Press Release
March 12, 2018

Transcript of Interview of Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III

On the UN high commissioner for human rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein saying President Duterte needs a psychiatric evaluation

SP Pimentel: Ang sabi ko nga, UN officials are international bureaucrats, diplomats. Dapat mahaba ang pasensya, and then wag din silang mang-insulto ng personal if they have an issue against specially a country or head-of-state. Remember, as far as I know, ang pa-sweldo sa UN officials, galing sa contributions ng member nations yan. Then aatakihin mong personal ang head-of-state ng isang member nation. It's a big no-no, and I believe the official knows about that, ang tagal nila sa united Nations. Hindi ka naman aakyat ng hindi matagal. He should review his policies, his personal policies. Baka nawalan na siya ng patience na dapat sa isang UN official.

On the House of Representatives na gustong ihabol yung postponement ng barangay elections?

SP: Magkasama kami kanina ni Speaker, ngayon daw nila ipa-pass. We will just process it normally.

Q: Dito parang wala pa po?

SP: Six session days to go. They pass it now, transmittal is tomorrow. Five session days to go. Iba ang pamamalakad namin dito, i-rerefer namin sa Committee on Local Government, maghe-hearing ang Local Government.

Q: Nung sinabi po ni Speaker sa inyo yan, is it because he wants you to do so also?

SP: Ini-inform lang niya ako that they will pass it today.

Q: May commitment kayo?

SP: Wala. Ang institutional commitment ng Senate sa House, which I hope ganun din ang commitment ng House sa Senate, kung meron kaming ipapasa, ita-transmit, pag-aralan din naman namin kasi pumasa sa one-half of Congress, out of respect to the other half.

Q: Sabi ninyo 5 days na lang, impossible for you? SP: Ire-refer pa namin sa proper committee, maghi-hearing ang proper committee.

On Chief Justice Sereno being asked to resign

SP: Basta sa akin ang panawagan na mag-resign is addressed to the person, siya pa rin ang makaka-decide. Hands-off ako diyan. Basta Senate ang inaalagaan ko, we should be ready just in case articles of impeachment will be transmitted to us, the Senate should be ready to try and decide. Hear, try, and decide the case.

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