Transcript of Ambush Interview of Senator Rodolfo G Biazon
Assasination Plot on PGMA, Extend LT Gen Ibrado Term as AFPCOS, Trillanes Rescue,
Madrigal Complaint Must Be Disposed Of

I am monitoring the development of this report about a supposed destabilization move that would include the supposed attempt to rescue or release Senator Trillanes and General Lim

And worst, there is even a report that the activity is not only limited to that rescue of Sen Trillanes and Gen Lim but supposedly including an assassination of no less than the President of the Republic.

I am monitoring the actions of the Executive Department on this issue considering that there are different statements being issued by the Chairman of the PAOCTF and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

To me, if there is no basis to this report of such a plan then this is the height of irresponsibility of anyone who had issued that statement that there is such a plan to rescue Sen Trillanes and Gen Lim and possibly even the assassination of the President.

The Executive Department must sort things out and tell the public what this is, and if I am not satisfied with the explanation of people here, then I might file a resolution in the Senate to conduct an inquiry on this matter because this is a national security issue and I am the Chairman of the Committee of National Defense and Security in the Senate.

Q. Who should be believed -- PAOCTF or AFP?

I would tend to believe the Armed Forces of the Philippines, because they have facilities under their command, the facility of intelligence, the facility of long term exposure to issues like these etc.. we need the Executive Department to explain why there is a difference between the statements of the PAOCTF and the AFP. Bakit ganun?

Q. AFP maintains there is no such thing..

The AFP said there is no such thing... and here comes PAOCTF saying there is such a thing, if there is no basis for that statement this is the height of irresponsibility on the part of that official. I think no less than all the security agencies of this country must explain this -- the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Interior and Local Government, the National Security Adviser... then we will see if we need to file a resolution. I have to weight the statements and declarations of PAOCTF and the AFP and probably other national security agencies of this country, including DILG because the charges are serious, no less than the assassination of the Chief Executive of the land had been mentioned. This is a serious matter and we need an explanation from the Executive Department.

Q. Reaction on Yano

I would like to congratulate Gen Yano. If indeed LTGen Ibrado is going to be the new AFP COF, I would recommend that the term of Gen Ibrado should be extended to terminate in June 30 of next year, meaning his extension should be co-terminus with the term of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for two reasons:

1. The scheduled retirement of LTGen Ibrado will be in the middle of a national election and that is not the time for us to change horses in mid stream so to speak because if that move is made, it will be open speculation that could only minimize the credibility of that national electoral process;

2. To give the next President of the Republic the prerogative to appoint the next AFP Chief of Staff that would serve under him.

These two reasons will contribute for stability in the country. I think LT Gen Ibrado is due to retire March of next year and that would be in the middle of the elections. Many Chiefs of Staff under the 1987 Constitution had been extended for flimsy reasons, this extension of LtGen Ibrado would be very much justified if we are talking about the stability of our country during the national elections and after.

Q. Villar calling Ethics Committee Kangaroo Court?

I dont know what Sen Villar prefers, he says the Ethics Committee is a kangaroo court, so right there and then last week I was almost about to stand up and propose that instead of the Ethics Committee hearing this case, it be the Committee of the Whole. I consulted the President of the Liberal Party about the matter and he said maybe we need time to think about it so I deferred from making the motion right there and then.

But over the weekend, we decided that indeed it may be better for the Senate as a Committee of the Whole to conduct the hearing and that was approved on the Floor, so let it be there.

Q. Lacson requiring Villar apology?

I think the Committee of the Whole is the appropriate venue to remove all doubts on the motives of the members of the Committee on Ethics, anyway, the Committee on Ethics will only be recommendatory, the final judgement will be given by the whole chamber and that will be the Committee of the Whole.

What I would like to avoid is further recriminations on the part of members of the Chamber. We should look at this matter objectively to preserve the credibility of the proceedings and if there is a doubt on the proceedings conducted by the Ethics committee then let it be the committee of the whole, it can not be that we can just disregard a complaint filed by a member of the chamber, that must be disposed of one way or another, and to me the committee of the whole has the better credibility to do just that.