TRANSCRIPT OF AMBUSH INTERVIEW WITH SEN. DRILON
After CA committee hearing

Q: Will the trial be open to the public?

DRILON: Of course.

Q: And that means to the media?

DRILON: That means to the media.

Q: Sa CA sinuggest nyo na thorough investigation. Tingin nyo sir meron namang ibang agency na mag-iinvestigate.

DRILON: Tungkulin ng Commission on Appointments to pass upon the fitness and qualification of each nominee. Sa akin po may pagkukulang kami doon sa aming trabaho na tignan ang fitness and qualification ng mga kagaya ni Gen. Garcia at Ligot, at ito ay pagkukulang ng proseso sa Commission on Appointments. Kaya aking iminungkahi na kung pwede rebyuhin namin ang aming capacity n gaming secretariat para mag-imbestiga at magbigay ng impormasyon sa amin sa CA tungkol sa fitness and qualification ng mga nominees, hindi lang sa Armed Forces kundi sa lahat. Kung mas kumpleto ang aming impormasyon, baka hindi nangyari yung kay Garcia at Ligot. Ito naman ay sinasabi ko para naman mabawas-bawasan siguro yung opportunity for error. We just have to be more diligent in our effort, in the performance of our duty.

Q: Kanina sinabi na dapat sa plenary na lang daw po pag-usapan at hindi sa committee level?

DRILON: Hindi. Ang sinasabi lang, since this is of general application, we will manifest it before the plenary so that it is applicable... the rules adopted will be for the entire commission, not only for the committee.

Q: Sir you were looking at bank records, sa ngayon ano ang mga documents available?

DRILON: Sa ngayon ang nasusumite lang yung statement of assets and liabilities, income tax return, medical certificate, background information ng aming secretariat. Ang sinasabi ko, siguro tignan natin kung alin pang impormasyon ang dapat ibigay sa commission.

Q: Mga ano kaya yun sir?

DRILON: Precisely I want to have information which would assist us in coming up with a rational decision on the fitness and qualification of a candidate. For example, yung kaso sa Ombudsman, ang attitude naming 'kaso yan sa Ombudsman hindi natin titignan yan'. Eh dapat siguro titignan din natin ang ebidensya hindi dahilan sa we're trying to determine if there is probable cause but whether the evidence would go into the fitness and qualification of the nominee so we should not ignore and simply brush aside cases filed in the Ombudsman. We should look at the evidence and find out if there is basis to raise issues on the fitness and qualification of the nominee on the basis of affidavits presented before the Ombudsman.

Q: Sir hindi kaya mag cause ng delay yun sa inyo considering na may kaso ang isang sinasalang sa CA?

DRILON: Mas mabuti na sa aking ma-delay kesa magkamali ka at ma-confirm mo yung magnanakaw.

Q: Pero sir kung cases pag-uusapan sa CA, is it appropriate?

DRILON: Ang pag-uusapan sa CA, yung ebidensya na iniharap sa Ombudsman o sa Sandiganbayan, hindi yung kaso.

Q: Si Senator Recto may proposal kung pwede bawasan na lang yung VAT on fuel. Do you agree?

DRILON: There is really a call for this VAT suspension. In the first place this requires legislation, in the second place, I hope that this is a matter that could be only of temporary episode. Let's not rush to do it. I'm open to it. Let's hear it in Congress if we want to. I'm open to it.

Q: Sir yung sinasabi naman ng BIR yung mga private taxpayers will have to file SALN.

DRILON: It's about time that we should pay our correct taxes. In fact I have always advocated that the banks should base the credit worthiness of a loan applicant on the basis of audited financial statements and income tax returns filed with the BIR, rather than secondary books and financial statements which are not on file with the BIR. This is part of transparency.

Q: Hindi na ba kailangan ng legislation?

DRILON: I am not prepared to answer that. I do not know.

Q: According to Ombudsman Gutierrez, dapat daw mag-inhibit sa impeachment trial yung mga senador na nanawagan sa kanyang resignation.

DRILON: Ang inhibition ng mga senador ay nasa kanila, bawat isa. Ang kaso dito sa Senado ay pagpapasyahan ng mga senador base sa ebidensya na ihaharap. I would suggest that Ms. Gutierrez start preparing her evidence rather than concentrate on studying public relation statements.