Press Release
May 31, 2011

Transcript of Interview of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile
(Before Plenary)

On the ARMM elections

Q First time po ba na unfavorable sa isang bill ang recommendation?

SP Hindi naman. Maraming mga Committee Reports na negative sa purpose nung Bill. Ngayon, dito, negative siya, so bahala ang Senado kung ano ang disposisyon nila.

Q Ngayon na po ba dadalhin sa Plenary?

SP Depende kung i-file na niya, kailangan pirmahan nung mga members of the Committee yung report.

Q Will there be sufficient votes?

SP I don't know. I have not canvassed the members of the Senate. This is an individual decision.

Q Wala po bang mga last efforts ang palasyo?

SP Ewan ko. Hindi naman ako kinakausap ng Palasyo.

Q Willing po ba tayo Magkaroon ng special session during the break?

SP Hindi na kailangan siguro. Tatapusin namin ito either way bago kami mag-adjourn. Gusto ko magpahinga din kami.

Q So kung mapagbobotohan ninyo ngayon, immediately, Bicam?

SP Next week. Mayroon pa naman kami next week.

Q Ano ang mangyayari sa Bill kung adverse yung recommendation ng Committee?

SP Pwedeng i-archive yun, pero under our Rule 30, pwedeng five Senators can move to take out the archived Bill and bring it back to the Session Hall for discussion. Sandali lang yun. Archive, nasa record lang yun.

On Diokno

Q May statement si President na he is still considering Diokno for another government post?

SP That is the prerogative of the President. You know, appointment by the President is based on judgment and his trust on the person to be appointed. I do not know what job Diokno is going to be assigned to, but as far as power and prerogative, that is within the prerogative of the President. You cannot question the existence of power; you can only question the wisdom. That is where the disagreement will come.

Q Pero pwedeng i-question sir sa Commission Appointment?

SP If the position is a position that requires confirmation.

On archiving the ARMM Bill

Q Doon po sa five Senators na ibabalik po sa Floor yung Committee Report, what happens next po?

SP Pag ni-recall yung Bill to the Floor by five Senators, it will go through the same procedures. Second Reading, debate, amendments, then passage on Third Reading.

On the RH Bill and divorce

Q Mainit na po yung debate sa RH Bill, tama bang isabay pa yung panukalang divorce?

SP Pwede naman, kung mainit na, painitin pa.

Q Pabor po ba kayo na Magkaroon ng diborsyo sa Pilipinas?

SP Hindi ko pa alam.

Q Tama po ba ang argument na yung mga Catholic countries like Malta mayroon, gayahin na rin natin?

SP Tayo, gusto natin gaya-gaya. We do not want to be unique, to be special, particular. Gusto natin kasama sa parada.

On the PLDT-Sun deal

Q Sir, mayroon po bang irregular na naganap?

SP Walang irregular. Yung pagbenta ng Gokongwei interest sa kanilang ari-arian, at yung pagbili ng PLDT-Smart, ay walang problema, walang irregularity. Hindi na kailangan ang Kongreso pa ang makialam. Ang sinabi ko doon sa mga nagpunta doon, taga-Globe, na yung problema na sinasabi sa hearing na yun, dapat doon sa NTC, huwag sa Kongreso sabihin.

Q Takot lang ba yung Globe na humina yung business nila?

SP Hindi takot, ang masakit sa kanila, naisahan sila. Sila ang unang nakipag-deal, sabi nila, P35 billion na lang, sabi ni Manny Pangilinan, heto, P74 billion, take it or leave it. Binigay sa kanya.

Q NTC approval lang po ang kailangan?

SP Wala nang kailangang approval. Bakit aaprubahan, walang labag sa batas doon.

Q Kahit NTC?

SP I do not know whether they have the power to approve any transaction.

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