Transcript of Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada on Pulse Asia Performance Rating

May call si Mrs. De Venecia na pigilan na ung pang-aaway kay Noli, bawas-bawasan ng oposisyon ang pambabatikos kay Noli.

SEN. ESTRADA: Sa akin naman, that's the prerogative of those in the opposition, if they don't believe in the capacity of Vice President de Castro, that's their own opinion. But some quarters in the opposition wants VP de Castro to succeed in case Mrs. Arroyo resigns.

Sa Pulse Asia, kayo lang ni Jamby ang nag-stand out.

SEN. ESTRADA: Siguro ung pagtaas ng performance rating during the survey of Pulse Asia, siguro naman na-appreciate ng taumbayan ung performance ko sa investigation ng ZTE, modesty aside. Siguro nagustuhan nila ung line of questioning ko. Ako, I don't go around the bush, I ask questions directly to resource persons involved. Hindi naman ako abogado, kaya kung ano ung gusto kong tanungin, I will really ask it.

Pagod na ang tao sa ZTE?

SEN. ESTRADA: Hindi naman. Palagay ko, gustong malaman ng taumbayan ang katotohanan. Palagay ko, hindi pa nagsasawa ang taumbayan na panoorin ang imbestigasyon ng Senado.

Ung kay Sen. Madrigal?

SEN. ESTRADA: I cannot speak in behalf of Sen. Madrigal.

Ung kay Sen. Arroyo?

SEN. ESTRADA: I cannot speak in behalf of Sen. Arroyo.

SEN. ESTRADA: Hindi ko alam, ayaw kong magkomento sa kapwa ko senador.

May advice si Sen. Gringo Honasan, sa sidelines na lang daw ung mga dating presidente?

SEN. ESTRADA: Hindi ko alam kung sino ung pinatatamaan ni Sen. Honasan. I can only speak in behalf of President Estrada. Ung call ni Pres. Estrada for the military to support the people is to search for the truth. Un lang naman, not to have another uprising.

May panawagan kanina ung ex-Cabinet officials ng dating administrations asking for suspension for Razon, Sec. Atienza. Kayo po ba, do you echo the same call?

SEN. ESTRADA: Kung yung presidente nga ayaw mag-resign, sila pa. That's their prerogative, but if they have the sense of delicadeza, siguro they must also opt to reisgn.

Resign, hindi lang suspend or leave of absence?

SEN. ESTRADA: That's their prerogative. They can take leave of absence if they wish.

SEN. ESTRADA: Ako ang personal opinion ko diyan, ayokong mangyari ung nangyari sa tatay ko na nagkaroon ng power grab. It is well known that this administration grabbed power from my father. And I don't like that to happen. First, in 2001 she grabbed power. In 2004, ang perception ng tao, she cheated in the last presidential elections. Walang foundation si Mrs. Arroyo, kaya our country is in total disarray right now. Ayokong mangyari ang nangyari kay Pangulong Estrada. Kapag meron na naming nang-agaw ng kapangyarihan kay Mrs. Arroy, wala nang pupuntahan ang ating bansa. Babalik na naman tayo sa isang chaotic government katulad nito. Kawawa na ang taumbayan.

SEN. ESTRADA: She should submit herself in impeachment court. Hindi ung magtatawag sila ng congreeman para ipahinto ung impeachment proceedings sa House, para hindi umabot sa Senado. Sana gawin ni Mrs. Arroyo ang ginawa ni Pres. Erap.

Against kayo sa street protests against Mrs. Arroyo?

SEN. ESTRADA: That is guaranteed for in the Constitution, freedom to express their grievances. Ako, kung gusto ko pwede din akong sumali. Wala naming masama doon, mag-rally ka, mag-demonstrate ka. Katulad nung panahon ng panahon ni Pres. Erap, hindi niya pinigil ung mga nagpo-protesta. Kung gugustuhin niya na na supilin ung mga mag-ra-rally against him, pero hindi nya ginawa. I too can join the rallies, why not.

SEN. ESTRADA: Kung talagang tatanggalin si Mrs. Arroyo, sana idaan sa legal na proseso sa impeachment lang. is she resign, better. Because if I judge, I give a comment, and I call for her resignation, and if the impeachment complaint pushes through, and the complaint is transmitted here in the Senate, I will act as Senator-judge. Bias naman ako.

Pero alam na ng tao, na anti-Gloria talaga kayo?

SEN. ESTRADA: Siyempre, I am a member of the opposition. They cannot take that away from me.

If she gets impeached, and Noli succeeds, ok lang sa inyo?

SEN. ESTRADA: Yes, of course. Basta sa legal na proseso. Kasi ung ginawa ni Gloria sa Tatay ko, illegal na proseso. Papayag ako na umupo si Noli basta sa legal na paraan.

Aside form impeachment, ano ung nakikita mong legal options?

SEN. ESTRADA: There are only four grounds: first resignation, impeachment, physical incapacity, or if he or she dies. Nung tinanggal ung tatay ko, ung four grounds na un, absent.

Snap elections?

I don't think this government will allow a snap elections.

That's why I'm appealing to Mrs. Arroyo not to influence the congressmen.