Press Release
November 11, 2009

Transcript of Interview of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile

ON ZTE

SP I am sure they prefer to report this based on the evidence that was gathered, but I have not read the report.

Q: Sir, yung star witness idinamay din?

SP Well, there must have been a basis. Yung mga star witness, they were supposed to be participants. The ones who will take care of excluding them will be the courts, if ever the case will reach the courts. The Senate cannot exclude anyone.

Q: Sir, hindi kaya matakot yung ibang whistle blower, na kapag whistle blower sila tapos bandang huli kasama sila palagi sa committee report?

SP Well, that is a possibility but as I said, we cannot exclude anybody. Only the courts have the right to exclude anybody from any particular charge.

Q: How about sir yung kay Presidente Arroyo? Just a recommendation from the Ombudsman?

SP Well, the President is immune from suit. That is the position of the letter. But we have not acted upon that. It is only a report made by the chairman of the committee. I do not know whether it has been signed by the members, the majority of the members.

Q: Sir, ano ang mangyayari, pwede pa siyang mabago?

SP No, it cannot be changed. It is a report prepared by the committee, then the members of the committee will have to decide whether they will adopt it or not.

Q: Kung hindi, sir, kunyari yung majority hindi pumirma?

SP Then there is no report.

Q: Ano ang mangyayari sir? Walang bearing yung findings?

SP Then it will become just political means, it will raise an issue, but it cannot be accepted as a report unless approved by the majority.

Q: Sir, hindi po ba parang nagiging just passing the buck to the Ombudsman?

SP Who is passing the buck to the Ombudsman?

Q: Sir, the committee. Sa committee report sir, sinabing kailangan pang-investigate ng ombudsman.

SP It is only the Ombudsman that can really investigate, to prosecute. We are only investigating, in aid of legislation. Now any findings that will have bearing on a possible criminal responsibility of any public officer must be forwarded to the proper authorities. In this case, the Ombudsman. It will be the Ombudsman that will finally make a decision whether to proceed with the prosecution or not.

Q: Sir, if the President is immune from suit, what can the Ombudsman do? Hindi n'ya investigate si Presidente?

SP You cannot investigate the President and file a criminal case against her during her term.

Q: Sir, that's the recommendation of the report, for the Ombudsman to investigate.

SP Well, to investigate yes, but to prosecute, no. Maybe after.

Q: Pwede po ba yun? After her term?

SP Syempre, if there is a violation, unless the crime is prescribed, the crime exists.

Q: Sir, sabi ni Senator Arroyo, too late yung dating?

SP Too late ang dating in what sense?

Q: Patapos na daw yung Arroyo administration, magpapalit na ng Presidente?

SP Totoo yun. It is only about 6 to 8 months away. But still, there is time to submit it to the ombudsman for whatever disposition it might want to make.

Q: Will you attend the meeting of the President?

SP I was not invited, I will be in Mindanao.

ON US MILLENIUM CHALLENGE CORP.

Q: Sir, yung sa US Millennium Challenge Corporation, nakakuha tayo ng poor ranking?

SP Why do they give us a report card? We are not studying in their corporation.

Q: Hindi sir, funding yun, yung sa aid?

SP Well, bahala na sila kung bigyan tayo ng poor report card. If they do not want to give us aid, are we that destitute already that we must lie if we do not get any aid? Ako, I believe in self- reliance. Kaya nung panahon ni Marcos, we developed the principle of self-reliance. Even in our defense.

Q: Ibalik dapat yun, sir?

SP Oo, dapat. Dapat hindi tayo aasa sa ibang tao. We'll stand alone.

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