Press Release
October 13, 2009

Transcript of interview with Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile

ON VILLAR CASE

Q: Sir, ano po ang ibig sabihin po dito kanina? Last hearing na po ba ito?

SP: Tinapos na. Ang ibig sabihin ng nangyari ngayong umaga ay tapos na si Sen. Jamby Madrigal sa kanyang presentation ng kanyang ebidensiya. At ang mga ebidensiya na iprinisinta ni Senator Madrigal kontra kay Senator Villar at namarkahan na mga exhibit dito sa paglilitis na ito, ay ipiprisinta through a motion to be filed by the counsel for the complainant Senator Madrigal not later than 5 PM on Friday. At the same time the Chair of the Committee of the Whole gave respondent 0Senator Manuel Villar until that time to tell the committee whether he will present any evidence to controvert the evidence presented against him and indicate when he wants to present controverting evidence, to indicate to the committee if he will introduce that evidence within a reasonable time. So unless he will notify the Committee of the Whole that he will be presenting evidence to controvert the evidence against him, the ethics case against Senator Villar will be deemed submitted for the consideration and resolution of the Committee of the Whole.

Q: Sir, Friday din po yung deadline ni Senator Villar?

SP: Yes, Friday din.

Q: Kung hindi na siya magpepresent ng evidence?

SP: We will decide the case on the basis of the evidence presented.

Q: Pagbalik ninyo po sa November, meron na pong decision?

SP: Pagbalik namin sa November meron na kaming decision.

Q: Sir, during the break gagawin na yung committee report?

SP: Yes.

Q: Sir, yun pong sinabi ninyong reasonable time for Villar sir, ano po yung period na yun?

SP: Well, reasonable time, siguro at least a week or so. A week is a reasonable time.

Q: Sir, may communication na from the side of Senator Villar?

SP: We already notified him and so far we have not received any. That was October 6, today is the 13th. One week ago we notified him that we are ready to receive his controverting evidence. To date, we have not received any reply. But we will still give him more time to reply until Friday. If there is no reply by Friday, then we will consider the matter submitted for resolution. If he will reply that he is going to controvert the evidence then he must indicate to us when he wants to do that. It cannot be forever. It cannot be after the year. It cannot be after the month of November, it cannot be longer than two weeks. We will give him that time. If he will not, or at least during the recess, he must indicate, we will give him time to be heard after the recess if there is such an indication. If not, then we will start writing the committee report.

Q: Sir, ano po yung pinapasubmit ninyo kay Senator Madrigal?

SP: Yung kanyang ebidensiya. Kailangan maisubmit yun formally sa committee.

Q: Sir, considering na kaunti na lang yung mga senador na nag-aattend nung hearing, pano sila magdedecide?

SP: Kaya nga bibigyan sila ng kopya ng motion ni Atty. Francisco. Kasama dun yung ebidensiya.

Q: Sir, yung non-attendance nila, hindi po ba yun indicative of non-interest na sa kaso?

SP: Hindi naman. Dahil busy sila. Kagaya ngayon, wala na namang ginagawa talaga sa hearing eh. Natapos na. During the previous hearings, papalit-palit naman yung mga senador na nag-attend. Meron nag-attend, merong hindi, dahil may mga schedules sila.

Q: Sir, ilan po ang kailangan na signature sa Committee?

SP: Saka na lang natin pag-usapan. Hindi ko na sasabihin kung ilan. Depende kung ano ang resulta ng committee report.

Q: Sir, so magvavary po yun?

SP: Siyempre.

Q: Tapos po dadaan sa debate dito sa plenary?

SP: Pag natapos yun. Isa-submit. Iba yung paraan namin sa committee eh. Pagbobotohan namin yan kung ano ang magiging desisyon namin.

Q: Sir, ano po ang range ng penalty?

SP: Hindi ko sasabihin na penalty. Pag sinabi mong penalty para bang may conclusion na kami eh. Wag na natin pagusapan yung merit ng kaso.

ON SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET

Q: Pinasa na daw kagabi sir sa House?

SP: Ngayon, kailangan i-certify ng national treasurer sa amin na meron na actual na pera. Supplemental budget ang sinasabi, sa Saligang batas, yung supplemental budget must be accompanied by a revenue measure to support it, or a certification of actual available funds in the treasury to support it. That is the Constitution. Hindi pwede yung 'will be made available' lang.

Q: So far, wala pa pong ganung certification, Sir?

SP: Wala pa. Wala pa yata. Ewan ko. Manggagaling sa House yun eh. There must be a proof of the actual availability of funds.

Q: Approved na daw sa House last night, sir?

SP: Ewan ko kung meron. Because we will require the presence here of the national treasurer to tell us where that money is coming from, where it is deposited. Because ang sinasabi sa Saligang Batas, there must be an actual money available in the treasury. Yung 'will be made available' is different from the wording of the Constitution which requires actual availability. Yun ang aking intindi, ha? Yun ang recollection ko sa Constitution.

Q: Kung may certification sir, maipa-pass ninyo yun hanggang bukas?

SP: Oo. We can pass.

Q: Wala naman po kayong nakikitang opposition? Kasi may statement last week si Nograles na sinasabi niya na may mga senador na mag-ooppose dun sa budget?

SP: Wala naman akong alam na mag-ooppose dito. Si minority floor leader ata ang nagbitaw ng salita. Ewan ko. That's my recollection. You better check.

Q: Sir, otherwise, kung may certification na, magiging smooth sailing yung pagpasa ng budget?

SP: This will become a matter of voting. We will vote on it.

Q: Sir, mamaya po ba nasa agenda na yun?

SP: Ewan ko kung gaano kabilis magreport si Senator Angara, nasa kamay niya yun.

ON LIABILITY OF DAM OPERATORS

Q: Sir, yung nangyari po sa Pangasinan? May liability po ba yung mga dam operators?

SP: If they can prove negligence. Because that is what we call in law, 'tort'. Tortuous act. But to claim damages because of tort, you must prove negligence because that is the basis of the tortuous conduct. If they can prove that, they can claim damages.

Q: Mahirap ba patunayan sir?

SP: Hindi mahirap patunayan. Yung magagaling na abogado, kayang-kaya yun. Kung hindi ako senador ngayon, I would present myself and volunteer but I am prohibited by the Constitution to appear in court.

Q: Sir, damages lang, walang criminal liability?

SP: Kung may imprudence. If they can prove imprudence on the part of the operators, more than just negligence, but a certain degree of neglect that show that it was an imprudent act, yung talagang binalewala mo na lang kung may masaktan o hindi, then lack of care. Then you can file criminal liability kung may namatay.

Q: Pero sir, with what happened, yung mga tao dun should really pursue the case?

SP: Well, people who have suffered damage are entitled to get recompense. Now, if some of those damage done to them were the object of any insurance, then they can claim insurance. Kung may injury eh, talagang you are entitled to a compensation to be paid for the damage done to you.

Q: Sir, so personally, may nakikita kayo na negligence dun sa mga dam operators?

SP: Hindi ko alam ang mga facts eh. Paano ko malalaman. You have to analyze the facts. A lawyer cannot just make a conclusion unless he has the evidence, and he has sifted the evidence well.

Q: Sir, do you think there is a good chance to file damages against dam operators?

SP: Yes. But the element of negligence must be established, also reckless imprudence. You can compute the actual and moral damages.

ON CON-CON

Q: Kagabi rin po nakalusot na yung Con-Con sa Lower House.

SP: Con-Con? Ano yung Con-Con?

Q: Constitutional Convention Sir.

SP: Ay hindi yun papasa dito. Wag na muna ngayon, saka na. Bakit kailangan pa ang Con-Con ngayon, marami na tayong problema? Cha-cha, Con-Con, wag na muna yun.

Q: After 2010 na lang sir?

SP: Mabuti na yun after 2010. Yung mga matatalo sa election eh pwede kumandidato na constitutional delegates.

ON $2 BILLION FOREIGN AID

Q: Sir, may order na po si President Arroyo na special committee sir, for the $2 billion na rehab?

SP: Anong special committee?

Q: Sir, do you think this will be helpful?

SP: Anong $2 billion?

Q: Pang loan sir, to be headed by Pangilinan and Bishop Rosales.

SP: Ano yun, hindi ko alam kung ano yun?

Q: Para siyang ad hoc committee sir.

SP: Saan kukunin yung $2 billion?

Q: Sir, foreign aid na po.

SP: Foreign aid. Now if that is foreign aid, then that has to be budgeted. No money that goes to the national treasury can be spent by anybody in this country unless through an appropriation by law. Now, of course, the President can create any body that she wants but the money must be handled by Congress.

SP: All the money that goes to the national treasury can't be spent by any body unless through an appropriation by law. It's the President that creates any body that she wants. But the money will be under Congress.

Q: Sir, itong body daw na ito will represent the victims to the International Court para maka-claim ng environmental damages ang mga victims.

SP: Mahirap sagutin iyan. Hindi ko alam ang dinanas ng Presidente. Pero kung may pera na makukuha, halimbawa donations ng ibang bansa, papasok 'yun sa kaban ng bayan. At hindi magagastos 'yun nang walang pakialam ang Kongreso. Kongreso ang mag- authorize kung papaano gagastusin 'yun.

Q: Sir, ano ang masasabi n'yo tungkol kay Manny Pangilinan...

SP: You have to give it to him. He's highly skilled, highly paid, highly respected chief executive.

Q: Sir, how about including a bishop in the membership of that committee?

SP: Well, I don't know. I think Cardinal Rosales will lend prestige to the committee. Maybe he can call on the assistance and influence of the Vatican for help.

ON ERAP's CANDIDACY

Q: Sir, kailan ang declaration ni Erap ng kanyang candidacy?

SP: Alam ko ang petsa pero hindi ko sasabihin yan. Siya lang ang makapagsasabi niyan.

Q: Sir, tuloy na ba 'yung Erap-Binay tandem?

SP: Parang ganoon na yata.

Q: Ikaw, sir, confirmed ka na senatorial candidate sa lineup ni Erap? Number 1 ka?

SP: Ako... ay number one sa lahat (laughs). Oo. Ako ay nasa listahan.

Q: Sir, paano mo made-describe ang Erap-Binay tandem?

SP: Magagaling sila. Kung sa pintakasi 'yan, meron din kaming mga manok na texas.

SP: Alam mo sa election na ito, it's a joust. It's a political joust. Maiwan ang matibay.

Q: Sir, si Grace Poe, kasama din ba sa lineup ni Erap?

SP: Hindi ko alam kung sasama siya sa amin. Nabanggit din siya na kasama sa pangkat ni Senator Villar.

Q: Sir, makakabuo ba ng complete senatorial slate 'yung mga partido?

SP: Malamang hindi. May puwang 'yan.

Q: So, sir, ia-adopt n'yo lang 'yung iba?

SP: Eh, kung ia-adopt ako ng lahat, ok lang sa akin 'yan. Pati kay Noynoy, pag ia-adopt ako di sasabihin ko kay Noynoy, "salamat".

Q: Sir, sino sa tingin n'yo ang closest rival ni Erap sa presidency?

SP: Everybody is a close rival of Erap. Hindi mo masasabi. Mahaba pa ang panahon na dadaanan natin.

Q: Sir, sa tingin n'yo malakas din si Binay?

SP: Don't underestimate Jojo. Maraming Ilocano. Maraming Ibanag. Maraming mayors sa Pilipinas na makokontak niya.

ON OVERPRICED CAMCORDERS

SP: 'Yung dito naman sa amin na nalagay sa dyaryo tungkol sa overpricing, sinabi ko na kanina kay Senator Lacson to proceed investigating the case. Anybody found liable who had defrauded the Senate, no matter how small the amount, we have to make an example. He has to be separated from the service. The Committee on Accounts will conduct the investigation. Here, we will not tolerate any misuse of the funds budgeted for the Senate. That's why we are giving enough compensation for our employees because we expect a high degree of rectitude from them. And if they will abuse that, they have to get out. This is not the place for them. And if you do not get out, we will kick you out. But there must be due process. There must be a fair hearing and sufficient evidence to make that action.

News Latest News Feed