Transcript of ambush interview of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile

Q: Sir, si Majority Leader Zubiri nag host ba siya ng ano? Pinag isa-isa ba kayo ni Sen. Zubiri?

SP: I left the hall because I have to meet some people in my office and I have to make a decision regarding the Royalty Bill so, I came down to participate in the proceedings.

Q: So, what happens next, Sir? Will you continue chairing the Committee of the Whole?

SP: Well, I will leave my fate to my colleagues.

Q: Sir, bakit nag adjourn? I mean, parang walang legislative work today?

SP: We will finish all the bills. If we have to work until wee hours of the morning, we will do it to finish all the bills. There's no ifs and buts about that.

Q: Sir, sabi ni Senator Pimentel, ready naman daw siyang makipag bati sa inyo. Hindi naman daw siya nagtatanim ng galit.

SP: Alam mo, I'm not ready to meet with anybody. That is my character that is how I was trained. I was trained in the rural ramparts of our country, in a place where survival is very difficult. And I was able to survive, until now. Now for people to be hitting me repeatedly, I give them all the leeway but there is a limit. And when that limit is reached, I have to put my foot down to end it if possible. This thing happened even if it involves a President. That is the way I rend my life all up to this point.

Q: Sir, you're really resigning as the presiding officer of the Committee of the Whole?

SP: I leave it, as I said in my speech, I resign and leave my fate to my colleagues. It's up to them to decide. They can nominate somebody else if they want.

Q: But what if they say na ayaw nila?

SP: I will not speculate.