Transcript of Senator Mar Roxas' press briefing

On new impeachment proceedings at the House, and Senate hearings on ZTE:

MAR: I have not seen the impeachment filing. This is part of the process that will be undertaken at the House of Representatives, and we in the Senate properly should not be too engaged in this, because we might end up being judges in an impeachment trial. This is a process that is unique and germane to the House of Representatives and will continue to be so.

As for the Senate, the filing of this impeachment, the discontinuance of the ZTE contract, does not in any way impinge upon the continuation of the [ZTE] hearings. The purpose of the Senate to continue these hearings is twofold, first is to find out what really happened? How did we get this far that we were going to borrow 330 million dollars for a project that we don't need and that may in fact be overpriced, and that certainly was surrounded by controversy and allegations of bribery attempts.

The second reason that the Senate ought to continue its hearings is to find out exactly how we can improve and fortify the Procurement Law and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, so that these eventualities will not be repeated in the future.

Q: Will you compel the First Gentleman to attend?

MAR: I can not speak for the committee members, nor for the other chairs. As for myself, if there's a doctor certification, for now, I will find that acceptable so long that there is a sworn deposition provided by the First Gentleman giving his version of what happened in relation to the allegations of Mr. De Venecia [Joey].

Yan lang naman talaga ang issue dito, na may sinabi si Joey De Venecia na ito yung nangyari. Kung hindi maka-appear ng personal si FG Mike Arroyo, the sworn deposition, kung ano ang kanyang bersyon ng pangyayari na iyon. Batay sa bersyon na iyon at batay sa iba pang mga ebidensya o iba pang impormasyon, dedesisyunan natin kung mangangailangan, sa darating na panahon yung actual presence ni FG.

For me, what's important is that Secretary Neri be there because hindi pa talaga testimony ni Secretary Neri. At kung ma-invoke nga itong executive privilege, then magiging pagkakataon ito para dalhin na nga sa Supreme Court, malalaman ano ba ang nararapat na maging sikreto sa pag-uusap ng Pangulo at sa kanyang mga Cabinet secretary, at ano ang nararapat na nasa public domain, na karapatan ni Juan dela Cruz na malaman.