Press Release
August 11, 2009

Trancript of ambush interview Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile

Q Kamusta yung hearing , sir?

SP: We are discussing the problem of the insurance companies with respect to taxes on premiums and document stamp tax on their policies.

Q: Sir, other issues, may bago po ngayon na tungkol sa New York dinner. Hindi raw po si Congressman Alfredo Romualdez ang nagbayad nung dinner kundi yung kapatid po niya na architect sa New York . Anong epekto nun sa issue?

SP: I cannot make a comment on that. I do not know all the facts. How many people were involved? How many went to the dinner? And we do not know what they have ordered. So I think these things have to be studied or brought to life before you can make a conclusion whether there is really an abuse of wealth or whatever.

Q: Sir, according to Sen. Miriam Santiago, the oppositions are just making a big deal out of it.

SP: Well, that's her perception. I was not there and I do not know whether it's a big fuzz or a small fuzz. But in my case, I was not there. I do not know how many people were involved. I know Le Cirque as a restaurant. It's a French restaurant. But I don't think it's the most expensive in New York . During our time, the most expensive restaurant there which was frequented by high and the mighty in the world, was not Le Cirque.

Q: Should the Malacañang Palace apologize for the incident?

SP: I do not know whether they should be sorry about it. I do not know all the facts. So how can I make a conclusion?

Q: Sir, maraming nagtatanong ngayon dun sa statement of assets and liabilities (SAL) ni President Arroyo, dapat ba sabihin niya kung saan-saang stocks yung binili niya? Kase doon daw nanggaling yung yaman nila. Dapat bang i-deklara din iyon?

SP: Naka-declare na iyon sa statement of assets and liabilities, hindi ba?

Q: Masyadong generalized po ang nakalagay na stocks lang. Dapat po ba isa- isahin niya yung mga companies?

SP: Kung shares of stocks,nandun sa statement of assets and liabilities iyon. You have to make a schedule of your shares of stocks. That's the function of the one preparing your statement of assets and liabilities.

Q: But as a president, dapat ma- explain niya kung saan nanggaling yung malaking pera na iyon.

SP: Let the people handling the statement and liabilities of everyone in the government handle that. I do not know all the details. The components like real estates, buildings and lands, shares of stocks, bonds, movable properties. This is too much to explain for one session like this. In my case, I make a detailed schedule of my assets and liabilities.

Q So as president diba po dapat ganun din.

SP: Pare-pareho ang requirements. So ang dapat makaalam niyan ay ang Rentas Internas. Sila ang in-charge diyan. That's the purpose of the SAL.

Q: Sir, do you see anything wrong for a president to have a 100% increase doon sa kanyang assets?

SP: No, if she sold a property, that will be taken up in the next SAL.

Q: How about if it's 2000% increase?

SP: If you bought a piece of land ten years ago and today it has been urbanized, it can go up to 1000% increase.

Q: So that's possible, sir?

SP: You know, there are people who bought land for five centavos per square meter and when the area became urbanized and populated, the price per square meter can go up to Php100.00 per square meter. You try to multiply that. How many was the percentage increase? It's not impossible. During a stock market boom, I know this from experience, I bought PODCO, Philippine Oil Development Company shares at one centavo because I was the one who organized the company. Don Andres Soriano allotted to me some shares of stocks. And when I went to Harvard for my Master's Degree, my one centavo investment went up to Php 1.00 per share.

Q: But sir, is that proper for President Arroyo to engage herself into the stock market?

SP: There is nothing wrong. You can play the stock market even if you're an emperor or a president. It doesn't matter. There is no prohibition for a government official to engage in stock market or they can engage in selling their assets.

Q: So, walang conflict?

SP: Walang conflict as far as I know.

Q: Is there a need for Congress to investigate on the President's SAL?

SP: Well, I do not know what they will do there. I think you have to be very circumspect in dealing with this problem. The fact is, the President is the branch of government. She is immune during her term. And with the Senate, I will not encourage an investigation like that.

Q: Sir, resume na bukas Wednesday ang Committee of The Whole? Sino po ang mga mag testify?

SP: I do not know kung sino ang testigo ni Senator Jamby Madrigal.

Q: Sir, tuloy po yung kanyang testimony? Hindi pa po tapos iyon?

SP: Hindi pa.

Q: Sir, hanggang kailan? SP: Depende kung matapos yung presentation ng evidence niya. Until when yung presentation of evidence? Hindi namin alam 'yun. We cannot limit the presentation of the evidence. Now, we will not allow repetitious or argumentative presentations. We are gathering facts.

Q: So, sir , walang time frame ang buong proceedings?

SP: After Senator Madrigal, we will give a chance to the respondent to present his evidence if he wants within a reasonable time.

Q: So, sir wala pa po binibigay na listahan ng mga witnesses for you to summon?

SP: Wala pa. I think siya mismo ang magdadala ng witnesses.

Q: Sir, going back dun sa SAL, ang contentions kasi with comparison to other presidents, mas malaki kasi yung itinaas nung kay President Arroyo.

SP: Kung may pinagbili siya na assets, hindi natin alam kung meron. As a senator and as a Senate President, I would not know how that wealth was generated. So I cannot make a statement of it, I have to beg off.

Q: So sir, hindi pwede magtago si President Arroyo sa immunity niya. Pero kung may mga ganitong suspicion, dapat ba may sagot si President Arroyo without going through an investigation?

SP: The President has to explain. I am sure they can explain that. Yung SAL niya na tumaas compared to her previous SAL. Then I am sure that there is an explanation. They can't just make up the figures.

Q: So, hindi lang dapat yung spokesperson niya yung nagsasalita or should the President herself explain?

SP: The President can speak through an accountant, a lawyer or through somebody who prepares the details of her statement of assets and liabilities or whoever is holding the books of accounts for her.

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