Transcript of Ambush Interview

On the suspension order of Sen. JV Ejercito

SP Pimentel Yun na nga ang pinag-uusapan namin. I was reminding the Majority leader that the letter from the Sandiganbayan informing us of the suspension order was referred to the Committee on Rules because the subject matter or the incident is not squarely covered by the rules of the Senate. Ganun yun, that is the jurisdiction of the Committee on Rules. If you need to interpret the rules, or to find out how to apply the rules, then that is within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Rules.

Q What do you mean that it does not fall squarely on the rules of the Senate?

SPKP The letter of the Sandiganbayan instructs the Senate President to implement the suspension order. If you look at the rules of the Senate, in the enumeration of the powers of the Senate President, it is not there to suspend a member of the Senate. Wala po doon yun, so I am letting the Committee on Rules interpret the rules, find out where the power belong, or if the exercise of the power can be justified.

Look at the rules of the Senate. Wala doon.

Q Ibig sabihin po hindi pa sure kung masusupend talaga si Sen. JV?

SPKP Basta nasa Committee on Rules po, wag nating pangunahan.

Q How is it different from the case of the three former senators?

SPKP The three former Senators before, kahit may 100 senators man noon, bago na po ang Senate President ngayon. That's how I read the rules, iba po ang aking interpretation, that is why in my opinion it is better passed to the Committee on Rules so that they can study in depth the situation.

Q May interpretation ba na hindi na applicable dahil hindi na siya Mayor ng San Juan ngayon?

SPKP Lumabas po iyon sa interpellation pero I think respeto naman din sa interpretation ng Supreme Court, sabi ng Supreme Court dyan, in a long line of cases, that still applies even if the person to be suspended no longer holds the position when the alleged crime arose.

Q Ibig sabihin hindi pa natin alam kung kalian mag-eeffect yung suspension order?

SPKP Ye. Let's give the Committee on Rules the due respect and time to study the matter.

Q Pag nastudy na po yun, may recommendation na after?

SPKP Opo.

Q How long po?

SPKP Hindi ko po alam yun, basta whatever action we take, we just inform the Sandiganbayan. So ngayon, I have instructed my chief-of-staff to inform the Sandiganbayan that their communication to the Senate President has been referred to the Committee on Rules.

On Senator De Lima

Q Nakausap nyo na yung mga kapwa ninyo senador kung naaapektuhan na sila nung bangayan nina Senator De Lima at President Duterte?

SPKP Hindi pa, kasi dito muna tayo magconcentrate sa SK and barangay postponement kasi sometimes may priorities tayo.

Q Paano yung complaint against De Lima?

SPKP Sa Ethics naman yan. The Senate is a formal institution, we are rule based, we always look at the rules. So, ethics complaints, doon po yan sa Ethics and Privileges. We have one and the same chair dyan, so you better interview that same person.

Q Paano sir, kung confidential gagawin yung hearing?

SPKP Doon na po sa pag-report yon. Doon niyo na titingnan. Tingnan niyo muna kung talagang cryptic yung report, walang kalaman-laman, walang dini-discuss, pwede tayo umangal. Pero let us say ini-quote yung reklamo, nandoon tapos diniscuss, I think that's already transparency.

Q Decided na closed door ang gagawin doon sa hearing?

SPKP Closed door sila sa first hearing ata nila pero nothing prevents them from changing their minds. Majority rules pa rin po yan. It's a committee.

Q Sir, hanggang saan yung extent ng secrecy?

SPKP They will decide. Dito ata sa una they decided na closed door but I'm not telling you that it will be forever closed door. Nasa sa kanila.

Q Kung ano po yung magiging report nila, that will be transmitted to the plenary? Paano po yung treatment doon?

SPKP It will be a committee report.

Q That will be deliberated? Paano ang treatment doon?

SPKP Yes, just like any committee report unless our rules will also provide that a member can make a motion and it will be an executive session. Depende po yun pero huwag na natin pangunahan kasi ang layo pa natin doon. Ang layo-layo pa natin doon. Pagbigyan muna natin sila ng time kasi kung theoretical discussion, we can discuss any situation.

Q Going back to Senator De Lima, sabi niya tatanungin niya ang ibang senators, kayo po ba naiiipit kayo kasi kaibigan niyo siya, dati niya kayong kliyente...

SPKP Actually, lahat ng senador kaibigan ko. Kung mayroong issue involving a senator, concerned din ako. Ganoon lang po yon.

Q Sir, sa specific case na to, Presidente tapos kaibigan niyo at nagtanggol sa case niyo dati na electoral protest...

SPKP Ang Presidente kasi hindi lang sa kaibigan ko, idol ko pa siya, sinuportahan ko sya, isa kami sa nagkumbinse sa kanyang tumakbo at kapartido ko pa siya. Ang samahan po naming ay ideology or agenda-based at kailangan suportahan ko po ang president na maging matagumpay kasi tagumpay din po yan ng aming partido.

Q Do you see the need for the Senate to make a stand to protect Senator De Lima?

SPKP No, hindi na. Actually, tatapatin ko kayo, Senator De Lima never asked for my help anyway.