Transcript of interview with Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on TRO

Sir yung Supreme court TRO?

Sen. Alan:

First of all weve always stated that if the court issues is a status quo ante order or TRO injunction we will respect that and impact we welcome that they went to the court and a court will give a chance to air both sides we are confident of winning the case, we are confident that the supreme court with again uphold the right of the senate to compel witnesses to attend our hearings and this is usually way to do it ang gusto kasing gawin ng malacanyang dati pag gusto namin ng testimony nila o gusto naming sila kunin na witness kami pa pupunta sa korte so we asserted our right we're happy with that and we will fight it out in court and we will respect the ruling of the supreme court .

Sabi ni Joker hindi daw dapat sa lahat ng pagkakataon tumatakbo kayo sa Supreme Court acting like crying babies at pinag-rereferee ang Supreme Court?

Sen. Alan Cayetano:

Well, we should address that to Malacañang because it's Malacañang whose the cry baby and who run to the court not us. But that's normal even in United States in the history of their 300 year old constitution everytime na branches of government, everytime the legislative and executive branch of government, I have an issue against each other you really go to the supreme court but, I agree with Senator Joker that you know yung ability to compel or the power to compel a witness has been decided again and again and again the latest one was Sabio versus Gordon and I have no doubt that the supreme court and im confident that the supreme court will see that we have that right but if of course they want to review the factual basis of this case that is also the right of the supreme court and it is the right of Secretary Neri to go there in the meantime, I cannot issue an invitation to Speaker De Venecia because of inter-parliamentary courtesy but let me make an open invitation and let me make an appeal that if he has personal knowledge of any of the anomylous deals including the ZTE that he personally appear before the blue ribbon committee or submit an affidavit or allow as to diposeam allows to have deposition so that we will be able to know what he knows with personal knowledge

What is your ... cannot move anymore the RO?

The TRO is for Secretary Neri ,Not for Lozada. We will arrest Lozada upon arrival. And He will be brought to Senate and we will have a hearing .

What will happen to the TRO on March 4?

We will have to wait for the oral arguments. Nandito naman nakalagay na binibigyan kami ng ten days para sumagot and then, magkakaroon ng hearing at oral arguments sa March 4, 2008.

Sir pag nakuha na mamayang gabi si Lozada hearing na agad bukas ng umaga?

Yah! I will consult the senate president and other members but, initially ang gusto ko sana agad agad kaming magkaroon ng hearing .

Slap on the wrist daw sir yung decision ng supreme court dun kay Neri?

No its not! It has slap on the wrist and its more than slap on the wrist ...it has slap on the face if we loose the case because we feel that this is a story ...this is a power of the senate but for them to issue a TRO or status quo ante-order is merely saying that the two of you stop while arguing and we will decide it and that's really the role of Supreme Court .