Press Release
April 14, 2009

Transcript of interview with Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile

Q: Sir, according to Senator Miriam Santiago, in case dadalhin sa Supreme Court yung World Bank report issue, in case na may another committee sa Senate na iimbestigahan na naman yung the same issue.

SP: E di mabuti yun. I will encourage all of them to raise issues to the Supreme Court so we will have a guide, a definite and clear guide regarding the issues in the Senate.

Q: Sir, di ba nung nag-caucus kayo nagkaroon na ng agreement na ang Blue Ribbon na ang mag-handle ng investigation?

SP: Well, pinag-usapan namin na ang accountability aspect will be handled by the Blue Ribbon Committee.

Q: Sir, ano ang response ninyo sa Supreme Court questioning the constitutionality of the Baselines Bill?

SP: All I can say is good luck. Good luck. I don't think they will win it anyway. I was the sponsor the bill. I was the author rather. There is nothing unconstitutional about it. The Treaty of Paris is an agreement between Spain and United States and it is enforceable between the two countries but I don't think that really constitutes a law of nations. I don't think it was accepted or respected by other countries as far as the high seas are concerned. At the time the treaty was concluded, the international law was mare liberum?freedom of the seas. Ngayon, dun sa Kalayaan, that is not yet owned by the Republic; we are only claiming it. Other countries have not yet respected our entitlement to those islands; that is why they are disputing our claims in the same way that we are disputing their claims. Do they have the battleships to enforce our will? But anyway, I admire their energy in bringing to the Supreme Court and I hope they will win it. In my humble opinion, I say, I think the Supreme Court will disappoint them.

Q: Will this affect the deadline of the United Nations?

SP: No. We have already complied. Ok?

Q: Yung kay Former Senator Tatad. Yung sinasabing naging auction na daw yung Government kasi kung sinu-sino na lang ang tumatakbong pangulo. Auction and entertainment daw po. Parang nawawala daw po yung tradition and honor and principle.

SP: Kaniya-kaniyang criticism yan e. Kaniya-kaniyang paniniwala. Kapag kandidato ka sa pagka-Presidente at wala kang pera ay sa kangkungan ka pupulutin dahil kailangan mong sumakay sa helicopter, eroplano at bapor para mangampanya. Kailangan mo ang mga posters, at ang mga television exposures. Kung talagang ikaw ay sikat na sikat, siguro hindi mo na kailangan ng ganun. Pero wala pa ako nakita na taong ganun.

Q: Sir, yung pagkakasama niyo sa Senatorial line-up ni Erap, confirmation ba yun na you will seek re-election in 2010?

SP: Hindi ko pa sinasabi na ako'y tatakbo. Nagde-decide lang ako at last hour. Hindi ba?

Q: Sir, the possibility of alignment kay Erap?

SP: Why align? I am a member of his party. I was elected under his party. If I run, I will run under Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino.

Q: Pero walang offer ang administration sa inyo?

SP: Wala. Wala.

Q: Kung o-offer-an, hindi ba kayo tatanggi?

SP: I would welcome the support but I cannot change parties. I never changed parties. The only reason why I then left the Nacionalista Party was because it became horrible. It stopped putting up candidates, and then later on, because the Nacionalista Party was not operating, I joined the Liberal Party, which was the other party when I entered the politics. Then, I became the President of the Liberal Party. Then, we had a disagreement and I became independent. When I ran again for the Senate, I joined the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino.

Q: Sir, when are you going to decide?

SP: I will pray first.

Q: Which of the pending economic bills will be passed first?

SP: I cannot say which one. Whichever will be finished first.

Q: Sir, meron silang proposal na pababain ng 10% ang tax on distribution utilities enjoying legislative franchise, which is 3% franchise tax, in lieu of all other taxes.

SP: Ah, yes. Bababaan ang presyo ng kuryente. Mawawala yung VAT; yung 12%, magiging 3% na lang.

Q: Sir, may counterpart yun sa House?

SP: Wala. Pero I am sure that they will adopt that.

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