Press Release
August 13, 2009

Statement of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile in reaction to the headline today of the Manila Times newspaper regarding the ethics case against Sen. Manny Villar before the Committee of the Whole

I would like to make a clarification on the publication of the Manila Times headline story today, "Jamby evidence all junk" wherein I was quoted as saying that the evidence presented by Sen. Jamby Madrigal during yesterday's Senate Committee of the Whole hearing were all irrelevant in the ethics case against Sen. Manuel Villar.

I vehemently deny even making such a statement.

It is true that in the course of the interview, I mentioned that some of the transactions presented by Sen. Madrigal may not be used against Villar "because he was not a member of the Senate" at the time the transactions were made. However, that statement of mine does NOT justify the tone of the Manila Times headline.

The truth is I issued other statements on the matter that would indicate that not all the evidence presented by Sen. Madrigal were deemed irrelevant from my perspective. But these statements were apparently ignored by the Manila Times story.

As presiding officer of the Senate Committee of the Whole, I have been very careful in my public statements so as not to prematurely pass judgment on matters presented during the hearings. As a lawyer, I know better than to preempt the entire committee on making judgment, especially on matters of evidence.

I am afraid that the Manila Times headline, if not rectified, will create misconceptions on the true conduct of the Senate Committee of the Whole investigation of the Villar ethics case. That, I believe, is a huge disservice to the public.

Allow me to reiterate my earlier statement that this Committee of the Whole investigation on the Villar ethics case will be conducted with outmost objectivity and fairness, and in accordance with the rules of the Senate, for as long as I remain Senate President and presiding officer of the committee.

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