GRACE POE AMBUSH INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT
February 17, 2015, 3:30 p.m.

Q: ...Testimony?

Sen. Grace Poe: I think it is significant. Wala naman tayong nakikitang cover-up. Alam ko yun ang concern ninyo that we're trying to cover-up for a particular personality or entity. Dito sa pinagusapan ngayon, wala kaming nakikitang ganon. Seguridad lang talaga.

Q: Sa national security, may foreign relations matter na involved doon?

Poe: I will not confirm the topics that we discussed today and its not to cover up a wrongdoing

Q: Sinabi na ni Sen. Sotto na diniscuss niyo ang US involvement

Poe: Siya na lang ang tanungin niyo na mag-confirm niyan. I cannot confirm and I will not deny. I will not say anymore as to the statement of other Senators.

Q: Sa sinabi niyo na there's no cover-up, doon mismo sa ongoing executive session o sa officials involved?

Poe: Sa nakikita natin ngayon na tinatanong natin, I am only speaking for now. The others we still have to review the transcript.

Q: Sa na-gather niyo na information, klaro na ba kung sino ang nanagot o yung accountable?

Poe: Kahit sa open session makikita natin na may trend talaga doon sa nagkamali, sa chain of command and I am speaking about the open session that we had.

Q: Executive session ay nakatulong to get the full picture of the story?

Poe: Siyempre mas marami din tayong detalyeng nakukuha.

Q: Bakit executive session si Purisima e diba ni-request niya lang to answer your question about the President?

Poe: I think because it has also been the trend with the others that we had, that they were more open with the information during an executive session. They were more relaxed. So ngayon, ang pakay nating lahat ay makalap ang katotohanan. So kung magiging mas bukas sila sa pagkakataon na mas maliit ang pagdinig, kukunin natin yan. Pero muli, ipinapangako naman namin, at lalo na, pangalan din naman namin ang nakataya dito, na hindi namin gagamitin ang executive session para lang maisalba ang mga indibidwal ngunit kung sakaling may mga impormasyong maaaring makaapekto sa seguridad ng pangkalahatan (ito ay mahimay).

Q: So you will release the information through bullets, not by another hearing?

Poe: As it stands, there are more questions that have come up that might need more public participation but (I am not going to issue that right now because) we're not done with the executive session yet. I feel that the people should also hear certain topics that can be discussed openly. So we will release to you in bullets, the topics that we discussed only in the executive session.

Q: After Purisima wala nang sasailalim sa executive session?

Poe: Sa ngayon wala na.

Q: Sa leadership ma'am?

Poe: Hindi.

Q: On reports na involved ang US sa operation?

Poe: Based on the executive session i cannot comment on it.

Q: Based on the report and not necessarily on the session?

Poe: Well that is an ongoing question that we need to also verify. Nobody is preventing anyone from asking that question in open hearing but in the meantime, with regard to our discussion in the executive session, I will not confirm nor deny the discussion on that particular topic.

Q: Ma'am, wala kayong balak na ipatawag ang US Embassy?

Poe: Sa ngayon, wala pa namang nagmo-motion na ipatawag sila, mayroon nang suhestyon na ipatawag ang DFA para maipaliwanag ang mga kasunduan ng ating bansa sa mga ganitong klaseng pagtutulungan.

Q: Would you suggest na VFA na lang ang i-review?

Poe: Tatapatin ko kayo. We have to be very careful for it involves also diplomatic relations. We want peaceful ties with countries, we want their cooperation to be able to help us secure ourselves as well. We're not trying to make more enemies in this thing but we also have to be accountable. So when it comes to that, it is not because we are trying to hide the information from you, we are just being careful. But we are with you in wanting to know the extent of foreign involvement because if there's nothing to hide, if there's nothing wrong, then there's no reason why we should hide the information. We're just being careful on when we're going to release and to what extent.

Q: Ma'am, on the motion na ipatawag ang DFA, has the committee acted on that resolution?

Poe: If in case we have another hearing, then perhaps they will be part of it.

Q: Another hearing after the executive session?

Poe: I will not confirm it yet because I still have to talk to the group if there's a necessity for that. Sa pagdinig na ito, naniniwala ako in accountability. Pero sugat ito. Sugat. Sinabi ko na ito. Ang sugat, tinitingnan natin para alam natin kung anong gamot ang pwedeng ibigay para gumaling iyan. Pero kapag palagi nating kinukutkot, paminsan minsan mas lumalalim at mas lalong hindi humihilom. Kaya nag-iingat din tayo na ang ating pagdinig ay hindi nahahaluan ng pampulitikal na motibasyon lamang. So we're trying to do this in aid of legislation. I'm trying to do this to stick to that mandate of the Senate in aid of legislation and oversight.

Q: Ma'am, papaano natin iwe-weigh ang issue of national security at saka yung call for justice?

Poe: I think national security and the call for justice are both of paramount importance and we will always endeavor to balance each other.

Q: On top of national sovereignty naman po?

Poe: There's always that precarious balance of all and that we really have to weigh which one at the particular moment is called for.

Q: What is at the top at this current point in time?

Poe: I think that if we do national security it's still justice and it's also to maintain our sovereignty. All of that together. I'm sorry I cannot say categorically one is important over the other because that will already taint our points of view with regard to this.

Q: MILF requesting for an executive session?

Poe: I don't think they requested for executive session in our hearing. It was done through the media. But of course we'll consider it if they ask for one.