Transcript of Interview of Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III

On the 2019 budget

SP Sotto: Sabi hindi daw sila magwi-withdraw? Eh di wag.

Q: Ano po ang mangyayari ngayon?

SP Sotto: Titingnan namin kung ano pa ang ibang options ng Senate.

Q: What does this tell you po na paiba-iba ang signals?

SP Sotto: Yun na nga nalilito na kami, ano ba talaga? So we will just wait for them to make up their minds otherwise, we can wait until June 30.

Q: Sa tingin ninyo hindi sincere yung House dahil paiba-iba yung sinasabi ng representatives nila?

SP Sotto: Oo, medyo nalilito na kami. We really don't know what is the intention, but what is really the decision of the House leadership. What they want to do.

Q: Pero hindi naman kayo disappointed?

SP Sotto: Basta we stand firm to what we have already said, and what we have decided, and that is We cannot agree to something that is violative of Article 170 of the revised penal code which is falsification of legislative documents. It's as simple as that.

Q: Pero ang stand din daw ni GMA hindi sila papayag na may lump sum.

SP Sotto: Wala kaming sinasabing ganun, ang sinasabi namin, kung ano ang niratify namin, yun na yun. Yun ang dapat ipapadala sa Presidente. Yun ang gagawing enrolled bill.

Q: Naka-lump sum po kasi, may lump sum daw po doon sa bicam version, kaya initemize nila?

SP Sotto: Bakit nila niratify? Di sana doon sa bicam pa lang, inaayos nila, but according to the Other congressmen that we have been talking to, they itemized already. They already Itemized even before they ratified and those that they were not able to itemize, they itemized after ratification which is allowed, but you cannot internally realign and that is what they did, and that is what we don't want to allow. As far as we are concerned, we do not want to join them in that particular realignment. And if we do approve what we are going to send to the President, it is not what we approved. It is not what the Senate approved.

Q: That is the central issue?

SP Sotto: Yes, that is the central issue.

Q: Are you going to report it to the President?

SP Sotto: I am sure he will be informed already. I don't need to do that, I am sure he would be...

Q: Will you agree to another meeting? If the congressmen will ask for another clarificatory meeting?

SP Sotto: Hindi na siguro, we will just wait for their final decision. Kami kasi we already have a final decision, and that is to stand by what we ratified.

Q: Kung magpatawag ulit sa Malacañang for a possible dialogue, wala na?

SP Sotto: Ganun pa rin yun.

Q: Sabi ni Secretary Panelo ngayon, we've been telling them to settle their differences, even if people will not take it lightly, if they continue to ignore the demands.

SP Sotto: When he says they, hindi kami kasama. Kasi simple lang kami. Sa amin, kung ano yung niratify natin, kung ano yung pinasa natin, yun dapat ang ipapadala sa Presidente.

Q: How likely is a reenacted budget until August?

SP Sotto: Likely? If they do not withdraw and revert back to the ratified version nila, then it's going to be in August for sure.

Q: (Unclear)

SP Sotto: I don't know. Siguro.

Q: (Unclear)

SP Sotto: Oo. By May 20. Kung wala pa rin silang action nun, wala na talaga.

Q: What does it tell you? Na may problema sila sa (unclear)?

SP sotto: Siguro, because we are hearing different reports, and then there are a number of congressmen calling us, informing us on what's happening.

Q: May mga tumatawag pa sa inyo?

SP Sotto: Oo, may tumatawag pa sa amin na mga congressmen. Kaninang umaga lang meron na namang bagong tumawag sa akin.

Q: Ano ang bagong sinusumbong?

SP Sotto: Sinasabi nga na nilikot daw sila. Nilikot daw yung mga projects yung mga schedules na naka-schedule na sa DPWH, sa DOH.

Q: Realignment?

SP Sotto: Oo.

Q: May nagsumbong ba na parang after nung statement kahapon, may mga nagalit? Bakit irerecall yung enrolled bill?

SP Sotto: Wala, walang nagsusumbong sa amin na ganun. Marami sa amin nagsasabi na nagtuturuan sila na babalik doon sa original.

Q: Will you still allow Senator Ping to negotiate?

SP Sotto: Yes of course.

On the Senate hearing on the water crisis.

Q: Sabi kanina, sa tubig, may power ang MWSS to penalize, ano ang dapat maging penalty sa Manila Water?

SP Sotto: (Unclear) Yun ang tinatanong ni Senator Lacson kanina, kaya niya hinihingi yung stats. Ilan ang naapektuhan, gano kahaba na yung...

Q: Paano dapat icompensate ng Manila Water?

SP Sotto: Pinaka-mahina noon, rebate, pinaka-mababa doon, rebate, but they should admit that when you mean rebate, it's the same as the penalty or a fine. Kaya lang, ibabawas mo doon sa (unclear).

Q: Asap?

SP Sotto: Siguro after computing it, they should, asap.

Q: Rebate and a possible case coming from the MWSS?

SP Sotto: Well, we will leave it up to them. We will leave it up to the regulatory body.

Q: May nakita ba kayo na negligence on the part of any of the companies?

SP Sotto: Perhaps we can say something about that once the committee report or the committee is done with the inquiry, kasi marami pang information na hindi pa nakukuha.