TRANSCRIPT OF INTERVIEW OF SEN. SERGE OSMEÑA 10 June 2014

On the confirmation of DENR Sec. Paje

Q: Malabo pa rin po bang ma-confirm si Sec. Paje?

Serge: Hindi, mako-confirm na siya. Outvoted na ako eh, buo 'yung House (of Representatives) eh. Ako lang mag-isa.

Q: Natuwa na po ba kayo sa mga sagot niya?

Serge: Hindi, there were a lot of contradictions. But you know, it's already the end of sessions here, tapusin na natin ito, and the congressmen wanted to vote on it, and I didn't get a single vote. Para akong lone ranger.

Q: In a nutshell, bakit po para sa inyo hindi siya dapat ma-confirm sa CA as DENR Secretary?

Serge: Well, there are many issues. And it's mostly nahihirapan siyang mag-prevent, you know naman, matagal na itong mga kalokohang ito -- mga illegal mining, black sand minding, illegal quarrying, etc. That's my opinion.

Q: Okay lang kayo na nakalusot sa inyo?

Serge: Wala akong magagawa. They want to vote on it, and I don't want to block the right to vote.

Q: Are you disappointed?

Serge: YES! Disappointed. But now, I can rest. ?

Q: Will you invoke Section 20 in the plenary?

Serge: I have never invoked Section 20 in my 15 years in the Senate. But I am not saying I will not.

Q: Bakit po (pinabayaan niyong mawala na?)

Serge: You ask the congressmen. Why? Because that's the decision of the House panel.

Q: May package deal na ba?

Serge: No comment. Laughs ?

Q: Consequence ng confirmation ni Paje?

Serge: Id on't know Marami naman kine-question diyan sa Gabinete ni PNOY who lack the competence but they still back them up. Wala naman tayong magagawa, that's the prerogative of he president. It's a pity for the country, but what can we do?

Q: Same thing with Petilla?

Serge: I will not answer that question, let's cross the bridge when we get there.

*****

Q: Ano pong nangyari? Napagod na po kayo?

Serge: Yeah. It's tiring to study. Kahapon, mga 3 hours. Last week din.

Q: Pinagbigyan mo na lang?

Serge: No. Hindi ko pinagbigyan. I told them I will vote 'No' but the congressmen said they will vote as a bloc, they will all vote in favor. Talo ako.

Q: Hindi ka talaga kumbinsido?

Serge: if you listen, if you read the Transcripts, you'll know why.

Q: Sa plenary, hindi mo na i-o-oppose> ?

Serge: If I am able to attend the plenary tomorrow, I will vote 'No'. I have to be consistent.

Serge: I told them, tutal out-numbered naman ako, bukas na lang ako mag-e-explain ng vote para nasa records.

Q: Did they appeal to you?

Serge: No, no, they did not. They let me talk, as long as I want. They asked me pa nga, you need another 6 hours, go ahead and we will just sit here. But we will vote.

Q: Anong sinasabi nila sayo?

Serge: They were joking. Alam ko naman kung ano ang takbo ng Commission on Appointments. I know that the House votes as a bloc I know that the House gets the marching orders, and they will vote that way. And they told me, 'Pare sorry.' Nag-sorry naman sila lahat.

Q: So may marching order to confirm Paje? But they let you talk?

Serge: Yes. They know eventually I'll get tired.

Q: Tomorrow you will explain in the Senate floor?

Serge: Yes.

On Sen. Revilla's Privileged Speech

Q: Ano pong masasabi niyo sa Privileged Speech kahapon ni Sen. Bong?

Serge: Ang galing kumanta, hindi ba?

Q: Nakakuha kaya sya ng simpatiya ng public?

Serge: Siyempre naman. It was an emotional speech, para siyang nagfe-farewell na sa Senado. Binigay naman niya 'yung layuning niya, and yeah, it was clearly emotional for a lot of his people who voted for him. It's sad. It's sad.

On the 3 senators in Napolist

Q: They have said they are willing and ready to go to jail. Ano ang implication sa Senate kung makulong sila?

Serge: Ang implikasyon sa Senado? Wala po naman. Okay lang. we will have to continue, mas dadami ang trabaho natin. Pero, we have to continue.

Q: Sabi ni Sen. Revilla kahapon. Huwag naman gamitin ang CA?

Serge: Hindi po totoo iyan.

Q: 'Yun na daw ang legacy diyan, kaya timing sa pagbukas ng Kongreso?

Serge: Hindi po totoo iyan, I will take issue with that. Hindi naman po Palasyo ang magpo-prosecute. It was the COA that exposed this. Atsaka itong COA, nag-umpisa ito sa COA ni Gloria, 2009. Lumabas ang mga ito. So, paano naging kasalanan n PNOY 'yun?

Under our system, it is the Department of Justice that investigates and then it hands it over to the Ombudsman, and then the Sandiganbayan. Malacañang has nothing to do with it.

Q: Gamitin para dun sa design to abolish Congress?

Serge: That's too far-fetched.

Q: What's the value of Sen. Revilla's speech? How did you find it?

Serge: I haven't really thought about it. Pero siyempre naman, in a situation like this, you'd like to give your side. And he gave his side. So, it's helpful to him.

Q: 'Yung pagpapaalam niya pansamantala, confirmation ba iyon? Nag-give up na siya na inevitable na ang arrest niya?

Serge: That was emotional. Hindi ko alam kung inevitable ha.

Serge: Heart-tugging.

Q: Ma-appreciate ba 'yun ng public?

Serge: Alam niyo, maawain ang mga Pilipino eh. So of course, that will be effective.

Q: Naawa din kayo?

Serge: Siyempre, naawa din ako. Kaibigan ko siya eh.