Press Release
May 19, 2009

Transcript of interview with Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile

Q: Committee of the Whole...

SP: I give them until Thursday to study all the documents. And on Thursday, too, we will make a determination whether there is a substantial credible evidence to support the complaint. And if the decision of the committee is affirmative, then we will order an investigation and we will make a public announcement to that effect and give notice to the parties involved.

Q: Sabi ni President Erap mag-aano daw siya, parang desidido siya na tumakbo?

SP: Ay, kung gusto niya na tumakbo, paano natin mapipigilan?

Q: Pero Sir, may legal impediment di ba?

SP: Aba eh, sabi niya qualified siya. Hindi mo mapipigilan kung sabi niya, "qualified ako"

Q: Pero Sir, di ba kayo, bilang abogado, ano yung tingin n'yo?

SP: Ako, pag ginamit ko yung pinag-aralan ko na bilang abogado, binabayaran ako. Hindi ako nagbibigay ng advice.

Q: So, sa palagay n'yo hindi na mapipigilan na talaga si Former President Erap?

SP: I refuse to comment.

Q: Sir, si Senator Villar mag-conduct ng ocular inspection...

SP: Very good, very good, very good!

Q: Hindi po ba it will pre-empt the rule?

SP: Never mind. We do not know whether he will go to the same place. If he will go to the same place, I hope they will supply us with a copy of their ocular inspection or the media. I hope the media will get the correct pictures.

Q: Sir, do you intend to conduct your own ocular inspection?

SP: I don't know yet if there is a need for it..

Q: Sir, kayo po yung mag-di-decide whether to conduct or si Senator Jamby ang mag-re-request?

SP: The Committee.

Q: I- request n'yo po ba si Senator Villar na bigyan kayo ng copy?

SP: Hindi. Depensa niya 'yon! That will be his defense, if he wants to submit that to defend himself.

Q: Pero yung ibang mga Minority binigyan niyo din po nung report?

SP: Oo, meron sila pati si Senator Villar, pinabigyan ko. Kumpleto, pati yung mga ebidensya na nakasaad dun sa Prelimenary Inquiry Report.

Q: But they are also warned by the confidentiality rule?

SP: Of course, I leave it to them. Whatever is their disposition.

Q: Sir, dun po sa smuggling hearing na po. Ano po yung dapat ipataw sa mga smugglers?

SP: Yung mga smugglers? Dapat ikulong. at parusahan para dun sa kanilang mga smuggled goods. Sina-suggest ko na 50% ipagbibili ng gobyerno para magkaroon ng income ang gobyerno. Yung 50% ay i-export o sunugin o ipamigay sa charity, pamigay sa mga gagamitin ng gobyerno.

Q: Pero ngayon po parang hindi naman ganun yung nangyayari dahil walang ebidensya na nakukuha sa mga smugglers, kaya hindi nahuhuli kasi wala daw ebidensya?

SP: Ay kaya nga, kung hindi mo na mahuhuli, yung economic sanction is deterrent 'yon. Imagine. 50% mawawala sa 'yo.

Q: Sir, pwede bang mapigilan ng Supreme Court ang inquiry ng Senado o mag fa-file yata rin ng affidavit...

SP: Eh di mabuti. I will encourage them to go to the Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court will issue a TRO then we will respect the Supreme Court.

Q: Sa tingin n'yo Sir, gaano katagal itong inquiry n'yo? Pag walang order sa Supreme Court?

SP: Aabutin siguro kami hanggang Agosto o Septyembre. Syempre, bibigyan namin ng pagkakataon yung respondent to submit his evidence. Walang madalian dito eh!

Q: Kapag nakapagbigay si Senator Villar ng sagot, baka madali?

SP: We will give him a reasonable time to present his defense.

Q: Sir, with the ocular inspection na gagawin ni Senator Villar sa C5 Road, makakatulong ba 'yon sa kanya?

SP: Ewan ko, kung anong ocular inspection 'yon. Lahat 'yon makakatulong. They are free to do anything they want, if they will present that as a defense.

Q: Pero wala silang binabali sa Committee of the Rules n'yo?

SP: Wala.

Q: Sir, do you conduct your own ocular inspection?

SP: If there's a need.

Q: Sir, at this point?

SP: Not yet, we have not come to that point. We are just in the preliminaries.

Q: Will it form part of the evidence? Yung ocular inspection?

SP: Ni Senator Villar? Kung i-presenta nila 'yon. They are the ones who will present that in their defense.

Q: But you can question, Sir?

SP: We will decide whether it is submissible or not submissible.

Q: Do you think the majority will be deciding to conduct that ocular inspection to make it part of the evidence?

SP: Well, later on. When there is a need to do that. If there's a doubt about the factual setting of the inquiry like whether there is a re-alignment and where the re-alignment is. At kung kailangan mag-ocular then let the Committee make the decision.

Q: Sir, what's your take on that? Haharap sa hearing pero on his own, gagawa siya ng ocular inspection?

SP: That is his prerogative. He wants to defend himself outside the Committee, we will get the evidence that will be presented to us and then study it, that's all.

Q: Pero hindi po sumasama yung loob n'yo sa ginagawang ganon?

SP: Hindi masama ang loob ko. Wala, there is nothing personal about this. No emotions involved.

Q: Sir, anong tingin n'yo po dun sa sinabi ni Senator Villar na sa you tube niya na lang ipapaliwanag sa tao...

SP: Okay lang. Okay lang sa amin 'yon kung 'yon ang gusto nila. I will not teach the people how to defend themselves.

Q: Sir, considering na yung minority walang plano na mag-participate sa voting on Thursday, confident kayo na magkakaroon ng quorum?

SP: I don't know, I will see. There's no quorum, I will suspend the session. Kung may quorum, I'll continue with the session.

Q: Sir, what Senator Villar is doing is not submission to authority?

SP: Each one of us must act according to his best interests. Kami ay mga Senador.

Q: Sir, tinawagan ba kayo ni President Gloria tungkol sa CARP?

SP: Hindi.

Q: Pero meron daw i-certify dun eh, para ma-approve na?

SP: Well, there is absolute urgency dahil yung extension namin is up to June. Kung dumating ang Hunyo at walang batas, ay tapos na 'yung CARP.

Q: Sir, balak daw po talaga o desidido na daw na tumakbo si President Erap come 2010?

SP: Desidido na? 'Yun ay nasa kanya na yung decision, eh.

Q: Pero based on the Constitution Sir, may karapatan pa rin ba siyang tumakbo?

SP: I will not render an opinion with just like that.

Q: Pero Sir, hindi kayo kinunsulta?

SP: I will not render a legal opinion.

Q: Hindi ba kayo kinunsulta?

SP: Hindi pa. Pero ang narinig ko, ang sabi ng kanyang mga legal advisers, he can run again.

Q: Can he? Sir, will you urge him?

SP: Kung tatakbo siya ,eh, desidido siyang tumakbo. Di tatakbo siya.

Q: Sir, susuportahan niyo siya considering na magka-partido kayo?

SP: Oo. If I will run again, I will run under Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino.

Q: Sir, magiging hadlang ba si President Erap sa ibang presidentiable this coming election?

SP: Ah, secret! (laughs)

Q: So, dapat bang matakot yung ibang presidentiable kay Erap?

SP: Hindi. Basta secret 'yun eh! (laughs) But I'm telling you, hindi ko sasabihin na malakas o mahina si President Erap.

Q: Bakit?

SP: Baka sabihin nila biased ako eh.

Q: So, i-eendorso niyo ba siya? Pero yung charisma ni President Erap nung 1998 at ngayon, pareho rin ba?

SP: Alam mo nung nagpunta kami sa Marinduque, sinamahan ko siya eh maraming tao na sumalubong sa kanya. Nagsilabasan lahat yung mga tao sa mga bayan-bayan na pinuntahan niya.

Q: Sir, what will prevail, yung rule of the people ba o the Constitution?

SP: I do not know what the Supreme Court will do. But you are talking about the election, if he will run, it is a question of numbers. Will he get the numerical numbers to get elected. I cannot tell as of now but all I can tell you what I've seen. That the people do not have to be asked to go out and meet him. They go out and meet him.

Q: Yung conviction niya sir, hindi ba 'yon ground for disqualification if he's running for public office?

SP: As far as I know his civil and political rights were restored.

Q: Hindi ba condition ng pardon?

SP: Yeah, you have to study. You better get a copy of the pardon so that you will see exactly how it was worded.

Q: Sir, is it a conditional pardon or absolute pardon?

SP: Yung dispositive portion, it is an absolute pardon. That's my reading, that's my opinion.

Q: Sir, will that pave the way for him to...

SP: There are many things you have to consider when you think of qualifications for running for President.

Q: So, you've seen him dine and wine with the President GMA?

SP: Not President GMA. I've not seen the President in the house of Erap. I don't know whether the President betrayed him but I'm talking of his friends before who caused him political injury. So, let's not name names.

Q: Sir, kung tatakbo si Erap, if you think he will run. Ano naman yung chances niya na manalo?

SP: I will not talk about chances. Everyone has the chance to win. That is the function of the people, let them judge each one of them. All of them. Parang mga race horse 'yan eh! At the very start, all of them have the energy and the capability to win and the only time you will know who the winner is at the end line, di ba?

Q: Sir, his running will be the base of the opposition?

SP: Ah, right now, the opposition is factioned. Ang daming tatakbo eh! Andyan si Manny Villar, si Loren Legarda, Si Mar Roxas, Si Chiz Escudero, Si Ping Lacson. Pagkatapos si Bayani Fernando, si Eddie Villanueva, Si Brother Mike, Si Noli de Castro, Si Gilbert Teodoro, Si Among Ed Panlilio, Si Mayor Binay, Si Manny Pangilinan baka si Justice Reynato Puno, Si Gordon.

Q: Enrile, Sir?

SP: Ah, no more. Hindi na. Out na ako d'yan, I'm not interested.

Q: Sir, si Erap ba ang pang tapat ninyo sa administration? Si Erap lang ba ang pwedeng tumalo?

SP: That's a very tricky question. Very tricky question 'yan eh! Ang pang tapat ninyo, wala akong tinatapatan.

Q: Ang pang tapat ng opposition sa administration?

SP: Eh ang daming tumatakbo, hindi naman lahat 'yan nasa opposition, eh! Lahat 'yon pang tapat sa kandidato ng administrasyon.

Q: Di ba Sir, pag tumakbo lahat ng opposition, mahahati-hati ang buong party?

SP: Oo, eh mahahati-hati ang bayan. Hati-hati.

Q: So, Minority President 'yan?

SP: There has never been a Majority President since EDSA.

Q: Sir, do you see the same scenario that happened in 1991 when President Ramos...

SP: 1992

Q: When President Ramos won by a slim mark

SP: This is the worst scenario. They are all candidates. The problems that they will face will be much bigger than the problems that the incumbent president is facing.

Q: The winner cannot get even just below 20%?

SP: I hope, we'll get the most capable to run the country.

Q: Sir, isa na lang. sa hearing kanina, will you pursue your findings that all importers were cheating consumers?

SP: That's why I'm filing an Anti-trust Law.

Q: That will be covered?

SP: Yes. If we have an Anti-Trust Law today, all of those answers will not be made because they will be putting themselves in the net of the law.

Q: Sir, yung dun sa oil importer, how could they cheat? PinI-fix po ba nila yung weighted average?

SP: Hindi ko alam, because I've never smuggled oil. I've never smuggled anything.

Q: But you said oil importers were obviously cheating the consumers? How did you come up with that?

SP: Well, let's say they buy at a certain price. Then they buy again after a month.. Then they buy again the third month, another price. They buy again. In one, month they make two or three orders of shipments of goods with different prices. But then according to them, their average, as supposed they use the highest average. Pagkatapos, in the meantime, bumaba na yung presyo sa world market, yun pa rin ang presyong gagamitin nila.

Q: Sir, kailan po natin balak ipasa yung Anti-Trust Law?

SP: This week. This afternoon, I hope.

Q: Are there no oppositors?

SP: So far, none. They are asking questions but, alam mo kasi ang Anti -Trust Bill ay very specialized area 'yan in the field of law. Bihira ang nakakaintindi.

Q: Sir, walang pressure from lobby group?

SP: Wala naman. In fact, I'll tell you, many of the legitimate businessmen in the country are in favor of it.

Q: Sir, bakit po?

SP: Because, karamihan naman, alam nila kung sino yung mga gumagawa niyan.

Q: Sir, may counterpart na ba sa House yung Bill mo?

SP: Meron.

Q; Sino po yung nag-file, Sir?

SP: Marami yata sila dun. Pati yung sa Royalty, yung Royalties (on indigenous source of energy),Greg (Senator Honasan) will be filing. I authored that and Greg is preparing the Committee report. We will be using the share of the government from the Malampaya Well to reduce power rate. I think, we will be able to reduce it from a high of a little over 2 pesos and the low of 99 centavos per kilowatt hour.

Q; Sir, yung Anti-trust Bill, in layman's term, paano po yun i-explain, Sir?

SP: Halimbawa, pareho tayong nag-mamanufacture ng bakya. Nag-usap tayo na pareho yung presyo natin, per bakya.. Ganito. Wag kang magbebenta ng less than that. Merong Anti-Trust, 'yon.

Q; Sir, parang cartel?

SP: Cartel nga 'yon. Tama.

Q: Sir, anong industries yung kasama sa Anti-trust?

SP: Marami.

Q: Like what, Sir?

SP: Pati sa bigas may cartel, eh. Pati sa karne may cartel. Pati sa gasoline, may cartel. Pati sa asukal, may cartel.

Q: Sir, what will happen sa price pag naipasa na po?

SP: They have to run. They have to compete with one another. Hindi na pwede yung pag-uusapan ang mga presyo-presyo. semento, lalo na may cartel.

Q: Sir, parang may domino effect po yung bill n'yo?

SP: Hindi domino. May hahadlangan yung mga ginagawa ngayon. Ang nasasaktan ay yung mga consumers eh.

Q: Could this redound to lowering prices?

SP: Hopefully, yes.

Q: Magkakaroon ng provision dun, sir na mag mo-monitor dito sa mga companies na 'to?

SP: Oo, meron. Merong DTI and Department of Justice. At kung bukod yung mga multa, at napatunayan na yung kumpanya ay gumagawa niyan, yung damages ibabalik dun sa mga consumers.

Q: Sir, there'll be Special Courts...?

SP: Wala, but I'm sure that if we pass this law, maraming mag-aaral niyan.

Q. Magkakaroon din ban g powers para mabuksan yung financial records?

SP Oo. Meron. Mga subpoena power. Very powerful at saka masyadong mabigat yung mga fines ranging from 10 million to 100 million yata. At saka imprisonment of ten years.

Q Sir yung Anti- Trust Bill, meron yung price cup?

SP Hindi. Walang price cup. Free Market. Sir, you still have 8 session days to go, matatapos ba at maipasa yung mga priority bills po ninyo?

SP Yes.

Q How confident?

SP Yes, confident ako sa Anti- Trust Law. Yung sa Royalties ang hindi lang siguro maipasa. Ang hindi lang aabot ay yung Cyber Crime Bill. And then yung Herbal Medicine Law.

Q Paano yung counterpart measures sa Lower House, hindi pa po naipasa? Will they remain pending?

SP Oo. Pending. Antayin naming yung House.

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