Press Release
January 29, 2007

Transcript of interview with Sen. Kiko Pangilinan

Q:

A: Ang mga maguusap is among, at least from my end is among the reelectionist senators. Yun ang paguusap. Among us, ang pinaka-advanced stage ay LP at NP. Liberal Party at Nacionalist Party. Both sides have agreed, Manny Villar and Frank have agreed to form alliance with the LP-NP coalition. So yun na yung paguusapan this week. And then from there we will see what other groups and individuals or parties we are to discuss with.

Q: Running under what slate?

A: Again the Liberal Party decides, pero kung ako ang tatanungin, I am most comfortable as an independent conscience voice, taking on issues on a case-to-case basis. As I have said earlier, we have supported measures have been certified by Malacanang but we have also been in opposition to what we felt were illegal or unconstitutional acts by the Executive Department.

Q:

A: Wala pang final ticket na LP ang magpapasya, ang maliwanag lang sa LP is that we have agreed the LP and the NP have agreed in principle to work on a coalition.

Q: Sabi niyo kanina you are going to discourage alliances? What do you mean by that?

A: Well ang sa akin kasi, tinitingnan pa natin ang proposition ngayong lahat ng incumbent re-electionists from different camps magusap at magpasya do we want to continue what we have established in the past year and a half wherein regardless of party affiliation we came together and collectively stood our ground as an institution. Yan ang inuulit natin. We hope the other incumbent re-electionists will consider na magkaisa. Total, itong nakaraang dalawang taon, napakita naman namin sa track record ng incumbent reelctionists na kinakailangang talaga at mahalaga ang isang independiente na Senado, isang Senadong hindi sunud-sunuran at nagbibingi-bingihan at nagbubulag-bulagan.

Q: Sir wala pong malinaw kung tatakbo kayo sa admin or opposition ticket right now?

A: Ako ang maliwanag ay tatakbo ako under the banner of the Liberal Party. Then the party will decide in the coming weeks if to form alliances.

Q: Did you say no to the administration?

A: Well the LP called for her resignation, that is a matter of ___, you can take it from there.

Q:

A: Again to go back to the LP, we are in the process of making it I will stand by the party's decision. And as regards, we have done here today is that we have 6 nominees, negotiations are ongoing we don't know whether they will progress or will fail. If they fail, then we will go in alone sa Liberal Party, if they progress, then we will take it from there.

Q: Hindi pa po reserve ang 4 na nominado?

A: That's our nominees, we will now finalize this, depending on what will happen in terms of coalescing or negotiating with other groups and parties. Ang Partido Liberal and magpapasya kung saan ang magiging coalition namin.

Q:

A: Basta sa aking sa ngayon, what I can say categorically is number 1, the Liberal Party will participate in the coming election. We already nominated our candidates. We are now in the process of coalition talks with the Nacionalista Party. Some of the members in their individual capacities I think are discussing the matters with other groups, but I have no personal knowledge. So we will see. Marami pang pwedeng mangyari. But as far as we're concerned, ano man ang mangyari, ang Partidong Liberal ay mga kandidato, kung hindi mabuo ang coalition force, ang Partido Liberal ay tatakbo ang mga kandidato.

Q:

A: Sa ilalim ng aking paniniwala, dapat manatiling independent and vigilant yung Senate.

Q: And the third force?

A: That is the only force. An Independent Senate Force.

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