Press Release
November 21, 2017

Transcript of Ambush Interview of Senate President Koko Pimentel

On Sen. Manny Pacquiao thinking of resigning from politics

SP Pimentel: Hindi niya nasabi sa akin yan, but we have an upcoming trip together so mag-uusap kami. We are going to China partly to represent the PDP-Laban in the conference of political parties, called by President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Mag-uusap kami, what is troubling him. Normal yun, pati ako dumaan dun.

On the possibility that the approval of the budget may be delayed

SP: Hindi na delayed. Nag-caucus kami kahapon, we decided on the special procedure for the budget, kasi nga given that it is a voluminous document and then every amendment affects other parts of the budget, nag-usap na kami doon on the procedure that we will observe which will be more transparent than the past procedures kasi may floor action. Dati walang floor action. Bukas we will start the tax reforms.

Q: Morning-afternoon session, sir?

SP: Yes. Ready kami hanggang Thursday, nakiusap ako sa Minority na just in case hindi matapos ng whole day ng Wednesday, ako ay nakiusap sa aking mga kasama na please clear your calendar on Thursday. Payag naman sila. I am getting the cooperation I need so I am confident. These are two certified measures, once matapos sila, pwedeng ituloy on the same day ang approval.

On Senate President Pimentel's advise for Senator Pacquiao

SP: Let him talk to me. Mag-usap muna kami. Pero totoo yun, maraming hindi sincere sa politics.

Q: So disappointed rin kayo just like him?

SP: Of course. Pareho kami ni Manny, anytime we can turn our back to politics.

Q: What is frustrating for you?

SP: Sali-Sali sa partido, hindi naman naniniwala sa party ideology, hindi ba frustrating yun? Dapat sumasali sa party dahil naniniwala sa programa, sa ideology ng party, hindi dahil sa amin ang presidente. Maraming ganun. Handa naman ako na lumaki ngayon ang PDP-Laban, in due time liliit siguro, pero malaki na sa kanyang previous state. Kasi by that time, meron na kaming na-convert, na maniniwala sa programa de gobyerno ng partido.

Q: Meron po talagang sumasali na hindi naniniwala sa partido?

SP: Of course. Sa libo-libong sumali sa amin, pero yun na nga, ang burden ng party is to take this opportunity to inculcate to the new members the programs and beliefs of the party. Kung ma-convert sila, well and good. Gaganda ang pulitika sa ating bansa kasi based on party programs na hindi na on personality.

Q: May deadline po for those who will join?

SP: I am getting clearance from the Speaker, mag-uusap kami kung pwedeng i-extend namin kasi due to pressure and popular demand, na marami pang gusting puntahan ko sila all over the country, hindi kaya. Given the budget and the tax na hindi ako maka-alis. So, baka kung pwede sana, by end of February next year. Pero mag-uusap muna kami.

On the senatorial list

SP: Preliminary list lang. Preliminary.

Q: Do you think they are qualified to run for the Senate?

SP: Oo, qualified. Ang qualifications ay nasa Constitution. Unless masyado pang bata si Mocha, is she more than 35 na? Qualified na.

Q: Are you in favor na masala sila?

SP: 12 lang kasi yan. Dapat bigyan namin ng halaga ng bawat slot and then meron akong mga kasama rito na re-electionist na you know, given the extension, siguro, the deadline, baka sumama pa sa party, so dahan-dahan lang muna kami sa pag-lalagay ng pangalan, or sige lang kaming mag-name ng tao, ng kandidato, pero preliminary lang. Huwag namin itaga sa bato.

Q: Hindi lahat ng sinabi ni Speaker kasali?

SP: Hindi ba dinis-own na nga nung dalawa, hindi raw sila interesado? Just like ako, yung una ko namang list, sabi naman ni Fariñas he is not also interested so all these are preliminary and of course, kunyari ma-ka-come up kami ng 20 names, then we will go to President Duterte, to get his inputs naman.

Q: Kinukunsulta ba kayo ni Speaker Alvarez every time magpapalabas siya ng initial list?

SP: Yes, napag-usapan naman namin yan. Mas matagal na siyang humahanga kay Mocha.

Q: Open kayong makasama sa slate si GMA?

SP: Si GMA, hindi ko pa nakaka-usap, pero she is qualified to run again.

Q: Ano yung selection process na sinusunod ninyo?

SP: National ito, it will be at the national level. Pag local, we will get the inputs of the local councils, local chapters.

Q: Kung magde-decide, hindi isang tao lang?

SP: Oo. Kami, si President Duterte, ako, Speaker Alvarez, Vice-Chairman of our party, Secretary Al Cusi, and the more active political personalities kukunsultahin namin.

On Secretary Aguirre being included in the senatorial line-up

SP: Pwede rin. Of course, just like Senator Drilon, ano ang background niya, former Secretary of Justice.

Q: Floating these names, nakakatulong din ba ito sa party considering sabi ninyo it should be a party decision?

SP: Nakakatulong, kasi yung mga nakikiliti diyan, maghanda na sila.

Q: Si Bato?

SP: Bato is not a party member so hindi tayo makaka-comment.

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