Press Release
February 18, 2014

Privilege Speech of Sen. TG Guingona - The Search for Truth

Mr. President:

I begin with a quote from a once-famous 19th century French essayist by the name of Joseph Joubert. This prolific writer wrote, and I quote:

"When you go in search of honey ... you must expect to be stung by bees."

End of quote.

Mr. President, when I was given the task of serving as chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, I knew it would be a difficult one - an extremely difficult one.

It is a difficult task because its mandate is the search for truth, and, in the process, pinpoint accountabilities. Searching for truth, one might say, is like searching for honey.

Mr. President, hindi po madali ang tungkulin at layunin ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee at ng chairman nito. Subali't mahalaga ang kanyang layunin at tungkulin. Dahil dito, tinanggap ko ang tungkulin. At, sa abot ng aking makakaya, sinisikap kong gawin ito nang maayos at mahusay.

Isang malaking hamon ang paghahanap ng katotohanan - lalo na kapag ang sangkot ay ang interes ng sambayanan.

Sa tungkuling ito, hindi umaasa ang komite ng papuri o paghanga man. Sapat na po ang masabi natin na nagawa natin nang tama ang ating tungkulin.

Mr. President, the work and mission of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has become even more difficult because the probe allegedly involves three of our peers in the Senate. I am not sure, Mr. President, if this has a precedent in the history of Congress of our Republic. I am inclined to believe, at this point, that there is none.

Natatandaan ko po, Ginoong Pangulo, na nang umpisahan ng Blue Ribbon Committee ang imbestigasyon sa isyu ng PDAF, malaki ang naging pagdududa sa isip ng ating mga kababayan.

Una, iimbestigahan daw ba ng Senado ang mga sariling miyembro nito.

Pangalawa, kaya daw ba ng Senado ng Pilipinas na magsagawa ng isang tunay, patas at masusing imbestigasyon ... kung ang sangkot sa usapin ay mga kapwa senador?

Sa kabila ng mga pagdududang ito, tinitiyak ko po sa inyo, na sinikap pa din ng Blue Ribbon Committee na isagawa nang maayos ang tungkulin nito.

At ngayon po, Ginoong Pangulo, nakalulungkot na sa puntong ito, ang pagdududa sa kakayahan natin ay manggagaling mismo sa kasamahan natin.

Hindi po dapat na mangyari ito.

Mr. President, allow me, therefore, to clear the air.

For the record, I have no intention of prejudging the guilt or innocence of any of our peers allegedly involved in the issue now under probe by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

The transcripts of the hearings should prove this fact. And, I believe I speak for myself as well as for our peers who have attended the hearings when I say that we have done our utmost best to ensure that the dignity and honor of our colleagues involved in this issue are preserved and protected.

I am aware, however, that a recent statement I have made both at the last committee hearing and press conference has caused offense and the perception that I may have, quote-unquote, "prejudged" the guilt of one of our peers.

Mr. President, let me assure you as well as our colleagues that to, quote-unquote, "prejudge" has never been my intention.

I understand that the offense and the perception were apparently the result of the use of an analogy from the favorite national pastime - basketball. True, I have made such reference.

Mr. President, let me assure you and our colleagues, that the phrase did not refer to a state of guilt on the part of any person.

There are questions the Committee is attempting to answer. The witness had surely helped in the search for the answers. I repeat - in the search for answers. Not in the determination of guilt or innocence.

The phrase was used by me to describe and underscore the possible impact and value of the testimony of a witness.

Ang mga salitang ginamit ko ay hindi po paghusga ng pagiging may sala o inosente ng sinuman. Ginamit ko ang salita upang ilarawan ang posibleng maging kahalagahan ng testimonya sa imbestigasyon ng komite.

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, I believe that there is a battle we must all fight together - as one. And this, Mr. President, is the battle to restore our people's trust in the Senate of the Republic of the Philippines.

Naniniwala po ako, Ginoong Pangulo, mayroon tayong isang malaking laban na kailangang harapin - at harapin natin ng sama-sama. Ito, Ginoong Pangulo, ay ang pakikipaglaban para maibalik ang tiwala ng mga kababayan natin sa Senado.

Kasama dito ang tapat at magaling na pagtupad ng tungkulin ng Blue Ribbon Committee.

Part of that effort is the dedicated and good performance of its job by the Blue Ribbon Committee.

Mahirap ang tungkuling ginagampanan ng Blue Ribbon Committee, Ginoong Pangulo. Pero anumang hirap nito, ito ay gagampanan natin.

Anupaman ang hirap ng tungkuling ito, maaasahan ninyo, na "trabaho lang po ... at walang personalan".

Thank you, Mr. President.

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