Press Release
September 30, 2013

TRANSCRIPT OF AMBUSH INTERVIEW OF SENATOR SERGE OSMEÑA

On PDAF Scam

Q: Sir, did you receive the additional P50M?

Serge: I think so. Alam niyo, kung may magpapadala sakin ng P100M o P200M, gagamitin ko para sa kuwan iyan... Ang problema, ang imputation ng kickback. Ah, teka muna, hindi tayo gumaganun kasi nung namigay si Gloria (Arroyo), zero ako diyan eh. Ang daming lumabas sa akin, but I have to vote with her, ano, hindi puwede iyon.

So, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2006, halos zero ako sa PDAF ko. But if they send, hindi ko na pinapansin. Kung meron dumating na P100M, okay. But there was no arrangement na sinabi nila sakin na, 'if you vote for, I will give this to you." Ah, no, hindi ako tatanggap ng ganun.

Q: Sinabi ba sa inyo na PDAF 'yun?

Serge: Hindi ko alam ang mga ganun. Maski 'yung VILP, this is the first time na I have heard of it.

Q: Where did you spend it?

Serge: P30 million for UP Cebu. P17 million classrooms sa Negros. Tapos na iyon, built na, we have pictures. Marami naman...

Q: Considered as pork barrel?

Serge: Alam niyo, pork is a term that has been used for the past 200 years. Ang ibig sabihin niyan, you allow the legislators to at least pinpoint some projects. Hindi ho masama ang pork. Ang masama po kung ginagamit po na pang-kickback. That is what's wrong.

So I am not against PDAF. Kasi ang congressman pupunta dun, ang mga tauhan niya hihingi ng food pack. Kunwari nag flashflood, yung mga bata hindi maka-cross ng maliit na river, I think he should be given that discretion to at least say, "Sige, gumastos tayo ng P1 million dito, put up a small bridge so that the children can cross the river." Those are the projects na hindi makita ng malalaking departments. Siyempre 'yung secretary ng public works hindi naman pupunta sa mga ganyan, okay lang 'yun. But they are not allowed to pocket the money.

Q: Yung October to December 2012, under pa po ba 'yun ng COA?

Serge: Lahat iyan nililiquidate eh. All liquidated.

Q: ????

Serge: I don't know how much eh. As a matter of fact, 'yung 2013 hindi ko pa nagagamit, so meron akong P200M dun.

Q: Sir will you confirm na nangyari 'yung confidential memo na sinasabi ni Sen. Jinggoy?

Serge: No, I won't. It could have happened, maybe not. I don't pay attention to those things. In other words, hindi importante sakin eh.

Q: Ang kine-question kasi 'yung timing... suspect po ba 'yung timing na binigay after the impeachment of Corona?

Serge: The timing would have been worst if it was given before the impeachment.

Q: 'Yung DAP, first time po bang may release sa inyong ganun?

Serge: I have no idea how they describe these thing. Walang kakwenta-kwenta sakin 'yan kasi over the years it has been CIA (Congressional Initiative Allocation), PDF, PDAF... hindi ko alam... ano 'yung bago? VILP? I have never heard of that before.

Q: Sir you are the vice chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, do you think Napoles should be subpoenaed ?

Serge: The Senate has the power to subpoena her. I think also that the Ombudswoman has also the right to opine that if you make her testify prematurely, we will be telegraphing our punches. So from her point of view, she would rather not. Now, ang naiipit ngayon, si Senate President Frank Drilon.

Q: Do you think SP Drilon should...????

Serge: Well, para sakin, useless na rin iyan kasi sinabi na ng abogado na ni Napoles, si Atty. Lorna Kapunan, that she is not going to have her open her mouth. Eh di maski tatawagin natin dito iyan sa hearing, ang sasabihin niya, "I maintain my right to remain silent. Anything I say may be used against me in a court of law..."

Q: The Ombudsman said 'no' to the second letter of SP Drilon... Are you going to push for the issuance of a subpoena?

Serge: No, I will not push. I will leave it up to Senate President Drilon and Sen. Guingona to talk it out among themselves because this is a gray area. Like I said, Sen. Guingona has the power, and the Senate has the right...but the Ombudsman also has good reasons to ask the Senate not to...So, it's Senate President Frank Drilon who finds himself on the spot now. What I would rather is that they talk it over among themselves. Like I said, even if we are able to call Napoles, I doubt if she will open her mouth...

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