Transcript of Interview with Senator
Kiko Pangilinan (Kapihan sa Senado)

Q: Reaction to this verdict?

A: Well as I said earlier, yesterday, sabi ko whether you agree, one agrees or disagrees with the ruling, we will have to respect our court processes and personally, hindi matatawaran yung kakayahan nung nakaupo as from my point of view, yung mga mahistrado, ngunit kinikilala natin ang nasasakdal ay mayroon mg remedyo at isa nga dyan yung motion for reconsideration, o di kaya yung magapela. At base dun sa mga public pronouncements ni Pangulong Estrada nakikita natin na nais niyang i-exhaust ang kanyang mga remedyos sa ilalim nga ng ating sistema ng katarungan at mga court processes. And this is something that we welcome. Ultimately, as in the previous cases affecting the nation, in terms of legal disputes, mauuwi to sa Korte Suprema. At dyan, ika nga, yung hinahanap na closure sa usapin ng mga proseso, ultimately would be with the Supreme Court. And my own view is that the sooner this is resolved in the court of last resort, ika nga, the better for all parties. Kung naniniwala ang defense panel na nagkaroon ng kakulangan sa pagsusuri ng ebidensya, sa ruling, sa desisyon, nariyan nga ang motion for reconsideration bilang isang remedyo, at eventually yung pagapela nila sa Mataas na Hukuman.

Q: ...I understand they are being nominated to sit in the High Court and that they will surely pass the JBC anong chances niya?

A: That is correct. Si Justice Villaruz has been nominated, has been short listed once, and Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro has been short listed 3 times. In other words, ilang beses na rin na-nominate etong mga Justices na to, para maging mahistrado n gating Korte Suprema. Kung ako ang tatanungin, mas mainam kung ide-decline nila ang nomination at this time. Dahil nais nating mabalam itong mga agam-agam, itong mga pagdududa, o suspetsa, na kaya nagdesisyon ng ganito dahil may hinihintay na, tawag nga, reward for a job well done. This is not good for the Supreme Court, that an appointment is made and there is a cloud of doubt, as to the reasons behind the appointment. So if I were to be asked, it would be good for the credibility and the public perception for the Supreme Court kung itong dalawang mahistrado na ito, klung sakaling ma-nominate sila, kusa nilang tanggihan yung nomination at this time so that the perception, or the air of suspicion is set aside. At walang pagdududa dun sa kanilang naging desisyon bilang mga Sandiganbayang Justices.

Q:

A: Ang problema nga, Ombudsman and dapat tumingin dito, pero ang nangyari sa MegaPacific deal, binaliktad, ni-reverse ang Supreme Court. So perhaps under a different Ombudsperson, kasi we might be able to see the light of day in terms of that particular issue but I am not very optimistic, there is no reason to be optimistic under the current leadership of the Ombudsman to be able to pursue this particular angle and this particular area.

Q:

A: Well yung pera ng mga hudiyo sa Nazi, Germany after mga 50 years ata nila nakuha. So ibig sabihin, minsan, mabagal ang hustisya at katarungan, pero hindi ibig sabihin na matatapos ang kaso. Na maaring habulin matapos ang pagbaba halimbawa ng kasalukuyang administrasyon. There have been cases which have taken decades to resolve, but eventually the long arm of the law and justice has been able to catch up. I hope it doesn't take 30 years or 50 years, hopefully it will take less than that. Within my term. Incidentally 2013.

Q: How do you account for these reactions yesterday

A: Maraming factors, if you ask me. Several factors led to this response. One is the fact that the former President said we should be calm. And that he will avail of available remedies to pursue this case. In effect, telling the public and his supporters that this is the route to take. So that is one such factor. Ewan ko kung may kinalaman din yung ulan. Dahil nabasa, ang lakas ng ulan, baka nalamig ang ilan nating kababayan at yung init ng kanilang damdamin ay "nabasa".

Q: You think the Senate was being "calm" or "sober" when they cancelled the session yesterday?

A: Well there were some discussions between myself, the Senate President and the Minority Leader that he felt, the Senate President, that it would be best to resume session on Monday. Yun ang naging [desisyon] namin. Immediate yung consultations naming, by phone lang. Sabi niya baka mas mainam na we reset and postpone and resume on Monday.

Q: Don't you think if it was 'business as usual' mas calmado ang mga tao?

A: That's correct and I don't think our postponement of the Senate session yesterday affected the 'business as usual" atmosphere in other parts of Metro Manila and the rest of the country. It has happened before that we have cancelled the session so this is nothing new.

Q: First measure?

A: I'm not sure. Ang sinabi sa akin there were certain developments that needed to be monitored and therefore the need to postpone the sessions to Monday.

Q: Are you rather disappointed at the not so robust reactions after the Erap verdict?

A: If I may also add, I think ang ating mga kababayan medyo nagma-mature na rin in terms of yung pagpili ng kanilang mga hakbang na isasagawa. And I agree na nadala dito sa People Power 2, malaki sana ang inaasahan, ngunit mukhang, sa halip na mapabuti, ay napasama pa. So parang sinasabi ng ating mga kababayan, eh baka naman, pagka nag-regime change ay mas lalo pang tumindi. In other words, naghahanap na rin ang ating mga kababayan nung resultang makabuluhan at merong direktang benepisyo sila. Hindi yun, ganun na nga, may regime change, tapos instead of seeing better, parang walang pagbabago o sumama pa. And therefore, intelligent as they are, sabi nga nila, bakit natin gagawin ulit yung ginawa natin noon, na hindi naman nagresulta sa nagbago ang buhay natin, gumanda ang ekonomiya, o gumanda an gating pang-araw araw na kabuhayan. Sinasabi gumanda ang ekonomiya, pero hindi pa nararamdaman ng mas nakakarami ng ating kababayan dahil mahigit 3 libo parin ang umaalis ng bansa araw araw para maghanap ng hanapbuhay at trabaho sa ibang bansa. Sa palagay ko yun ang isang dahilan din. Nakikita na ng taumbayan, bakit ako lalabas, kung baka lumala pa. Kung lalabas ako, gusto ko, maganda ang resulta