Transcript of Senator Richard J. Gordon's ambush interview
at the Senate Session Hall

Q: Sir, kayo na ang hahawak ng blue ribbon committee?

Gordon: Napag-usapan yan na tayo na ang hahawak ng blue ribbon committee. And I'm very humbled by this challenge. It's a challenge because maraming burden na kasama yan. Marami kang matatapakan na tao, but I think I'll be up to the task because one of the primordial issues this time is that of corruption in this country. Kailangan i-angat natin ang antas ng pamumuno ng mga tao sa gobyerno, both elective and appointed. And the blue ribbon committee is tailor-made for that. And you can be assured na sa paghawak natin ng blue ribbon committee we would be focused on simply that.

Q: May mga nagsasabi na sell-out dahil ang pinalalabas lahat ng major committees napunta sa mga taga-administrasyon.

Gordon: Am I part of the administration? I'm not. I'm not a member of Lakas. If you look at my record I voted against Marcos when I was in the Constitutional Convention. If you look at my record, I've always been very, very vocal against shenanigans in the government. I think my record speaks for itself. There is nothing in the rules that says I cannot be appointed. I did not ask for this. Hindi ko hiningi ito. Ito ay ibinigay sa akin itong committee na ito. Alam naman ninyo yan because tinatanong ako palagi kung ako na ang hahawak. Sabi ko wala akong hinihingi, hinihintay kong sila ang magbigay niyan kasi ayokong magla-lobby ako sa posisyon. Pag binato sa akin, gagawin ko ang tungkulin ko.

Q: Would you know kung sino ang nag-confirm para sa hearing bukas?

Gordon: Bukas si Bolante at yung mga regional directors ng DA ang darating bukas.

Q: Yung ibang witnesses baka daw magdalawang isip with you as head of the blue ribbon

Gordon: Well, nasa sa kanila yan. That's their opinion. They will find out.

Q: Sir, what can you assure?

Gordon: I have nothing to assure. If you don't know me then you don't know anybody here. Sino ba ang nagpapahuli kay Neri? Sino ba ang nagpakulong kay PCG chair Sabio? Sino ba ang hindi pupunta sa Amerika nung pupunta kami sa beterano ng presidente, against her request I said, no, I'm not going to go there. I have a mind of my own. And frankly, I'm insulted. Why? Hindi naman ako sa kumukubli na maging administrasyon or anything. I'm not in the administration. Roxas and I were in the cabinet. Biazon ran with the administration. Why had they not being asked that? What have I done in my record na kayo sinasabi nyo administration ako? Is it just para pagsabungin tayo? Hindi ko papatulan yan.

Q: Even if the investigation will lead to the doorsteps of Malacanang you will pursue it?

Gordon: Put it this way, you were already a reporter when I was in the Con-con. Who voted to ban Marcos? I did. Put it this way. I have also opposed any Charter Change. I'm one of the most vocal. In fact, I'm going to speak against it right now. I don't have to prove anything to anybody. I'm chagrined. Why do I have to prove anything to anybody? My record speaks for itself.

What is an administration senator ba? Can you please tell me what an administration senator is and what is an opposition senator? Yung nambabato lang ba ng administrasyon yun ay oposisyon na? Or is it really serving the country? I serve the country. I do not serve any man. I serve the country. I bow to no one except God. And if I have alliances here in the Senate, the alliances in the Senate are not based sa administrasyon. It is based kung sino malalagay na Senate President. And one of the things I disdain sa ating sistema, wala talagang partido dito sa Pilipinas kaya palipat-lipat. Nakita nyo naman kung sino bumoto, may dalawang bumoto hindi kay Villar. Does that mean they're administration yung dating bumoto sa kanya? Let's analyze. It's media's role to analyze how people viote. Pag nakita nyo kung pano bumuboto ang tao then magsabi kayo, pero kung haka-haka lang yan, I have better use of my time.

Q: Sir, with regard to ZTE, now that JDV has testified? Would you summon him also to testify in the Senate?

Gordon: It will depend on what his testimony is. Because right now I'm saying, magkakasama dati yan eh.. Pare-pareho silang with unclean hands eh. Titignan ko muna kung totoo yung sinasabi nya.

Q: Sir, ngayon na-implicate na yung first couple.

Gordon: That is a more serious hearing. That is an impeachment trial. Dapat tignan natin kung ano sasabihin nya. Kung kailangan pa sya dito, then we will invite him. But right now, ang sabi k okay Peter Cayetano, kung itutuloy yang ZTE, gagawin kong sub-committee yun sya ang in-charge because sya ang nakakaalam ng puno't dulo nyan.

Q: How about the North Rail and South Rail projects?

Gordon: Hindi ko nakita pa yan sa agenda ng Blue Ribbon Committee.

Q: Yung bribery? Yung inamin nya na tumanggap din sya ng P500,000?

Gordon: Ang blue ribbon committee would only investigate those that are primordial importance. Yung pag-amin nya bakit ngayon lang? Is it political? Or is it really in aid of the truth? Kung totoo then gawin natin. Kung nakikita natin na pumuposisyon lang para manalo yung kanyang anak, di tayo basta papasok dyan. Hindi ako basta susubo sapagkat there's enough time lost in the Senate just for purposes of media appeal. Tinitignan ko muna kung ano ang sasabihin ni De Venecia.

Q: Sir, sa tingin nyo nadiin lang sya dito?

Gordon: Well, tinanggap nya yung pera, over a year nandyan. Kung hindi siguro pumutok it, magkakaroon ba nyan? Hindi ko alam. I have to find out. I have to listen to reports in the Lower House.