Transcript of Interview of Senator TG Guingona

Q: Si SP Drilon po, mag inhibit pero willing maging resource person. Ano po ba magiging arrangement ?

STG: Si Senate President Drilon will be there since he is willing to be a resource person . Doon siya uupo at anytime puwede siya tanungin tungkol doon sa issue. Ang magpresenta sa Thursday will start with Secretary Singson since it's a DPWH project at sila yung nag conduct ng bidding so we start with Secretary Singson. I understand he said he will make a presentation. Then from there, we'll take it from there. The one's that will be there will be Sec. Singson, Sec. Jimenez ng Department of Tourism, si Mejorada, the complainant and then doon sa Hillmarks tinawagan din naming to attend.

Q: Can the Senate be expected na talagang (inaudible) to dig deep into this kung isa sa mga involved is the Senate President?

STG: I think we've already been tested that way before. Maraming nagduda whether the Senate can do its job in the PDAF hearings and they said na hindi mangyayari iyan and we will just cover up but you saw the recommendations , the final recommendations of the Senate Blue Ribbon hearings on the PDAF report.

Q: Sa procedure lang, if the SP is a resource person can he call his own witnesses? Or just bring his own evidence?

STG: If the SP is a resource person. No, the one that calls the resource person is the chair and if they want to bring in any resource persons, you just make representations to the committee secretariat . And the committee secretariat will forward the request to the chairman for approval or disapproval.

Q: Sino ang mga nagcommit sa mga senators to conduct the probe?

STG: Si Sen. Sonny Angara, Sen. Koko Pimentel and Sen. Bam Aquino signified their intention to be there. Only those who I've named have informed me so far. Ofcourse it might change in the next few days

Q: Team PNOY.

STG: It doesn't matter . What matters is yung proseso is done in a transparent manner. Yung walamng tinatago. Dapat may patas ng trato para sa lahat. Sapat na oras at pagkakataon na mag explain ang lahat ng resource person at kaukulan na dignidad at respeto para sa lahat hindi lang sa opisyales ng gobyerno.

Q: May nakahanda na ba kayong tanong para kay SP?

STG: Wala actually , sabi ko nga kanina ang process natin ay Sec. Singson will make a presentation. Since it's a DPWH project and the first issue is overpricing I think it's proper that Sec. Singson makes the presentation and he signify that he is willing to do so.

Q: Sir possible po ba kung ma-satisfy kayo sa presentation ni Sec. Singson ay ito na po ang first and last hearing?

STG: Hindi naman. I don't think we can finish everything in the first and last hearing. Andiyan pa si Mr. Mejorada yung complainant and I'm sure madami pa ang tanong at hindi sapat ang oras sa isang hearing.

Q: Sir, material po ba yung personality ni Mejorada?

STG: Maybe, but what's more important really is the facts that will be unearth . Kung ano lalabas sapagkat doon tayo babase sa facts not so much on the background of the people.

Q: Sir, paano po pala iyon since Sen. Drilon has chosen to inhibit how will this affect the proceedings?

STG: We have to be clear about that. If he inhibits then he will not participate in the proceedings but if he wants to participate as a resource person, he will be there but then he will be free to ask clarificatory questions.

Q: How he will be seated?

STG: In his usual place.

Q: Ano ang balak ng BRC sa pork barrel?

STG: Sa pork barrel, we are going to file the report to the plenary because it's already been signed by the majority of the members.

Q: Kailan po?

STG: Anytime next year.

Q: Wala na ba kayo balak ituloy ung other NGO's

STG: It's a question of time, we can get into that.

Q: Is there a possibility na matatanong si SP Drilon sa first day ng hearing?

STG: Anything is possible.

Q: Yung sa pork barrel wala po ba walang tumawag sa inyo from Malacanang to stoip the probe kasi si SP Drilon daw tinawagan ni President Noy to relay the request of VP to stop the probe.

STG: Hindi , walang tumawag sa akin.

Q: kapag tumatawag ng ganun ang president ano pong

STG: I don't want to interpret that. He never called me. That should be properly addressed to the person whom the president called as you said.

Q: Hindi ba narelay sa'yo?

STG: Hindi. That's the first time I heard that