Transcript of ANC Interview of Senate President Franklin M Drilon

On the decision of the Sandiganbayan regarding the senators implicated in the pork barrel scam

SPFMD: What will happen now is up to the government offices charged with the enforcement of our country's anti-graft laws. This is just the start of the process.

I understand that with this resolution, the respondents will still be given the opportunity to seek a reconsideration of the Ombudsman ruling, and it is only with the resolution of the motion for reconsideration that the decision will become final, so to speak, and that therefore the case can then be filed at the Sandiganbayan, or it can be dismissed if the Ombudsman finds merit in the motion for reconsideration.

So these are all parts of the justice system, and let us allow our justice system to work.

Q: Ang sinasabi po ni Sen. Estrada, meron daw pong bias on the Blue Ribbon Committee, dahil sila lang daw po ang inaaccuse.

SPFMD: Iyan po ngayon ay pinaguusapan ng Ombudsman, isangdaan at animnapung pahina ang desisyon ng Ombudsman at hindi naman diyan cinite ang findings ng Blue Ribbon Committee sa kanilang ruling doon, kung hindi yung kanilang sariling mga ebidensya, na nalikom ng Office of the Ombudsman.

Q: So what happens now? Do you think Senators Revilla, Enrile and Estrada should go on leave?

SPFMD: Well, that is a matter addressed to their conscience, for their own judgement. We must remember that the decision of the Sandiganbayan is still subject for a motion for reconsideration as per procedure at the office of the Ombudsman.

Q: Tsaka ano naman, parang innocent until proven guilty naman ano?

SPFMD: That is correct. Ngunit, kung ito ay makarating sa Sandiganbayan, magiiba po ang ihip ng hangin dahil ito po ay magkakaroon ng warrant of arrest.

Q: Kung ganoon po ay paano po ba iyon?

SPFMD: Kung merong warrant of arrest at kung merong order na masususpend sila sa Senado, the situation would definitely change. And since this is a non-bailable offense, they will be under detention by the Sandiganbayan, and they will be ordered suspended from the Senate by the Sandiganbayan.

Q: So kumbaga wala rin naman silang choice if that happens.

SPFMD: That is correct.

Q: So senator, we heard that Senator Revilla and Senator Estrada are out of the country, can you tell us when they asked for permission to leave the country?

SPFMD: I honestly do not recall. In the case of Senator Revilla, a travel authority was issued by Senator Recto when he was the officer in charge. But let me emphasize that I think they are travelling on private passports. Therefore, whether they had a travelling authority would be not be determinant of whether they will be given permission.

In the first place, no formal charges have been filed. There is no legal impediment for them to travel. Pangalawa, by using private passports, the permission of the Senate President was not really necessary.

In other words, they could have traveled even without the permission of the Senate President because they were using private passports, and there is no legal impediment for the to travel. Wala namang hold departure order na inilabas.

Q: Is there any chance you were informed about when they are coming back?

SPFMD: No, we were not informed. The travel authority for Senator Revilla was issued by Senator Recto as OIC since I was abroad. I am not aware of the circumstances if there were such a travelling authority in the case of Senator Jinggoy Estrada, so I am not really aware of when they are coming back.

Q: Senate President, Senator Nancy Binay says that the Blue Ribbon Committee is technically not final.

SPFMD: From what I understand, Senator Guingona simply said that he has completed his report, and he is moving that report to the committee first. Until that is signed by the majority of the committee, that is just a report drafted by the Chairman of the committee, which is our usual procedure. So until the majority of the committee members have signed that report, it is just a draft of a report that has been circulated to the committee members. After that, it will be filed in the Senate floor, and that is the situation.

Q: Thank you very much, Senate President Drilon.