Transcript of interview of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile

Q: (What have you finished today?)

SP: We just finished the problem regarding the rules that will govern the handling of the ethics case against Senator Villar. On Thursday, we will have a next hearing and at that time, we will go to the next stage which is the preliminary inquiry of the matter in which case we will be dealing with the contents of the complaints and such evidence that may be required including those that are already attached to the complaint. I have requested the Secretariat, the General Counsel, to notify the respondent to participate in the preliminary inquiry if he so decides.

Q: Can Senator Villar be represented by his lawyer?

SP: He will be notified to participate in the preliminary inquiry if he wants.

Q: If not, Sir?

SP: Well, that's his prerogative. There's a next stage where he will be required to submit his pleadings.

Q: Sir, there were only three amendments that were carried, Sir?

SP: I do not remember anymore.

Q: Sir, anong implications nung supplement that were voted upon? Yung na-amend po.

SP: They were just verification/clarificatory of existing rules but the rules contain already the mechanism to deal with the factual situations called by those rules.

Q: Can you clarify, Sir, the word adversarial proceedings?

SP: Well, adversarial proceeding is the presentation of the evidence by the complainant and the presentation of the evidence by the defendant or respondent in this case. The one presenting the evidence can be cross-examined by the lawyer of the other side. If the complainant is the one presenting the evidence, the complainant and her witnesses in this case can be cross-examined by the lawyer of the respondent. If it is the respondent who will present his evidence, the respondent can be cross-examined including his witnesses by the counsel of the complainant.

Q: How long are you going to take in this preliminary inquiry?

SP: Maybe a day or two days. We will just evaluate the evidence especially we lawyers. I can read through the complaint and go over the documents. And I stand by my decision. If I cannot win that case, I should hang my license as a lawyer.

Q: Sa voting, can the respondent and the complainant also vote?

SP: I am not sure. I have not read that. I suppose an extreme case of delicadeza will suggest that they should abstain. Like Senator Madrigal, she did not participate in the proceedings. She was in the lounge.

Q: Sir yung comment ni Senator Arroyo that it will not spare any member...

 SP: I am sure of my position. If I am subject to Ethics Committee this time during my tenure here, I am willing to face it.

Q: Sir, Senator Villar has the option to appear or not?

 SP: Yes. Yes. He may or may not. I will require him to submit his brief.

Q: Wala ng amendment ang rules sa Thursday?

SP: They can propose but the agenda on Thursday is preliminary inquiry.

Q: Sir, tungkol sa comment ni Senator Arroyo on voting...?

SP: Lahat naman dito, we decide issues by numbers. Even in the Supreme Court, the issues are decided by numbers.