afford to drink and smoke regularly, then they should also be able to afford condoms," he said. On Mindanao Perlas also vowed to initiate a major crackdown on private armies, as well as peace talks with Muslim rebels in Mindanao. “Mindanao is close to my heart. I spent four years studying there. We have also helped a lot of farmers there… If elected, we will dismantle private armies by first cleaning up the ranks of the military," Perlas said, claiming that “90 percent of the country’s uniformed personnel seek change." Perlas studied at Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. On surveys Perlas said he did not believe in surveys, citing an experience of one of his siblings’ driver, who he said was surveyed for his presidential choice. “Noong sinabi ng driver ng kapatid ko na Perlas ang susuportahan niya, iyong nag-susurvey daw, sinabing bakit siya, hindi mananalo 'yan," suggesting the names of leading presidentiables Aquino, Villar, and Teodoro instead. Perlas also claimed that surveys, especially those conducted by independent entities, did not include the names of presidential candidates who have consistently occupied the bottom spots — De los Reyes, Villanueva, and Madrigal. “Kaya sinasabi ko sa mga taga-suporta ko, huwag kayong maniwala sa surveys." (This is why I always tell my supporters not to believe in surveys.) - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV