Press Release
April 28, 2009

Transcript of interview with Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile

Q: Sa Committee of the Whole po, kelan magsisimula?

SP: Bibigyan ko ng instruction ngayon ang aking mga tauhan if we can call the first hearing on Thursday we will try. If not, next week.

Q: Sa plenary na ite-take up?

SP: Committee of the Whole, lahat ng senador nandoon, yung gustong sumali.

Q: Kailan pwede i-start?

SP: Kung magagawa namin sa Huwebes, kung hindi next week.

Q: Yung walang session day?

SP: Siyempre, hindi naman pwede paghaluin yung Monday to Wednesday dahil kailangan namin pag-uusapan yung mga batas.

Q: Sir, kayo ang magpre-preside as requested by Senator Lacson?

SP: Ayun ang sinabi nila. Ako ang magpre-preside.

Q: Do you expect Senator Villar to fully cooperate?

SP: Well, hopefully, we expect him to cooperate and clear his name of the charges and I'm sure he can defend himself of those charges. But it's up to him to make the personal decisions.

Q: So paano kapag walang participation from Senator Villar?

SP: I will not assume that he will not participate.

Q: Sir, ano yung procedure? Kailangan pa ba magharap pa siya ng mga abogado niya?

SP: Oo, kailangan. Kailangan na mai-presenta niya yung ebidensiya niya para mapatunayan na hindi totoo yung paratang.

Q: Sir, according to Senator Lacson kung piliin ni Villar na i-defy yung Committee of the Whole ay mabuti pa na umalis na siya as senator.

SP: I will not comment on that. I am the presiding officer.

Q: Kailangan pa po bang magkaroon kayo ng panibagong set of rules na susundin?

SP: We will probably adapt the rules of the Ethics Committee for that purpose.

Q: Will Senator Villar be given enough days to answer? Ang Ethics Committee binigyan ng 5 days si Villar to answer the allegations.

SP: We will give the former Senate President all the courtesies and all the time to muster his evidence and to present his case.

Q: How long will it take?

SP: I don't know.

Q: Initially, may tugon na po ba si Villar sa decision ng Committee of the Whole?

SP: Wala pa. Wala pa naman kaming pinadadala sa kanya na request to answer.

Q: So panibagong notice sir to answer the allegations?

SP: We will give him time to reply to the charges.

Q: Ilang araw po sir ang ibibigay sa kanya?

SP: I don't know yet. That will be a function of the committee.

Q: Sir sa pagbubukas ng libro ng mga oil companies, paano ang magiging proseso?

SP: Hindi ko alam. Tanungin natin yung husgado.

Q: Doon sa pagbubukas ng libro, malalaman na ba natin kung talagang nagkaroon ng overpricing?

SP: Malalaman dahil titignan yung total imports and the price, the declared value of cost of its imports divided by the number of gallons or liters imported and how much they sell it to the public.

Q: Doon sa Ethics Committee, ang allegation ay mayroon ng pre-judgment kay Senator Villar.

SP: Walang pre-judgment. Ang sinasabi lang doon sa order, we believe that the charge is sufficient in form and substance, please answer it. We believe there is basis to ask you to answer the charges. There is no conclusion that he is guilty or innocent.

Q: Sir sa Committee of the Whole, can you give him an assurance na magiging fair ang process?

SP: I will not make any statement. Just watch us as we conduct the proceedings and condemn us if you think that we are unfair.

Q: Sir doon sa VFA dapat bang ma-revoke yon?

SP: Tanungin natin ang Committee on Foreign Affairs dito sa Senado. Sa aking paningin I have to weigh the case in relation to the over-all security position of the country and find out whether we can sacrifice the security of this nation simply because we want to maintain the honor and sovereignty of the country because if we cannot secure this country, what country is there whose honor and sovereignty cannot be protected.

Q: Do you think malaki ang naitulong ng VFA sa Pilipinas?

SP: Yung VFA, anak yon nung mutual defense treaty. Mayroon kasunduan tayo sa Amerika na kapag tayo ay salakayin, tayo ay ipagtatanggol ng Amerika.

Q: Is there a need for the Congress to review or revisit the VFA?

SP: I will withhold my opinion on that.

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