Press Release
December 11, 2017

Transcript of Ambush Interview of Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III

On the Schedule of the Joint Session for the proposed extension of Martial Law

Senate President Koko Pimentel: Okay, schedule. 10 o'clock bukas from the Martial Law administrator and then 12 noon from Human Rights and NEDA para may economic angle naman kami and human rights angle. Then, Wednesday morning is joint session. Yan ang plano ah? Morning ang start. Hindi ko masabi ang end eh.

Q: What happens sa ratification ng bicam ng TRAIN and Budget?

SPKP: Ang pakiusap ko sa mga senador even after the joint session, balik kami dito for our Legislative session. No matter the time. Walang choice.

Q: Basta walang special session?

SPKP: Wala na yatang need. Besides, kung kailangan namin mag-overtime, magdalawang functions on Wednesday para wala nang special session. Pagka meron kaming binitin na agenda, mag-se-special session.

Q: Kung masusunod yung schedule, Friday wala na? Hanggang Thursday lang?

SPKP: Hanggang Wednesday lang.

Q: Realistically, can you finish it on Wednesday?

SPKP: Ang mga bicam kasi ano nalang yan, yes or no. Ang bicam reports.

Q: Pero sir tingin niyo isang araw lang yung joint session dun sa Martial Law extension?

SPKP: Oo. Ang inaasahan nga naming ay half day more or less. Yun sana. That's the ideal.

Q: Bakit sir? Supportive yung majority?

SPKP: Kaya nga may briefing bukas. Yun yung inaasahan natin.

Q: Sir, from Mindanao kayo. Si Senator Pacquiao is for the extension. Kayo din? Same din?

SPKP: Oo. Wala naman akong natatanggap na negative report. Pag nagtatanong naman ako, parang this is a benevolent Martial Law. Ako lumaki din ako sa time ng Martial Law na takot lahat, may curfew, takot magsalita. Sa Mindanao, hindi daw. Iba nga eh. Walang effect except that out of the camps ang mga military. That is the only effect. That is why tomorrow we need a briefing. What is the factual basis. Ano bang alam ng military. How come they recommended the extension. Makinig din muna naman kami.

Q: Do you think one year is a reasonable extension?

SPKP: Makikinig din nga kami how come even one year narecommend.

Q: Sir, clarification lang, kailangan tapusin niyo yung TRAIN, budget and Martial Law extension before the session breaks?

SPKP: Yes.

Q: Kung may maiwan?

SPKP: Okay lang. Pag hindi pumasa ang TRAIN, wala tayong... the new effectivity sana nun is January 1, 2018 but we will definitely have a new tax law. Yung effectivity lang. Kung hindi kaya ngayon, sira ang timetable, ang projections ng ating DOF and DBM.

Q: Sir, may bicam report na po sa budget?

SPKP: Pagkakaalam ko malapit na. Mas malapit ang budget kaysa sa TRAIN.

Q: So tomorrow sir neither of the two- TRAIN and budget?

SPKP: Ang target bukas pero sana yung budget ngayon na. I believe na mauuna yun eh. Yun lang yun. Even if yung budget law hindi mapirmahan o pumasa, this has happened in the past na for a couple of days in 2018, reenacted budget yung basis ng paggagastos but once effective na yung budget, it will be the new budget na magiging basis ng gastos. Ganun lang naman yun. Ganun din yung TRAIN. We're trying our best kasi January 1, 2018 ang effectivity target timetable of TRAIN.

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