Press Release
May 9, 2012

Transcript of Interview of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile

On the Impeachment Trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona

Q: 'Yung subpoena?

SP: Yes, I issued the subpoena today.

Q: Lahat po ng ni-recommend ng defense?

SP: No, I issued the subpoena against the Ombudsman, against Emmanuel Santos, a complainant, against Walden Bello, a complainant. Since he is a complainant, my position is that he has waived his immunity, inter-parliamentary immunity, from a compulsory process by this court because he complained to the Ombudsman and then a certain Keh and Riza Hontiveros.

Q: Sir, 'yung $1O million? $10 million issue, sir, is not part of the complaint. Ano 'yung bearing nito...

SP: Well I'm just following the request for subpoena. Bahala na pagdating dito. Wag niyo na akong tanungin at mag-explain pa.

Q: Pero that will not require any amendments to the complaint?

SP: There's none. There's 10-million account that the characterization of that amount regarding its source is immaterial. We only characterize it as asset. Was it included in the SALN or not. We are talking of non inclusion okay?

Q: Sir, sinilip niyo po ba 'yung mga documents na ibinigay sa inyo nila Keh?

SP: Hindi, hindi ko binuksan.

Q: Sir, di ba parang conditional 'yung hinihingi ng depensa?

SP: Hindi.

Q: Bakit, sir?

SP: Walang condition basta humingi sila ng subpoena. Tapos.

Q: Pero 'yung pagharap po ni CJ Corona parang ibabase pa rin sa pagharap nila Keh.

SP: Well, they say he's willing to bare all out. 'Yun ang sinabi. 'Yun ang narinig ko.

Q: Is that limited to the $10 million account?

SP: I don't know. I cannot anticipate that. It is up to the Chief Justice to defend himself or not.

Q: Pero what if the defense tries to limit it to just the issue of $10 million?

SP: Well, it is up to them. I will not teach them how to defend their client. They cannot control the decision of the court.

Q: No need for the waiver po para masigurado na magsasalita?

SP: Walang kailangan na waiver doon basta kung anong tanungin kapag naging testigo si Chief Justice, nasa kanya 'yun if he will answer or not. We are not going to be abrasive or disrespectful. We're going to grant him all courtesies due him as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. There's no one who will insult him, be rude to him. We will treat him with utmost deference including the Ombudsman but when a question is propounded to them, it is up to them to answer or not. If they don't answer, there's an implication of the non-answer. If they answer, there's also an implication of the answer.

On former President Estrada's move to Manila

Q: Sir, 'yung paglipat po ni Erap sa Manila, assurance na tatakbo siya as mayor sa Manila?

SP: Sa personal ko, ang isang tao, hindi gagastos ng ganun kalaking pera na maglilipat ng residential kung wala siyang purpose. Di ba? Common sense lang 'yun. Pero hindi ko pa siya nakausap. 'Yun ang impression ko. Opinion ko 'yun.

Q: Right decision po ba 'yun, sir?

SP: Hindi ko alam. I'm not former President Estrada to say whether it is right or not right. Kung ako ang nasa lugar niya, bakit naman hindi ako tatakbo kung gusto ko tumakbo? Dati akong Presidente, binoto rin naman ako ng mga taga-Maynila.

On the Scarborough Shoal

Q: Sir, 'yung presence ng 32 Chinese vessels pineprevent na nila 'yung Filipino fishers sa Scarborough Shoal, virtual invasion na ba 'yun ng China?

SP: We cannot get a TRO from the International Court of Justice. Bahala na ang Department of Foreign Affairs doon. That is already an indication that China is grabbing the place from us. Nagiging grabber na ang China.

Q: Ano po ang dapat gawin, sir?

SP: We must prepare. We better buy war equipments. We better buy our weapons, our means of defense. Anong gagawin mo kung ang kapitbahay mo, malayo ang bahay niya pero pupunta sa iyong kapaligiran at mayroon siyang espada, tampilan at pana o javelin. Di bumili ka rin ng tampilan. Maghasa ka rin ng gulok.

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