Press Release
January 25, 2013

TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS CONFERENCE
PART 3 - Q & A

Reporter: Sabi ninyo sa bawat isa na mga sinasabi nila sa inyo may alam kayo na 100 tungkol kay SP at kay Atty. Giigi. Ano po ang halimbawa ng mga iyon?

ASC: Kapag sinabi ko sa inyo 'yung isa sa 100, 99 na lang ang ako lang ang may alam. But to explain that, I didn't mean that they are together. I meant that marami akong alam sa kanya, ang dami kong alam kay Atty. Gigi, ang dami kong alam sa kanilang dalawa. Kaya ang sinasabi ko lang, hindi ko naman sila aatrasan kapag issue sa issue--kung tungkol sa law office, tungkol sa tatay ko, etc. Ang dami kong alam diyan. Pero sinama ko rin sa speech na bagamat ganoon kadami ang alam ko, I will resist the temptation of doing that because it's not productive. Hindi naman tumatakbo si Senate President Enrile. Aanuhin naman natin ang libro niya? The issue is 'yung pera ng bayan.

I am technically tied at # 2 in the surveys, it is not a political move to make enemies

Since binanggit mo 'yan, I would also like to address 'yung sinasabi nila na ginagamit ko lang ang issue for publicity or popularity. With all humility and with all due respect, in the last surveys, SWS at pati sa Laylo (??) Survey, I'm technically tied for number two. At alam naman natin na sa senado, padamihan ng kaibigan 'yan, hindi ng kaaway. At alam natin na si Senate President is very popular.

My closest adviser said lie low muna ako at tumahimik muna sa issue. Pero sabi ko, as a minority leader, and as a person na tine-treasure ang pangalan, I have to stand up for what the truth is. As a Christian. Malay ko ba kung magiging popular ito o hindi. Malay ko ba kung ano ang isasagot niya. Kaya doon sa nagsasabi na ginagawa ko ito for politics, hindi nila ako kilala.

Pero nagtataka ako kay Sen. Enrile, dine-deny na malapit siya kay GMA at FG, alam naman ng mga tao iyon, pero ngayon ang gagawin nilang style ng pagde-demolish sa akin, pareho din lang. Ganyan na ganyan ang sagot ni FG noong may issue kami tungkol sa kanila.

I don't have a problem with UNA. I don't have a problem with the former president, with the vice-president, with any of their allies. Nirerespeto ko sila. I'm happy that they're supporting the senate president. But having said that, let's stick to the issue. And even if you look at the statements nila, ang sinasabi nila, walang masama sa pondo kung for public purposes, and kung tama 'yung liquidation. 'Yon nga po ang pinu-push ko. Na ipakita kung paano nili-liquidate itong mga ito.

Reporter: 'Your comment sa sinasabi ng Enrile camp na kaya lumabas itong lahat, supposedly kulang ang natanggap ninyo. Pero in the past years, noong nakatanggap kayong lahat, walang nagsalita.

ASC: I-separate natin 'yung P1.6 million at P250 thousand. 'Yung P250 thousand, bago 'yon. Hindi every year 'yon. At hindi tumatanggap ng P250 thousand every year. 'Yung Christmas gift na 'yon, hindi ko talaga malalaman 'yan ngayon, at hindi ko makakausap ang finance officer ko at chief of staff na huwag tumanggap ng cheque kahit official na walang vouchers kung hindi na nangyari ito.

Ngayon, yung sa P1.6 million, let me remind the Enrile camp, hindi kami nag-issue ng statement ni Sen. Pia. Si Sen. Miriam ang nag-bring up. Sila ang nag-away. Pero tingnan po ninyo ang Paragraph 5 ng either speech or press release ni Sen. Enrile, ang sinabi niya "lahat ng senador na 'yan". 'Yung speech ni Sen. Miriam, sa akin binintang. I only responded later on.

Lastly, why is it important kung bakit ito lumabas? Ang point, lumabas na. Hindi ba? 'Yung sa certification, inaamin ko, I also practiced the same thing. And what have I said, minsan kulang pa 'yung pondo. Minsan sobra. I returned a hundred thousand last year. The point is people are clamouring for reform. Who will respond to it?

I have the same answer for them na it's on the record kung paano nag-umpisa ito, but does it matter? Kahapon maraming nagku-kwestyon kung nasaan ang P250,000. I've stated again and again, in-embargo ko 'yon just like Sen. Koko. I told my staff, kung nasa account, huwag muna galawin. Pero tandaan po ninyo, magkakahalo po ang mga pera. Hindi po ito parang dalawang cellphone na pwedeng paghiwalayin o tukuyin ang isa sa isa. Pera 'yan na napaghalo.

Sabi ko kung nagastos, ibabalik. Bakit? If it is for MOOE at ginastos ko for that, walang problema,. But now that I know it is a Christmas gift, not only had I had it embargoed, I'm thinking now kung saan isasauli. Sa COA ba o sa Ombudsman. Kasi ebidensya ngayon 'yan. Unless makita ko that the liquidation is in order. But right now, hindi pinapakita ni Sen. Enrile kung paano ito ni-liquidate.

Reporter: Hanggang kailan itong away na ito? Kasi ang concern ng marami, doon sa umiinit na bangayan, the senate as an institution ay nasisira.

ASC: 'Yung bangayan ng senado ay hindi 'yon ang nagda-damage sa senado. Kung hindi 'yung refusal ng Senate President na buksan ang libro at 'yung pondo, and to come clean.

Remember 'yan din ang sinabi ng military sa atin na nasisira ang institusyon dahil open ang investigation ng senado. Ano ang sagot namin? Kayo mismo ang nagtanong sa akin 'non. Ano ang sagot namin sa kanila? Ang institution ng military ay lalakas, titibay, kapag may transparency. At kung may mga mali sa pondo at kawawa ang ating mga ilang sundalo, hindi ba, lumabas doon, kaya may conversion kasi 'yung iba tinamaan sa engkwentro, nasa ospital, ayaw gamutin hanggat walang cash? So many of that have had reforms. 'Yung intelligence fund, discretionary fund, na-reform 'yon.

What people are asking for now is the reform. But having said that, precisely why I said sa start, ang issue sa tao, trabaho, ekonomiya, agrikultura, presyo ng bilihin.

That's why akala ko tapos na ito noong Wednesday. Ang problema nga, madalas kong sabihin, hindi ito matatapos if we sweep it under the rug. Right now, hindi pa nag-uumpisa ang audit, may naririnig na ako na unconstitutional o illegal daw. No. I did my research, hindi ako magpo-propose dito nang hindi legal ito.

Anong kinatatakot natin kung wala naman tayong dapat itago?

Simple lang ito. It's not an audit that will last 6 months, 3 months. Ilabas lang ang document para maipakita kung saan exactly napunta, hindi kung saan intended. I have in my computer what he said. Doon sa items na pinaggastusan, 'yan ba ay na-certify lang ? Para malaman natin.

'Yon lang ang hinihingi ko. That's why I brought it up today here. Kasi hindi ko balak magsalita sa Monday o in the next few days sa floor, unless may mabigat na dahilan to do so. But I would like to announce to you that I am finishing the resolution and then ipapa-circulate ko sa Monday. I'm open to any changes o kung 'yung iba gustong mag-file din para sa Monday lahat ng may gusto, i-file ito. But this can be aborted by the Senate President simply calling a presscon and giving us a copy of the documents. O mag-Powerpoint show, as long as independent, private group, or private citizens, o private auditing firm can look at the documents and say okay ang mga iyon. Pero 'yung sabihin ng Senate President, "Ito hawak ko." 'Yon din ang sinabi ng lahat ng iniimbestigahan eh. Si CJ Corona, ganoon din ang sinasabi sa atin. 'Yung mga bangko na kaharap natin, 'yon din ang sinabi, ano ang ginawa natin? Humingi kami ng kopya sa lahat. Inisa-isa namin. Pina-swear namin lahat. So bakit double standard?

Reporter: Atty. Reyes issued a 7-page public apology. Do you accept her apology?

ASC: I have yet to read it, but I've trained myself in politics that kaaway mo today on one issue, tomorrow you're allies on a different issue. I just have to speak on the floor para nga hindi gawin ito ng ibang senate employees. Walang ill will sa akin. I'm not saying that we're going to be close friends or trust each other. But no need for apology. I haven't read it. May nagsabi lang sa akin na nag-apologize pero may pitik pa din. I don't mind.

Pero ang ano ko lang kasi, nag-a-apologize ang chief of staff pero 'yung boss niya, ang sinasabi ngayon tama lang naman ang ginawa niya dahil hypocrite naman daw talaga daw kami dahil chairman daw ako ng accounts. Hindi naman ako chairman ng accounts.

Sa akin lang naman, mag-sorry kayo, okay, tatanggapin ko, pasensya na din kayo na nasaktan ang damdamin ninyo pero issue ito eh. Trabaho natin ito. Pero si Sen. President, magso-sorry sa floor, pag naka-on 'yung camera, tapos pupunta sa Laguna, dadagdagan pa 'yung storya sa tatay ko. Siya din, kapag bigla siyang binisita para magpaliwanag sa kanya, bahala siya.

Reporter: Ano po ang masasabi ninyo sa sinabi ni Sen. President na inaassume niya na ang mga senador ay alam na dapat sa public purpose gamitin 'yung binigay na pera.

ASC: Excellent question, because that's precisely my point. May kasabihan nga sa pulitika, if you cannot explain, confuse. That's what he was trying to do, to confuse us by saying that the responsibility of using it well ay 'yung pinagbigyan. Hindi po, 'yung nagbigay.

Halimbawa, ako, may pondo 'yung office ko. If I give that money sa media and then ni-liquidate for supplies, ako ang gumawa ng mali, hindi kayo. Pero kung may pumunta sa aking estudyante para sa pang-tuition, tapos binigyan ko siya ng P10,000, ni-liquidate ko as travel expenses, although it is still for public purpose, it is either malversation or falsification of documents, or graft, depende sa kaso. Even if it's used for a laudable purpose. Ang sinasabi ni Sen. Enrile, nililito tayo. Kasi siya ang may pondo. Kapag ginamit niya ang pondo na 'yan, nakalagay 'yung item kung paano niya ito ili-liquidate. So kung nilagay niya distributed to the different offices of the senators, at may nakalagay kung bakit dinistribute, let's say MOOE, walang problema. Problema na ng senador 'yon. But if he got it from his savings, which he admitted, hindi niya ni-realign sa savings niya...

Kasi kung nilagay niya dun ay pangsoftdrinks o pangmerienda tapos binigay sa senador, hindi liable yung senador kung saan gamitin. Unless may conspiracy. That's why I don't want to use the P250,000 because they might say na may conspiracy between us.

Let me make that distinction. For intelligence funds, may nakalagay din: To buy information, to have a safe house etc. So kung intelligence funds yan tapos sinabi ko na "Juan ito yung galing kay Pedro para sa intelligence funds" then walang problema yun. Pero kung sinabi na "Pedro ito yung para sayo, bahala ka na diyan pero ikaw ang accountable." Mali yun kasi siya yung nagliquidate at hindi naman ang senador.

Ibig sabihin ni Senate President Enrile ay kung pinambili yan ng napakamahal na T-shirt at pantalon at kumain sa labas ang senador ay problema ng senador yun at di yung nagrelease ng pondo? Kawawa lahat ng government office natin at baka magrelease sila sa empleyado at sabihin sa empleyado na bahala sila basta for public purpose gamitin. Unless nga it's representation and transportation.

It depends how he liquidated it. But until now, two weeks na ay ayaw nilang maglabas ng dokumento. So every day na tumatagal na ayaw nilang maglabas ng dokumento there is a sneaking suspicion in the minds of people na may inaayos diyan.

REPORTER: Don't you find him credible when he say na it's the usual practice?

ASC: Again, he's confusing us. The usual practice is the MOOE not the P250,000. Even if you look at the statement of Atty. Gigi, ang sinabi niya ay 'Tinanggap naman nila yung 2008, 2009, 2010." That's the P1.6 million not the P250,000.

Walang P250,000 in the past. Or kung mayroon, no one knew about it. This is the first time na nung hinahap ko yung vouchers, wala pala. That is why I released the vouchers to the media para makita niyo yung difference nung binigay lang at nung wala.

REPORTER: Palinaw lang po. Gusto niyo lang pong ma-clarify yung P250,000 at yung P500 million na niliquidate lang by certification? Yung MOOE na P1.6?

ASC: Yun yung ako. Ang mamamayan ang gusto nila ay lahat kami. Bakit ko naman ieexclude yung sarili ko? Ang sinasabi ko ay Sen. Enrile owes it to us as members of the Senate and the people to open it up. Kami naman we owe it to the people. Now kung sinasabing by certification and yun naman ang proseso, it's not for the auditing firm to say that illegal yung by certification. Pero ang sinasabi natin na let's show it to the people na hindi binulsa tong mga to.

Ako confident ako sa P1.6 million. To tell you the truth, ilan ang hearing namin? Ilan ang staff namin? Halimbawa, yung transportation na lang. Kapag sinabing P100,000 parang ang laki. Pero magkano ngayon ang ticket papuntang Davao o papuntang Cebu, CDO, Zamboanga? Dalawang staff lang ipadala mo doon na balikan ay P20- P30,000 na. Ang sinasabi ko ay I'm confident na yung hindi gumawa ng masama ay madali niyang ipakita ito.

I'm just saying that hindi pwedeng mamili tayo. Hindi pwedeng ito tingnan, ito hindi. Gulat na gulat lang ako na may malaking issue na sa P1.6 million pero mahigit P500 million ang Senate President. Kaya naman pala nagpanic sila nung nilabas ko to at biglang hipokrito na ako at may utang na yung tatay ko. Nung napagtagpi tagpi ko yun pala yun. Kasi yung ibang senador di nila masabi dahil ang leadership issue maghahalo.

Pero bumulong ang iba na nagulat din sila. Kasi pare-pareho kami na ganoon pala ang sistema sa pondong involved. Pati mga empleyado. They think na ang lalaki ng bonus nila pero hindi pala nila nakita na dumoble ang budget ng Senado at ang dami palang cinecertify lang ng Office of the Senate President.

REPORTER: Ang pinapaaudit niyo lang ay pati sa mga ibang senador din?

ASC: Everything. Yes because how can we explain ourselves? I'm just saying take a look at it, open the books.

REPORTER: The entire budget?

ASC: Wag na tayong magparami pa, 2012. I'm very confident that each senator can show how they used the budget. Because it's very specific yung liquidation namin kung ano ang napunta saan. I'm sure kapag nakita nung tao na yung P1.6 million ay di pala Christmas gift yun. It's unfair pala sa Senate yun.

Ito yung sinsabi ni Sen. Ping na wag naman palabasin na nagnakaw lahat ng senador at may anomalya. So sinasabi ko na kapag binuksan yung P1.6 million ay walang mali doon.

REPORTER: Yung 2012 lang?

ASC: Well they can go further after that. I'm just saying na ang hirap namang bungkalin mo lahat at the same time. We're not looking for a needle in a haystack. Hindi ito witch hunt. This is a transparency and accountability move to show people that we lead by example.

Now if there's something questionable and leads to another audit and more funds being looked at, so be it. I'm just saying nung binuksan namin yung accounts ni CJ Corona and nung may nakita tayo sa SC, tiningnan natin lahat yun. Tiningnan sa military, sa ZTE, sa Fertilizer Fund. So let's have the same standard here.

But as I've said, I'm confident that the senators will pass the test and people will see that even if it looks like a big budget, it's worth it with the work we're doing. Minsan kulang pa nga ito.

REPORTER: Sir, ... finance the separate audit?

ASC: Kung private, I doubt it. But it's really more of an independent people's audit. It's not the kind of auditing that you'll have for the BIR na may balance sheet and everything. It's simply transparency and paglabas ng dokumento.

So si Sen. Enrile within 15 minutes ay nabanggit niya yung buong budget ng Senado na P586 million. So ganoon lang. Sa P586 million ilan dun ang by certificate at ilan ang may resibo? You don't have to check one by one. Kapag sinabing P80 million na mga ticket, alangan naman pekein mo bang ticket ng Cebu Pacific o ng PAL?

It's a very simple process. Pinapalabas ng iba, lalo na si Sen. President na kapag magpapaudit ka ay parang sa audit ng private company o ng BIR. Hindi ganoon. I guess we should stop using the word audit. I just want to say that it's more of an accountability process and a showing of the documents.

REPORTER: Ano po yung vision niyo sa pinapanukala niyong audit? Ngayon lang o magiging regular?

ASC: The vision is after this audit there will be reforms.

Remember yun ang priming tanong sa Senado, ano ang nangyayari sa imbestigasyon ninyo? For example, I've already made a public stand that by certification is too flexible for our people to accept for senators or for high government officials. We can have the receipts, etc basta andoon yung flexibility.

Kasi month by month iba ang gastos ng opisina. Kung this month maraming hearings, ang gastos mo sa hearings. Kung this month, budget hearings mas malaki ang budget mo sa research. So as long as we have the flexibility.

This is not an investigation for the sake of an investigation. This is an investigation to show our people that: (1) senators and the senate as an institution can investigate others because we lead by example; (2) an investigation that will lead to reform.

REPORTER: What can you say about Atty. Gigi's statement that they actually prepared a draft speech that they will show the voucher and the receipts of the expenses but hindi lang ginawa kasi ayaw nilang mapahiya ang senadors kasi makikita na malaki ang ginawa nilang pagaccommodate sa request ng iba?

ASC: Parating may dahilan.

Sagot ko nalang doon ay kung gusto may paraan kung ayaw may dahilan. Sasabihin nila nung una na ayaw nilang mapahiya ang buong senado, ngayon naman senador. Bakit ang ipapakita nila Atty. Gigi ay sa ibang senador, bakit hindi ang sa Senate President?

REPORTER: Isa sa mga reforms na gusto niyo ay matigil na yung by certification?

ASC: Payag ako doon. I want a discussion on it. I'm not the prime mover of that, nabasa ko rin lang that many people are for it. But I'd also like to stand up for some of the senators or for all of us in saying that our budget also needs some sort of flexibility dahil ang pangangailangan monthly ay nagiiba din.

REPORTER: Kailangan pa bang iconsult ang House of Representatives dito?

ASC: Iba ang sistema nila. Kasi like their committee staff, permanent sila. Then bawat congressman ay monthly may binibigay. They have similar but they also have different. Halimbawa, yung staff nila permanent yung position na anim.

There are some differences though. I think this is because nationwide kami at sila district. I don't know but COA will be able to know. I never knew yung eksaktong sistema sa House except for yung opisina ko as Congressman. And it changed over time.

For example, before travel namin ay travel talaga. Pagkatapos ng time namin ay may allotment talaga monthly. I don't know how their system is now.

REPORTER: Sabi ni Sen. Lacson na kailangan daw tanungin ng House kung hindi na by certification.

ASC: Maybe mas alam niya. So I won't get into that. Wala naman akong objections sa kung sino ang kokonsultahin o kung paano ang gagawin. I don't want to make it harder for congressmen and senators to do their work. Hindi ako magmamagaling at the expense of the other senators.

That's why ang sinabi ko ay I found it convenient and I found the wisdom na ganoon ang sistema. Pero kung may outcry at tingin ng mga tao ay masyado itong flexible na it opens the funds to anomalous situations then I'll also accede to some reforms regarding that.

Again, I keep saying, I've never accused a fellow senator and I think pare-pareho kami. But yung sinasabi ni Atty.Gigi na mayroong ibang senador na napakalaki ng pondo ay di ko na alam.

REPORTER: Do you see yourself reconciling with Sen. Enrile anytime?

ASC: Ang hirap sa politics to hold a personal grudge kasi umiiba ang isyu. Halimbawa, kami ng sister ko. Sa RH magkakampi kami, sa Divorce hiwalay muna kami. It's an irony.

That's why ang pakiusap ko ay let's elevate the level of discussion at wag tayong magpersonalan. Ngayon yung reconciliation, only God knows. But as a Christian, anong sabi? When Jesus was asked, "how many times should I forgive? Seven times?" Ang sagot niya ay, "Forgive seventy times seven."

But ang hirap kasi ng ask ng ask ng forgiveness tapos kapag hindi na kaharap ang camera babanatan ka na naman. Sa akin lang, hold th apologies muna hanggang matapos ang issue na ito. Then let's see kung sinong tama at sinong mali.

Walang personal animosity dito. You know it's stressful enough to be a public official. To put hate in your heart will destroy you.

Yun din ang advice k okay Sen. Enrile. Don't hate your enemies. Sabi niya he's survived so many things.

Tingnan mo sa inyo, ilan ba sa inyo na may sinulat na masama sa akin. I've never treated you any different doon sa sumusulat ng maganda kasi trabaho niyo yan. You don't always like what I'm doing but you also always treated me with respect so I will respect that in turn. Sana kaming mga senador ay ganoon din.

Thank you very much. I'll give you a copy of the resolution on Monday. Happy weekend everyone!

News Latest News Feed