Press Release
July 27, 2010

Transcript of Ambush Interview of with Senate President Enrile

On the committee chairmanships

SP There are committees that are still in contention but we have to proceed with those that have no issues. I cannot remember the Committees that are in contention. Marami pa yung may contentions eh. Regarding the Blue Ribbon, I do not know if Kiko will handle it.

(Sabi ni Tito sir, 10% na lang yung may contentions, 90% resolved na.)

SP Ako ang nakaka-alam eh, ako ang may listahan.

On whether major committees will be given to the Minority

SP Sa minority? Yes, I think there are only three sa Minority, di ba? Si Joker will get Constitutional amendment. Si Pia, I think will get Health and Women. Major yun, major, di ba? Kalusugan ng bayan tsaka kababaihan. Mga kabataan pa. Tatlo yun, kabataan, kababaihan, kalusugan. Regarding Alan, he is Minority Floor Leader. He is a member of all committees. Frank will handle the Finance Committee.

On JPE's comment for Noynoy not to worry about the passage of laws in the Senate

SP Of course. Kung mayroong batas, panukalang batas na gusto ng Malacañang, pag-aaralan namin at hindi namin babarahin simply because galing sa Malacañang, di ba? Yun ang attitude ko. I don't want to fight the administration. Sino ang masasaktan? Ang bayan. Not because I want to be an errand boy of Malacañang. I am not going to be an errand boy of anybody. I think my record will show that.

On Noynoy's appeal for CA not to give his Cabinet members a hard time.

SP Hindi naman deliberately pahihirapan, pero tatanungin sila kung ano ang kanilang kakayahan at kung ano ang kanilang qualification. Susuriin yung kanilang pagkatao, ang kanilang mga pinang-galingan, ano ang kanilang mga kalagayan sa buhay, para sa ganoon malaman kung mapapakinabangan sila ng bayan. Part ng check and balance yan eh.

On criticism about Noynoy's presentation, that there is no road map and only problems.

SP Yung program ng gobyerno will be shown by the budget message that the President will issue, because the budget is the policy and program of government. He is just like a doctor, ina-analyze niya yung katawan nung pasyente. So, pag mag-gagawa siya ng prescription ngayon, ang prescription niya, budget.

On whether the Senate will investigate anomalies.

SP We do not need the Senate to investigate. We have investigated them already. Meron nang Truth Commission. Kung mag-iimbistiga pa ang Senado, di panay imbistigasyon na naman ang gagawin natin. Kailangan magtrabaho tayo, di ba? Titingnan natin kung ano ang magagawa ng Truth Commission para hindi magkadoble-doble.

Q On how JPE describes the President's SONA.

SP That is his analysis of the state of the nation. I respect that.

On the so-called Angara block.

SP Ayaw ko ng bloke-bloke dito eh. Kaya sinabi ko sa aking speech, we are all senators of the country, Now, we divide ourselves into a working Majority and a Minority. That's the democratic structure. Nobody is going to be treated differently from the others. I do not see groupings as blocks. Except perhaps, in the case of assignments to these Committees or the Commission on Appointments.

(Pero, sir, di ba yung sa Committee chairmanships parang toss-up between LP senators and the so-called Angara block?)

SP I assigned Committees according to my perception of the capability of each one, not because of the money that they can get out of it, not because of the power that they can get out of it, but because of what they can do, to use the Committee for the service of the nation. Bayan itong pinag-sisilbihan natin, hindi ating sarili.

On how the Committee chairmanships will be resolved.

SP I will talk to them. I will discuss it with them, but if they cannot make up their minds, kung nag-aaway sila, tungkol sa---hindi mo mapagbigyan lahat eh. Sasabihin nung isa, gusto ko yan, gusto ko rin yan.

(Some Senators are saying na possible na open voting na lang po dito sa floor? Botohan na lang sir?)

SP Well, kung hindi ko mare-resolve, I will submit it to the body for votation.

(Within this week po ba, maayos na yung Committee chairmanships?)

SP I will try.

On whether the senators are fighting over the Committees.

SP Hindi naman, pero may mga preference yan eh. May listahan ka, may listahan sila. Ang ginagawa namin, we'll see if we can iron it out. Walang agawan. Hindi naman parang mga bata na nag-aagawan ng lollipop yan. They have their preferences. They express their desire for certain committees.

(Ilang mga Committee ang pinag-uusapan natin sir?)

SP Siguro mga sampu. May mga overlapping requests.

On Sen. Lacson getting a Committee.

SP Accounts sa kanya, he has the accounts. He indicated the desire for Ways and Means but mayroon ding mga iba na may gusto, pero titingnan ko.

(Sir, nakaka-contact pa siya sa inyo?)

SP Balita ko lang, balita ko. Kung may text siya, paano ko alam kung nasaan siya. He has always been handling Accounts. Kahit na wala dito, gaya ni Trillanes, mayroon din siyang Committee. I want him to handle Accounts, he has handled it quite well. Regarding Ways and Means, kung nandito siya, pwede siguro na ibibigay ko sa kanya pero mayroon namang may gusto, so titingnan ko. Baka bandang huli, toss coin na lang tayo.

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