Transcript of Interview of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile during Plenary

On Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago

SP: Sabi niya, 'yun ang opinion niya. 'Yun din ang opinion ko. Ngayon, kung akala niya na siya ay iniinsulto, open naman 'yung husgado na idemanda ako para doon na namin pag-usapan. Hindi 'yung murahan dito. Kung she feels insulted, ang sinabi ko lang ay hindi niya pinag-aralan sapagkat under US precedents, majority lang. At ako naman, karanasan ko 'yon na sine-censure ako ng majority. Kaya kung si Senadora Miriam Santiago ay inaakala na siya ay iniinsulto ko, ibig sabihin noon na I defamed her as an expert in Constitutional Law, open 'yung husgado sa kanya at doon ko siya haharapin.

Q: Nagpahaging siya sir na mag-resign kayo gracefully...

SP: Okay lang 'yon. Alam mo, hindi naman siya bumoto sa akin. Ang bumoto sa akin lang ang pwedeng magsabi na ako'y mag-reresign.

On Sen. Manny Villar

Q: Pero sir, 'yung ibang mga kasama ni Senator Villar ay nagsabi na bakit hindi niyo raw inilabas 'yung bribery issue sa Committee of the Whole.

SP: Because the matter was between Senator Villar and I and I did not like to prejudice him. But since these things are coming up, I related the series of meetings that he undertook with me and the final meeting that we had which was really what happened.

Q: Ilang meetings 'yon sir?

SP: Hindi ko na mabibilang. Marami. During the last meeting, that was the time that he brought up the issue na "tutulungan ako". Siguro mga tatlo o apat na meetings. Most of the time, here in the Senate.

Q: You didn't think it was that serious to bring it up sa Committee of the Whole?

SP: No, I did not want to prejudice his case by bringing that up. Since it is already over, I've brought it up now.