Press Release
September 17, 2012

Transcript of Interview of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile

On the hearing on former DILG Undersecretary Rico Puno

Q: Ano po 'yung implications nito, sir, dahil may plano noon na walang mga senators na a-attend sa hearing ni Senator Miriam?

SP: Ako, hindi ako maka-attend ng nag-meeting siya dahil I was the speaker of the Lopez Group of Companies. I was the guest of honor. So, I could not possibly attend. I don't know about the others. I don't think that there was any intention to boycott. It's simply that there were conflicts of schedule. It's up to her if she doesn't want to attend the session. That's her prerogative.

Q: Pero sir, may implications po ba 'yung hindi niya pag-attend sa session ninyo?

SP: Well, if she wants to be absent, that's her prerogative. Di ba nag-aabsent siya dahil may sakit siya?

Q: But this time raw, may resentment sa supposed snub...

SP: Who snubbed her? There is no one that I know of who snubbed her. There were several others who attended, di ba?

Q: Sir, may pinaplano po siyang harangin daw sa CA ang confirmation ng ibang Cabinet members...

SP: Well, that's the prerogative of any member of the Commission on Appointments but only after a certain point because others can push the issue.

Q: Would you try to encourage her na huwag ng harangin since the DILG is important...

SP: We will try to talk to her.

Q: So sir, hindi po totoo na mayroong conspiracy po prior sa ginawa niyang committee hearing na against sa kanya?

SP: None that I know of. In my case, they can check. Oscar Lopez was there. Ambassador Manolo Lopez was there. Gabby Lopez was there. I was the speaker in that forum.

Q: Without that, would you have attended?

SP: Yes. I always attend all hearings.

Q: Ang sentiment niya, beforehand, kinukwestiyon mismo ng mga senators...

SP: I was just saying that we have to study the case because there was an issue about jurisdiction but I did not refrain her from holding her investigation. I know that she knows the rules.

Q: So, kakausapin mo siya, sir?

SP: Well, if she wants to talk about it, I'm always ready to talk to any member of the Senate.

Q: Sir, hindi daw po kayo umattend ng hearing para hindi magalit sa inyo ang Malacañang at tatakbo ang anak niyo...

SP: My son has nothing to do with that. To be fair to Malacañang, they did not interfere with our function here. Wala namang problema 'yung relation ko sa Malacañang sa aking trabaho rito. Jack is not a candidate of the Liberal Party.

Q: You resent those kind of reactions, sir?

SP: Resent? I don't resent. I'm not narrow-minded. I think my mind is as broad as the universe. I try anyway.

Q: May gusto kayong sabihin kay Senator Miriam?

SP: Wala. Ang masasabi ko sa kanya ay nasa kanya 'yun. Kanya-kanya kami. Each one of us is independent of each other. We are independent republics.

Q: Paano sir kapag ininvoke ang Section 20?

SP: Sa June wala namang mahaharang. When we go on a sine die, walang mahaharang.

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