Press Release
October 3, 2017

TRANSCRIPT OF GRACE POE'S AMBUSH INTERVIEW
on CBCP statement and Fake News Hearing

ON CBCP STATEMENT RE COPS

Q: You said these policemen are bothered to come out, the EJKs. You said you welcome the church, are you encouraging this, the bothered persons to come out?

Sen. Grace Poe: That is part of finding out the truth. We encourage everyone to come out but we also have to have something in place to guarantee their safety. Di mo rin sila masisisi na hindi sila lumabas kasi nakakatakot pero kung ang public order ay magpapatawag ng hearing--kasi ano ba ang nangyari sa kanila? Nakita sila sa simbahan, wala na 'di ba, nanahimik na.

Q: Can we also say that there must be a way to authenticate or validate?

Poe: We have to. Hindi naman nangangahulugan na pumunta na sila sa simbahan ay totoo na ang sinasabi nila. Kailangan niyan ng probe, siguro the NBI can go. Pero they have to be willing to testify and they'll only be willing if their safety is guaranteed. Napakahirap maging whistleblower dito, hindi pa nga natin naipapasa ang Whistleblowers Act. So these are the considerations and I hope that the whistleblowers act will finally hurdle the Senate and Congress para talagang may funding for witness protection tapos mayroon talagang proseso kung paano mapoprotektahan ang mga lalabas. Hindi naman pwedeng sa simbahan sila titira.

Q: Once may magtestify na mga pulis na involved sa EJK, ano ito nagpapatunay ba ng allegations na state-sponsored?

Poe: Not necessarily, we have to validate their claim. Kapag sinabi nila--depends on what their testimony will be and if it can be proven na mayroon talaga kasi kahit sino pwedeng lumabas at magsabi na 'Hindi, inutusan kami.' Kailangan mapatunayan yan. So kailangan mapatunayan kung totoo nga yon na hindi naman sila nagde-destabilize lang. Ito naman ang masasabi ko, sa tingin ko yung mga pulis hindi naman iyan lalabas at isusugal ang kanilang kaligtasan at hanapbuhay kung hindi sila talagang nababagabag. Bakit nila gagawin iyon, para isugal ang lahat ng seguridad na ito, para ilabas lang. Unless mayroon mang magtatapat na magbabayad diyan e kahit na kunin mo ang pera na iyan hindi mo na lang alam minsan naglalakad ka, 'di ba? So para sa akin it takes a lot of courage and conscience to actually come out.

Q: Safe to say na nababagabag na sila?

Poe: Safe to say? I mean, ang masasabi ko lang, tingnan na muna natin ang kanilang affidavit kasi mahirap naman mag-judge. Hindi naman porke't nagpunta ka sa simbahan, pulis ka, e verified na iyon. We need to do our due diligence.

ON FAKE NEWS HEARING

Q: Ma'am for tomorrow, what are we expecting? Thinking Pinoy is invited?

Poe: Of course Thinking Pinoy is invited.

Q: Si Dayao?

Poe: Dayao, you know there's a problem. Tulungan ninyo kaming ipakalat sa news kasi yung address sa Batangas tapos in short hindi kami nakakuha ng confirmation from him. Kasi yung (LBC) ayaw i-deliver ng walang phone number and we only have the physical address in Batangas. So pinapakalat namin sa social media na 'you are wanted here. You can explain your side.' Ako, I want to be very fair. This is the important thing about the internet, every blogger or kahit sino, you have a right to express yourself whatever your views are. Tatlo lang ang hindi puwede: pornographic, libelous, at saka inciting sedition, yung mga ganyan. Otherwise, you say what you want but don't pass it off as facts unless you do your due diligence. Kasi kayo, naghihirap kayo to verify. You get a source and you get another source to validate tapos tatapatan kayo ng hindi gumagawa ng gano'n? Doon tayo dapat mag-uusap bukas.

Q: So ma'am ma-identify tomorrow sino yung behind doon sa Silent No More about the seven senators, ia-indentify niyo?

Poe: May isa kaming resource person who said na meron siyang pasabog na ilalabas tungkol doon pero there are also certain considerations like the Data Privacy Act kaya baka maging executive session 'yun. But on the other hand, siguro naman with the pronouncements of some, hindi naman kayo mahina, malalaman niyo kung sino yun. Pero both sides, 'di ba, may kanya-kanyang propaganda machines.

Q: Ma'am ang witness niyo, hindi naman si Thinking Pinoy?

Poe: Hindi ko naman sasabihin 'yun 'di ba? Tingnan na lang natin kung sinong ang maglalakas-loob bukas. Baka kasi biglang magpalit ng ano, so gusto ko rin sanang imbitahin din sila Edwin Lacierda, sila Manolo Quezon kasi nababanggit sila pero hindi pa rin sila nagko-confirm.

Q: Pero napadalhan ng invitation?

Poe: Oo

Q: Ma'am what do you hope to achieve atleast for tomorrow? Dito sa loob muna.

Poe: Siguro, okay, ganito 'yan, we have to asses already. Ano na bang mga batas ang meron tayo? Na nagpoprotekta sa atin? Kasi hindi naman tayo basta-basta gagawa ng batas. Meron na tayong batas against libel. We just have to be able to refresh the memory of some people. But definitely we should say that the internet should be a positive resource. Hindi naman pwedeng gamitin for..

Q: Ma'am si Mocha Uson po invited?

Poe: PCOO is invited so surprise na lang sa inyo 'di ba para naman matuwa kayo. Pero kasabay natin 'yung kay Gordon so I'm sure some of you will be reporting sa kanya.

News Latest News Feed