Press Release
October 3, 2007

Pia: "We respect journalists' rights"
Transcript of interview with Sen. Pia S. Cayetano

Q: Ano po ang balak ng Committee on Ethics sa reklamo ni Sen. (Joker) Arroyo?

SPSC: As Committee on Ethics Chair, I am duty-bound to look into the matter, its implications (and) to probe if there's a violation of our rules on confidentiality when we are in executive session.

Q: Can you compel (Inquirer's) Juliet Javellana to divulge her sources?

SPSC: We all know that by law, and under the journalists' professional code of ethics, (the identity of sources) are to be protected. We're hoping that we can resolve this in time so we don't have to take this up in formal hearings. If this could be settled in another way, why not? I wouldn't want to put anyone in a situation where they would be violating their own professional conduct.

Q: Any possible resource person/s?

SPSC: First on the list would be Juliet Javellana, we would be consulting her. Pero in the matter of justice, definitely we will be guided by our own rules and conduct in a way that's fair to all. Hindi natin pupwersahin. Hindi naman tayo galit sa ating mga witnesses and we would not allow that to happen. We give the assurance to our resource persons that their rights will be respected.

Q: Ma'am maaaring bukas na po (October 3) ang last day of session at parang wala pa rin pong Cheaper Medicines Bill?

SPSC: As we speak, the Cheaper Medicines Bill as sponsored by Sen. Mar Roxas and which I co-sponsored, is about to be sponsored on second reading. But since this was passed during the last Congress, then we'll just read into the records our sponsorship speeches dahil 'yun din naman 'yun. Our support and our desire to see this through the end is still there and unwavering. In fact, sa bago kong sponsorship speech, we also pointed out the need to look into other related health issues. There are other angles to look at to ensure that Filipinos will get the health care they deserve.

News Latest News Feed