Press Release
July 21, 2009

Transcript of interview with Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile

Q: Dadalo ba kayo sa SONA?

SP: Oo, syempre, I am one of the presiding officers. Mahirap naman na hindi natin gagawin 'yon. Unconstitutional act 'yon because Joint Session of Congress is a mandate of the Constitution to hear the State of the Nation Address of the President.

Q: What do you think about those not attending?

SP: Well, the senators, they are not herds. They are not sheep. They have their discretion to attend or not to attend. But I will be very happy if they will attend.

Q: Do you expect the true State of the Nation given or may mga window-dressing figures kaya?

SP: I don't know. I do not really know the content of the State of the Nation Address of the President. So, I cannot say if it is true to fact or some are not true to fact. I cannot say either way because I have not previewed the contents of the speech of the President.

Q: Sir, any unsolicited advice to the President kung ano ang sasabihin niya?

SP: None. I don't think she needs my advice. I am only a senator. She's the President. She has an over-all knowledge of the entire country. She has all the information available to her from all sources --- military, police, local government, private sector, bureaucracy, experts including foreign information.

Q: May mga sectors na nagsasabi na dapat isama niya sa speech na there will be an election sa 2010.

SP: There is no need for the President to say that. Well, I don't fault these people who are saying that because they are not lawyers. It's in the Constitution. All you have to do is read the Constitution. I'm sure the text of the Constitution is not complicated English.

Q: May magwawalk-out daw kapag naconvert to Con-Ass?

SP: Imposible na maicoconvert into a Con-Ass. In the first place, that action will be unconstitutional. On that day, the only thing in the agenda which will be covered by the resolution of both Houses would be to hear the State of the Nation Address of the President. No more, no less. All of these things, these fears being conjured in the minds of people, have no basis. Pag ginawa nila 'yon, all I have to do is adjourn the session. Tapos. Otherwise, the one who whill break the motion will be committing an act of disorderly behavior in the Joint Session. That's not in the agenda.

Q: Sir, yung revival ng death penalty, are you in favor po?

SP: I have to think about it. I have been voting against death penalty but given the gravity of drug menace in the country, I might think of reassessing my position.

Q: Sir, ang Presidente in favor siya...

SP: You know, there is really a need to review because of the drug menace. Lahat itong mga nanggugulo sa atin kung minsan ay hindi naman taga-rito. They are making money out of the misery of the nation. That's not proper.

Q: Will you soon draft a resolution or bill once you have determined your position to amend the law?

SP: To amend the law? No, I will not be the one. Let the people in the proper committees do it.

Q: Sir, ano na ang status ng resolution niyo tungkol sa imbestigasyon sa kasambahay?

SP: Naka-pending na.

Q: Hindi pa narerefer sa committee?

SP: Hindi pa. Nangyari 'yon sa recess.

Q: Sir, any expectation sa Obama meeting?

SP: I don't know their agenda. Normally, these meetings deal with political relations, economic relations and security relations.

Q: Do you think the VFA will be tackled?

SP: No. They will probably talk of the over-all security situation in Southeast Asia, in particular, the Philippines.

Q: Sir, anything significant that you might cut on the 2010 budget?

SP: I think we will have to expand the budget for 2010. We cannot afford to slacken our expenditures because we have to provide jobs for the people.

Q: Sir, pwede ko na ba sabihin na pag-resume ng session simula na 'yung imbestigasyon sa domestic violence sa mga helpers?

SP: Siyempre, gagawin 'yon. We have to address 'yung kagaya dun sa ginawa sa dalawang bata. Hindi na pinapasweldohan, pinagtatrabaho pa ng katakot-takot. Hindi pa pinakakain. Tapos nagkamali, pinainom pa ng hindi karapat-dapat na inumin.

Q: Sir, 'yung Villar probe, will it continue?

SP: Yes, we will have to finish that.

Q: Do you have time even with the budget hearings?

SP: Why not? We have the time. It has to be attended to because people might think that we were just kidding when that matter was filed. Especially, it's a Senate committee of the whole. Not that we want to injure anybody but it is our duty to terminate the hearings.

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