Press Release
July 14, 2014

TRANSCRIPT OF AMBUSH INTERVIEW OF SEN. SERGE OSMEÑA
(After the Kapihan sa Diamond Hotel media forum)

ON PNOY's Monday night address

Serge: I think what he will say is, 'Dito po napunta ang DAP, dito ho namin ginastos, heto po ang produkto o resulta ng paggastos (ng DAP)... we have new roads, new hospitals. Okay lang po iyan. But still, that does not cover the unconstitutionality of it all, na hindi puwede na magsagawa ng isang project na hindi pa po aprubado ng Congress.

Q: Are you disappointed that the President is addressing the DAP issue only now, considering that the pressure on disclosure had been placed on the senators?

Serge: Of course. We said that last week. I have said that if I were the political handler of the President, the first thing I would do is deliver a speech before the SONA. Call it 'Ulat sa Bayan' and explain the DAP, para hindi na mag-get in the way of the SONA. The SONA has to be prospective, it shall talk about the legislative agenda, what he would do in the last 2 years of his term. Dapat tanggalin na (ang DAP) sa SONA. He should resolve that issue first. And I am glad that he is doing it (publicly address the public on the issue of the DAP).

Now, what he will say and how we will treat it, I do not know.

Q: Is addressing the problem enough or should heads roll?

Serge: Sinabi ko na ito. Dapat gayahin niya si Gloria and say, 'I am sorry.' ?

Q: Kung mag-a-apologize, kahit hindi na niya tanggalin si Sec Abad?

Serge: You know, I think that we have to judge the people's pulse, and they're looking for somebody to blame. And normally, a loyal knight would fall on his sword for the king, hindi ba? Hindi naman hara kiri, hindi naman suicide, but he would fall on his sword, like Secretary Bobby Romulo who had no direct involvement in the Flor Contemplacion case, but he took the blame and said, 'Sige, mag-re-resign na lang ako.'

Q: ... do you think you can help the President in the issue of DAP?

Serge: The liability, as explained by the decision of the Supreme Court, they just ordered all the investigative bodies to determine the liability, whether its criminal, civil or administrative, so wala silang minention din. Ngunit, it would seem like passing the buck also.

The Supreme Court is not a trier of facts. Pag facts, it's up to the lower courts. You usually elevate your case to the Supreme Court on a point of law. That's how they wash their hands. 'Labag sa batas iyan pero hindi namin alam kung sino ang guilty eh. We have asked the investigative agencies to determine that. Let's wait what happens there.'

Q: Matatapos po ba ni PNOY ang term niya?

Serge: Ah, oo, matatapos niya. This is nothing, but this puts into serious question his credibility with the public. That is why, as I understand, his net approval rating has gone down to +25.

Q: Kahit may nakaambang na impeachment complain na ifa-file laban sa kanya?

Serge: Wala iyan. That will not prosper. Marami naman diyan may galit sa kanya kaya file lang ng file ng impeachment complaint.

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