Press Release
November 12, 2008

Interview with Sen. Alan Peter "Companero" S. Cayetano

Sen. Alan : Well, matagal na hinintay ang pagkakataon na ito. At ini-expect natin na ang iba't- ibang mga senador ay iko-confront si Usec Bolante sa previous testimonies at ebidensiya. May mga pahapyaw na si usec Bolante at ang kanyang abogado, na hindi niya sasagutin ang mga incriminating na tanong. So dapat maging creative, at mag aral ng mabuti sa mga tanong para maging klaro kung ano ang mga sinasabi na totoo, kailan umiilag, kailan nagtatago, at kailan ayaw sumagot, at kung anong ibig sabihin nito.

But despite that limitations, determinado kami malaman ang buong katotohanan tungkol sa fertilizer fund scam. Hindi una at huling hearing ang bukas. Unang pagkakataon na marinig si Usec Bolante, ngunit pagkatapos niya, ay marami pang testimonya ang Dept. of Agriculture, at marami pang ipapaliwanag, at mayroon pang mga witnesses na lumalapit sa mga senmador para muling ipaalala ang iba't ibang ebidensiya na hindi naisama nung nagkaroon ng hearing nung nakalipas na Kongreso.

The rule is to respect his constitutional rights, but the decision is on the Senate committee, whether or not the question is incriminating, rests with the committee. So meaning if the questions are obviously incriminatory, then we will allow him to use his constitutional right. Pero kung malinaw na nagtatago lang siya sa karapatan na yon, pero hindi naman incriminatory yung tanong, so pwede namin siyang pilitin na sagutin yan.

Then we can hold him in contempt.

The arrangements are being made and priority yung kanyang security.

Binigyan ko lang ng oras kung kailan latest makaalis duon, to move out tonight or early tomorrow am.

The OSAA is on top of it naman. I just don't want to say more about that so to make sure that secured siya sa paglipat niya dito.

I'm not exactly sure about the rooms. Hindi na ako nagpa-brief doon because remember, were also expecting Gen. Dela Paz anytime. But arrangements have been made.

Hindi naming sya ipu- pull out. Nagpaalam naman siya, so its really his choice kung saan siya kumportable para sa hearing bukas. Binigyan ko siya ng option na if he wants to go and sleep here, nasa kanya yung option.

If he doesn't cooperate. The understanding is, he purges himself of contempt by appearing and testifying. But if he gives falls testimony or refuses to answer legitimate questions that are not covered by legal excuses that are available to him, he may be held in contempt and may be asked to remain in the Senate until he gives answers that are satisfactory.

Pwede din because nga hindi naman kaparusahan ang contempt, kung hindi ito ay isang order na mag-appear siya at mag testify. So pag na-satisfy niya na yun, that's it.

Well depende din sa takbo ng hearing kasi yung pagbalik niya sa susunod is a form of cooperation at yung cooperation makikita mo din, in the way he answers. And pwede rin sigurong magkaroon ng undertaking yan, so ayoko lang I pre-empt ang mga members. But before the hearing finishes tomorrow, definitely mag-uusap-usap ang mga miembro at magkakaroon kami ng ruling diyan. We are also considering the house to continue their hearing and they want Usec Bolante to go to the House; to also not deny the House of Representatives of his testimony also.

Yes, masyadong maraming mga tanong, at in fact, marami sa aming nagsusunog ng kilay sa dami ng documento, sa dami ng listahan, ebidensiya na binigay last time, and sa dami din ng hindi pa nasasama na ebidensiya

Part of his Constitutional right is right to life , yung kanyang health. He's free to bring his doctors, the Senate doctors so as soon as may complaint siya, hindi problema yun.

Maybe not all hearings but definitely it is the right of the Senate to compare testimonies and help opportunities that we will be able to test the testimonies one against the other. So meaning if his answers are not the same sa sagot ng mga taga Dept of Agriculture ay pwede naming I require na bumalik or kaya magkaroon ng pagkakataon. Ang accommodation sa kanya, siya lang ang guest tomorrow dahil siya na lang ang hindi pa nakakapagsalita but definitely if we need him pwedeng magkaroon ng confrontation in so far as with the testimony of others, we will require him to go back. But ayoko nga pangunahan yun kasa depende eh, Baka maubos naman yung mga tanong tomorrow.

Yeah, he'll be cared for. Or pwede ding bumaba yung doctor.

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