Press Release
September 18, 2019

Transcript of Interview of Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III

On the GCTA

SP Sotto: Baka yung listahan. Hindi ko pa nakikita, but I would presume that those were the records that the committee asked for.

Q: So records means the list?

SP Sotto: Oo. Mga listahan ng mga nirelease on this and that crime or convictions, mga ganun. The list of pending releases, palagay ko yun yun.

Q: Paki-clarify kasi kanina over the radio sinabi ninyo Santos and Roque were supposed to testify?

SP Sotto: Senator Lacson informed me that before that hearing, Thursday morning, they wanted to see us in private, and perhaps in executive session would like to divulge some information. So we prepared my office in the morning tapos hintay kami ni Senator Lacson, dumating sila. Tatlo lang yung dumating, merong dalawa pa dapat na dumating, nalate, but when kausap na namin sila, apparently nagbago ang isip. Ewan ko sa kanila. Disappointed nga si Senator Lacson dahil sabi niya, (unclear) sabi ninyo you will tell all, tapos nagbago ng isip.

Q: Walang sinabing reason?

SP Sotto: Wala namang sinabi. Ngayon, in tomorrows' hearing, baka later tonight, (unclear) might try and talk to them. I will ask Senator Lacson.

Q: (Unclear)

SP Sotto: Kung handa silang magsalita na imbes na ganyan. Tutal, if I were in their shoes, I would tell all. As a matter of fact, baka mapunta ka nga sa witness protection program. Mapapabuti ka pa ngayon because right now, what are they facing? Fire, di ba? They are already good as fired. They were suspended, I don't think the President is going to, will allow them, reassign or reappoint them. So, where are you going? You are facing possible charges.

Q: Mag state witness na lang siya?

SP Sotto: Mabuti pa. Magsalita ka na, sabihin mo na lahat, at baka maiba pa ang usapan.

Q: May binanggit si Presidente na apparently inambush na kita, referring to Loot. What do you think of that?

SP Sotto: I am not familiar with that issue.

Q: Hindi kaya nadulas?

SP Sotto: Hindi, alam mo naman si Presidente. I don't know what he meant. Yung mga ganung bagay, may dalawang facet yan. Isa, sa inis niya o sa init ng ulo niya, he sometimes blurt out things that would be misconstrued. On the other hand, palagay na nating totoo, he is president, what can you charge him with? Nothing.

Q: (Unclear)

SP Sotto: The Constitution so provides, the president is immune from any suit or whatever, di ba? Ganun yun. P,

Q: More than 300 prisoners have surrendered, wala doon sa listahan na 1,914. Are you also interested to look into that?

SP Sotto: Well, the documents that we received today, will show us kung ano yung listing na ito at sino pa yung mga sumusurender. But you know, ako, I'd like to kung baga sa ating pananalita ay gusto kong palakasin ang mga loob ng mga itong mga surrenderees. Kung ikaw, nagsurrender ka, naglagay ka o hindi, legitimate yung sa iyo at ang pagkakarelease sa iyo, huwag kang matakot dahil we will try to make it a point that we ask the BuCor through the Department of Justice through the proper channels, release them again. Provided they are qualified. Whether naglagay o hindi, they were qualified. Irelease na natin, kawawa naman. Marami akong naririnig na mga kwento na nakauwi na sa mga pamilya niya, mahina na, maliit yung kaso, nakalabas na, napipilitang bumalik dahil nasa listahan. Kung babalik sila, huwag silang mag-alala, because even our committee in the Senate will look into that matter and would recommend to the DOJ to release them right away.

Q: Pero kung naglagay, bribery yun.

SP Sotto: Kung sinolicit, hiningan sila ng kung anu-anong palusot para lang magbigay ng ganito, ganyan, mga fee, mga ganyan, wala na yun. Wag na nilang intindihin yun at saka ang tanong doon, sino ang magcocomplain? May magcocomplain ba?

Q: Yung partial report lalabas na? SP Sotto: Committee report na nga yung iba, I am ready to sponsor it this afternoon. (Unclear) coming out from the committee. Q: Ano ang recommendation?

SP Sotto: Doon pa lang tayo sa establishment of regional rehabilitation centers, regional penitentiaries.

Q: Wala pa yung kakasuhan? SP Sotto: Wala pa doon. Q: Hindi ba questionable yung character ng bagong BuCor chief considering he is facing several criminal charges?

SP Sotto: Ayaw ninyo noon? Pag naglagay kayo ng mabait doon, tingnan ninyo ang nangyayari. Maglagay ka ng matatakot sila. Tingnan natin kung kakayanin ng mga drug lord ito. Ako I am in favor of General Bantag as the BuCor chief.

Q: Yung MMDA, huminhingi na ng police powers. To resolve traffic. You think they can address that?

SP Sotto: Then we will have to amend the MMDA law, which is a (unclear) in the Senate. Sonny Belmonte is the principal author in the House.

Q: (Unclear)

SP Sotto: I'd rather have someone like Bantag rather than an angel as BuCor chief. Tingnan natin kung kakayanin ng mga drug lord ngayon yan. Matitigil ang kabulastugan doon.

Q: Kahit may record siya sa city jail?

SP Sotto: (Unclear) until proven guilty.

Q: Is that good na medyo strikto siya, matapang?

SP Sotto: Oo. Tama yun, para matakot itong mga...

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