Ong says he's against death penalty 'for now'

Vice presidential aspirant Dr. Willie Ong is open to having discussions about the death penalty.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB’s "Ikaw Na Ba: The Vice Presidential Interviews" on Monday, Ong, a cardiologist, said at present, he is not in favor of death penalty.

However, Ong said he is open to have this considered especially on heinous crimes.

"Ang stand ko naman talaga ay no tayo sa death penalty, kaya tayo doktor, tumutulong tayo sa lahat eh. Pero puwede ko i-consider 'yung death penalty sa special circumstance na hindi natin masabi eh kung may heinous crime, may nagnakaw ng P10 billion, o kung may pumatay na 50 katao," he said.

(I'm really not in favor of death penalty. That's why I'm a doctor, I help other people. But I can consider death penalty in special circumstances like for those who commited heinous crimes, those who steal P10 billion or those who killed many people.)

Ong said the country's justice system should be fixed first.

"Sa ngayon no tayo pero hindi ko isasara totally. Puwede natin pag-usapan kasi sa ibang araw di natin masabi, baka may ibang panahon, sa ibang bansa may death penalty, baka makabawas ito. Makabawas din sa krimen pero sa ngayon no muna tayo," he said.

(For now, I'm not in favor of death penalty, but I'm not closing discussions about it. We can discuss it in the future as this could help prevent crimes in the future.)

West Philippine Sea

When it comes to territorial issues in the West Philippine Sea, Ong said he would support the stand of the incoming president but he stressed that the Hague ruling should be enforced.

Ong said the Philippines need the oil and natural gas resources found in the region. He said he is open to having joint explorations with China but the deal should benefit Filipinos more.

"Siyempre bilang vice president, susuporta tayo sa ating presidente, sa stand ng ating presidente. Dito kasi sa West Philippine Sea, ang tingin ko dito, hindi lang ito away eh. Ito talaga pera siya, alam natin mayroong 11 billion barrels of oil, kailangan natin 'yung oil na 'yun," Ong said.

(I will support the stand of our president. For me, the issue on the West Philippine Sea is not just a territorial dispute but a money issue because of the resources there.)

"Ipaglaban natin 'yung Hague ruling, itutuloy natin 'yan para mayroon tayong pag-lobby sa China pero sa ibang araw, sa tingin ko sana magkaroon ng deal between Philippines and China, 'yung pinag-uusapan na 60-40 ba," he added.

(We will fight for the Hague ruling. In the future, I think we can also have a deal with China in exploring the natural resources.)

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, following a case filed by the Philippines, invalidated China's sweeping claims over the waters. China, however, continues to ignore the arbitration ruling as it describes the decision as “illegal and invalid.”

SALN

Meanwhile, Ong said he is open to disclose his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).

Under the Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, public officials and employees “have an obligation to accomplish and submit declarations under oath of, and the public has the right to know, their assets, liabilities, net worth and financial and business interests including those of their spouses and of unmarried children under 18 years of age living in their households.”

"Opo, walang problema... SALN, bank waiver, lahat ng gusto niyo. Pag pumasok tayo sa pulitika, talagang ginigive up ko naman lahat eh. Ginigive up ko na 'yung pera ko, 'yung Facebook ko, alam ko naman madumi ang pulitika all out tayo," Ong said.

(Yes, there's no problem with that, SALN, bank waiver... Once I enter politics, I am willing to give up everything including my money, my Facebook, I know that the political arena is 'dirty,' so I'm all out.)

He also vowed to curb corruption by setting leadership as an example to the public: "Corruption kasi siyempre leadership by example nga eh, 'yun naman ang ginagawa natin kaya nga tayo di tumatanggap ng campaign funds eh."

(That's what I'm doing, that's why I'm not accepting campaign funds.) —KBK, GMA News