TRANCRIPT OF PRESS CONFERENCE OF SENATOR GUINGONA
AFTER THE HEARING ON PLEA BARGAIN

Q: Ano ang assessment ninyo sa hearing?

STLG :Dapat maunawaan ng taong bayan kung ano 'yung mga issues, mga nangyaayari at makumbinsi ang taong bayan na winawaldas ang pera ng taong bayan. Ang mga institusyon ay may pagkukulang sa pamamalakad kaya nawawaldas at nakukurakot ang pera ng taong bayan. Napatunayan natin na kailangan na ng reporma sa military, Commission on Audit at sa Ombudsman. Sa tingin ko nakamit na an g ating layunin na to convince people that there are some serious reforms needed in this insititutions.

Q: Since ayaw na magparticipate ni Heidi Mendoza on Monday, pano na?

STLG: the hearing on Monday was supposed to be for Heidi. If you noticed lahat ng resource perosons nakapagsalita except for Heidi. We will meet soon and discuss the matter. If not we will postpone it for a later date because as I said there are still other issues like accountability of COA, and the alleged walanag pananagutan ng ombudsman. So meron pa yung 2 major issues. Not as exciting, but as equally as important.

Q: How will it affect, yung refusal ni Heidi na magparticipate sa proceedings for further investigation?

STLG : First of all, it's not a refusal, nakiusap siya. And if you noticed nakiusap siya with full emotions and of course if you were in my place pipilitin niyo pa ba? I don't think it will affect too much, but it will be very helpful sana if she would have a change of heart later on. But let the time pass, time heals all. Siguro dala lang ng emotions ngayon sapagkat yung COA nag presscon pala. So may counter-offensive ang COA. So we will assess. But anyway, we have to do what we have to do and what we have right now is the testimony in congress and Sandigan Bayan.

Q: You will still send her (Heidi Mendoza) an invitation ?

STLG :No more in the light of what she says. No need to invite her. Klaro naman na nakusap na awat na muna.

Q: Caucus next week. Ano kaya kakalabasan noon?

STLG: Monday naming pagmeetingan , 1:30 sa Senado. Caucus on the motion for contempt by Senator Drilon.

Q: Ilan boto po ba ang kailangan?

STLG 9 votes.

Q: Are you satisfied with the reports at hindi na kailangan si Heidi?

STLG :No naman, I'm saying that her testimony is helpful as far as convincing the public that there is a nedd for reform . Don't you think it has been already achieved? Sa nakit at narinig niyo duda pa kayo? Mayroon pa bang magsasabi after it has been shown na hindi pa kailangan ng reporma sa military, COA at Ombudsman ? Nakuha na natin ang layunin. Ang next resource person natin kukunin ay 'yung mga ideas na. 'Kung wala ng mga whistle blowers at mga testigo 'yung mga resource persons na makakatulong sa mga ideas kung ano ang mga sistema at mga batas na kailngan gawin natin para hindi na maulit 'yung nangyari at para mareporma ang mga institusyon.

Q: Dapat may liability ang COA ?

STLG : If there is a direct evidence on that matter. Yes, if there is.

Q: Only the two former general will be the subject of the contempt? How about Gen. Reyes?

STLG : We will also take that up. Although I like to say that it's his lost that he did not attend today. The fact that the details of the expose were brought out and he chose not to come, I wonder who the loser really is.

Q: Reforms on PNP.

STLG : One issue at a time and besides the resolution is on the plea bargain and corruption in the military.

Q: There is no urgent need on the reforms on PNP?

STLG : We have no resolutions yet on our agenda. Wala pang nagsasabi ng resolusyon. That is interesting and we will look into that definitely.

Q: Is this the last hearing for the case of General Garcia?

STLG : 'Yung plea bargain agreement, I think we have exhausted all angles of the issue. Lumalabas na ngayon na ang final say should be with the supreme court. It is already a legal issue and legal opinions. Walang katapusan 'yan eh. What's important is naunawaan ng taong bayan kung bakit at paano nangyari. Sila na ang maghusga kung tama ba ang nangyari at 'kung matatanggap ba nila ang plea bargain.

Q: Kung magiging precedent...

STLG : Hindi naman sa tingin ko sapagkat depende 'yun eh. We must take into account what happened to her. Nagkaroon ng press conference laban sa kanya. Siguro dahil din sa pagod niya, kita niyo naman nagging emotional siya. But not all resource persons are like that . May mga iba matigas talaga. Kayang kaya nila

Q: May panukala ang mga congressman na magkaroon ng joint congressional hearing ditto sa plea bargaining

STLG : Para sa akin mukhang tapos na 'yung issue sa plea bargaining. Wala na sigurong kailangan i-hearing pa.

Q: Ano ang mangyayari sa mga dating Chief of Staffs?

STLG : I can't answer that yet on what we will do with them, whether we will come them some more . I can't answer that yet. We have to meet on that.

Q: Mayroon pa bang i-extract kay Col. Lim?

STLG : You know that should be addressed more to Sen. Jinggoy since he is the one who talks to them.

Q: Yung ibang nabanggit na pangalan ipatatawag pa ba?

STLG : We will meet on that.

Q: With what transpired sa ating hearing ngayon, dapat pa bang ipakulong muli si Gen. Garcia?

STLG : We will meet on that on Monday.

Q: Pagkakaroon ng double jeopardy. O ibabalik ang case ng plunder?

STLG: Kailangan balikan naming 'yung transcript kasi pati kami naguguluhan eh. Sa tingin ko mukhang nag double jeopardy . Hindi na makabalik sa plunder case but I might be wrong. I would like to refer on the transcripts. Kanina nag-usap kami ng ibang senador na mukhang double jeopardy na.

Q: Nag issue ang CA junking the double murder case against Lacson

STLG: Sorry. I don't like to comment on that.