Transcript of the Majority Leader's ambush interview

On meeting with the House of Representatives re: joint session

Ito po ay isang constitutional duty natin. Hindi po natin puwedeng hindi bigyan ng pansin itong joint session na ito dahil it will become bad precedents. Think about the future administrations. forget about this administration, it's already reaching the six month term and ending its six months of public service. But what about the next administration? Kung abusado ang presidente at meron po siyang numerical superior strength sa House of Representatives ang gagawin lang niya is those who want to undermine this process will do is say hindi na tayo kailangang mag-meeting dahil marami namang pumapabor, hindi puwede iyon. We must make it a precedent na if there's a martial law declaration the Congress meaning the Senate and the House of Representatives should meet and get the explanation of the president.

What about the process of voting napagkasunduan niyo na po ba?

Iyong process of voting will be iyon nga after the proper motions will be filed, motion for revocation there will be one who will second it, and one who will go against it. No more debate after that. One also will move for it in the House panel, one will second, and one will oppose in the House panel so tatlo na ang magsasalita on both sides. And then we proceed with voting. We will vote first, alphabetical and after which we will explain our votes.

Kailangan pa bang mag-explain ng personal ni President Arroyo or sapat na iyong mga resource person?

Sa aking pananaw sapat na po iyong resource person especially if its the Exec. Sec. Ed Ermita.

(Question not audible)

Hindi naman. We just had to discuss the nitty-gritty. Alam mo iba iyong dynamics ng House of Representatives, iba iyong dynamics ng Senado. so we had to sit down and look for ways and means na hindi po mag-aaway at magsasabong ang House of Representatives at ang Senado. Ang ayaw po naming mangyari ay ipagsabong ang congressman at ang senador kasi ang kalalabasan po niyan ay masisira po ang imahe ng kongreso as a whole, na hindi kami nagkakasundo at nagaaway-away lang ang congressman at ang senador. We had a difficult task last night making sure that all scenarios, we covered. Iyong lahat ng scenario. Maraming scenario ang puwedeng mangyari. Baka may biglang tumayo na congressman hamunin ang senador. We have to put that all in proper context. This is the first time, let me remind everyone. We have never done a joint session of Congress to deal on any martial law ruling or declaration ever. In the time of Marcos when he declared Martial Law, he abolished Congress. So, this is the first time in history of our legislature both the House and the Senate that we will meet on Joint Congress to decide. So, it is precedent setting that's why we are very careful on our rules. We are very careful on how we will conduct ourselves because this is for future generations to come and future administrations to come. This will guide them what we do today and tomorrow.

Malinaw sa iyon .... taking you how many days ..... ?????

We'll sa amin on the part of the Senate gusto naman namin kaagad, but you have to look at the logistical and practical concerns. The logistical concerns obviously i-house tayo ng House of Representatives, they have to make the preparations. Pangalawa, on the other concerns the procedural concerns, iyong rules. In the absence of rules magkakalat kaming lahat. Kung wala pong parliamentary rules o procedures to be followed. Kaya kagabi pinagusapan na namin iyong rules, pina-finalize ngayong umaga bukas ang meeting natin.

In response to Sen. Estrada's inquiry kanina, walang violations?

Wala naman dahil, well I feel if we did not meet there would have been a violation. Kapag hindi po tayo nag-meeting in joint session I would have insisted as a member of the Senate, not even as part of the leadership, but as a member of the Senate talagang i-insist namin iyan. Pero mukhang naka-set naman iyong schedule ng 4 o'clock bukas, so I believe we complied with the essence of the constitution requiring joint sessions. Nagka-delay lang dahil kailangan namin pagusapan iyong rules kasi kung wala po tayong rules magkakagulo. In any deliberative body kung wala po tayong rules of procedure baka magkalat, magkakagulo, magsasabong lang ang ibat-ibang miyembro ng dalawang body.

Wala pa kayong copy ng napagusapan ng proposed rules kagabi?

Pini-print na. I give you guys copy by the afternoon.