Transcript of Interview of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile

ON Sec. Del Rosario travelling to Libya

SP Mabuti 'yun, hands-on. Tsaka mapag-aaralan nila ang problema doon. Kailangan nandoon sa area 'yung mga nauukol na opisyal para malaman nila ang sitwasyon, hindi pwede 'yung report-report lamang. Tama 'yun. Ako nung araw, nung hinahawakan ko 'yung Defense Department, nasa Mindanao ako, nasa Samar. Kung saan-saan, sa buong Pilipinas, pati sa Middle East, napupunta rin ako doon.

Q Ok lang po ba 'yun kahit acting capacity lang si Sec. Del Rosario?

SP Kahit na acting capacity or permanent capacity, kung talagang masigasig ka at nanunungkulan ka, naglilingkod ka, kailangan trabaho.

On the impeachment of Ombudsman Gutierrez

SP Hindi ako makapag-sasalita d'yan dahil kami ang magiging hukom. Hintayin namin kung darating sa amin 'yun. Saka na lang namin haharapin.

Q Malaki po ba ang gastos pag impeachment?

SP Wala namang gastos ang impeachment dito dahil kasama sa trabaho namin 'yun. That is a part of our work. There is no extra expense, except siguro 'yung mga meryenda ng mga tao. Kung may meryenda o kape o pagkain.

On whether Session will be extended

SP Magse-session din kami. Pagkatapos, we will tackle the hearing of the impeachment in the morning. We will adjust our time. If necessary, we can handle it after Session.

On what will happen to the action of the House and the motion for reconsideration of Gutierrez

SP We have to follow the Supreme Court.

Q Kung ang action nila, not finding the impeachment sufficient in form, mababale-wala 'yun?

SP Oo. The Supreme Court is the interpreter of the Constitution. It is the arbiter of legal controversies in the country. There is no other higher authority that can reverse the Supreme Court except Congress by law, if we have to enact a law to change a rule. Unless it involves the Constitution. If it involves the Constitution, we cannot alter the decision of the Supreme Court.

Q Ano po ang masasabi ninyo kay Ombudsman na despite calls for resignation, she chooses to stay?

SP I will not make a statement. I do not want to prejudge the case.