Press Release
May 4, 2009

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile Transcript of Ambush Interview

Q: (Marami bang inquiry?)

SP: Maraming inquiry. We will follow strictly the rules of the Ethics Committee.

Q: Sir, ina-adopt na ng Committee of the Whole yung rules na yun?

SP: Yes. Mahigpit yung rules na ginawa nila. Meron pang determination of substantial, credible evidence. Magkakaroon ng preliminary conference between the two sides to agree on facts that can be agreed upon and limit the hearing to facts that will not be agreed upon.

Q: Sir, yung Minority, pwede pa ba silang mag-submit ng mga amendments?

SP: Ah, they can submit amendment as we move along, but only for this case.

Q: When are you scheduling the preliminary conference?

SP: Siguro on Thursday.

Q: Will that already require Villar's presence?

SP: No, no, no. Internal yun. I will leave it to the Committee.

Q: Thursday yun?

SP: Yes, I will ask the Committee to notify the public.

Q: Sir, ipa-publish pa ba yung rules na yan?

SP: Hindi na. Na-publish na yun sa Official Gazette.

Q: Sir, ano po ang comment n'yo sa binabanggit ng Senate Minority na trial by publicity?

SP: What publicity is there? I have not said anything against the respondent. I was just making a ruling on the issues being presented.

Q: Sir, by preliminary inquiry, parang i-present na yung complaint?

SP: No. In the preliminary inquiry, we will see whether there is a basis to continue with the hearing.

Q: Is it gonna be a one day inquiry?

SP: I don't know yet.

Q: Sir, ano yung 5-day notice?

SP: Dalawang five days yun e. One, is upon receipt of the complaint. Pag natanggap na yung complaint, sabihin mo dun sa napangalanan dun sa complaint na may complaint dito. You have to do that within five days to warn him that there is a complaint. Once you evaluate the complaint, it must be under oath or in writing. It recites facts and those facts addressed to you as a rational person, indicates that there is a basis to put the respondent in his defense, meaning he has to respond to these narrated facts and you notify him after that determination, notify him in 5 days and send him a copy of the complaint.

Q: Sir, gaano po kaya katagal bago matapos ito?

SP: Matagal pa yun. After the preliminary conference, kung meron pang kailangang witnesses, they have to file their briefs. Trial brief yun . Meaning, these are charges, these are the evidence. These are the witnesses that I have; these are the substance of their testimony.

Q: Sir, dun sa preliminary conference, anong mga considerations?

SP: There is a substantial and credible evidence to support the charge.

Q: Sir, yung pinaka-complaint lang yung naka-attach na evidence?

SP: Oo. Titingnan namin if those are not fabricated evidence, if those are authentic, and so on and so forth.

Q: Sir, this could be a long process?

SP: It will take some time.

Q: So, hindi matatapos by the end of the year?

SP: I don't know how long it will take.

Q: Sir, magiging open ba sa media yung buong proseso?

SP: Under the Rules, the Committee will decide to make it a closed door session with respect to certain items.

Q: Sir, yung transmittal ba ng Ethics Committee pinadadala kay Senator Villar?

SP: Napadala na yun e. According to the rules, napadala na yun.

Q: Sir, yung clamor ng minority that you're taking so much time sa Ethics Committee, pakipaliwanag po. Na hindi nyo na raw nabigyan ng priority yung mga current pressing problems, like the Swine Virus and the enrolment problem of our educational system?

SP: That is the function of the Health Department and the Department of Education. The committees can work and conduct hearings. That is why I close the session of the Committee of the Whole at 12 o'clock, sana to give them time to discuss their concerns so we can prepare for the session this afternoon.

Q: Sir, si Celso delos Angeles daw may cancer at nasa St. Lukes?

SP: May cancer? I don't know whether he has cancer.

Q: Sir, will you know? Hindi ba papa-check niyo sa mga Senate doctors kasi baka hindi na siya a-attend sa mga susunod na hearings?

SP: Well, if there's a hearing, we will ask the doctors to explain or justify his sickness.

Q: Sir, on another matter po, ano opinion nyo sa custody ni Lozada?

SP: Well, as far as we are concerned in the Senate, for purposes of giving him a chance to get out of jail because of the warrant issued to him, we are willing to take him under a recognizance, meaning he does not have to file a monetary bail. Just guarantee that will appear when needed to answer the charges.

Q: does it mean physical custody?

SP: He's under the custody of Senate.

Q: Dito siya mag-stay, Sir?

SP: Depende sa order ng husgado.

Q: Tungkol sa appointment ni Retired General Yano, will the Commission on Appointment approve it?

SP: If they can complete their requirements.

Q: May reklamo kasi po yung mga taga- rank-and- file ng DFA?

SP: Let them appear in the hearing and we will hear their complaints.

Q: But what you were saying that pag na-comply na nila yung requirements, there is a possibility that they will be confirmed?

SP: Not only possibility. We will confirm them if they complete their materials and if the objections are not cogent.

Q: Sir, si GMA, isn't she using her appointment power when she is putting so many retired generals?

SP: No. Appointment of people in the positions in government is a political responsibility of the President. She is given the leeway under the Constitution.

Q: Yun bang mga pending appointment sa Cabinet?

SP: She's responsible to the people, not to anybody.

Q: Marami pa ring Cabinet members na hindi pa rin confirmed.

SP: Kinausap ko na yung mga committee members ng Commission on Appointments to hasten the hearings.

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