Press Release
June 22, 2009

Transcript of interview with Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile

Q: Sir, ano po yung mga records na isa-subpoena sa Telcos?

SP: Well, we will see if there are records to be required --- to be taken. For instance, who have custody of the prepaid numbers because how can anybody call someone, like me, whose prepaid number is unknown to others. I do not even know my prepaid number. I never disclosed it to anyone. The only custodian of that number is the telephone company. Now, second, I understand that there are people now engaged in the business of text messaging to a wide number of numbers. In one click they can blast the message to as many as one thousand, two thousand, maybe ten thousand numbers. How do those people get those numbers?

Q: Sir, hindi po ba paglabag ito sa anti-wiretapping law?

SP: Hindi nga, pero kailangan malaman natin how do they get the numbers? Now, if some people used the wires to libel other people or to perform acts of mischief like mumurahin mo yung tao, what is the responsibility of the Telcos? Then, the other things that we would like to see is how much is your investment in your infrastructure, how much do you spent to maintain and how much is your net income per year to relate it to their infrastructure. Because if their net profit is inordinately large, then they can afford to reduce the rate of the service apart from the fact that these towers --these cell sites are intended for voice communication and the byproduct is texting or MMS but you use the same infrastructure. Why are the rates so high? Who decides these rates if NTC has been emasculated through injunction? Who protects the public from any predatory practices of the Telcos?

Q: Matatagalan ito?

SP: Matagal ito. Marami-raming ramifications ito. Kagaya ng report sa akin, I will send you a text, you receive it but without my consent it was send twice to you after you receive it. So as a sender I will be charged not only one peso but I will be charged three pesos for the same text message. Ipagpalagay mo, makikipag-usap ka sa cellphone, all of a sudden mapuputol ka. Hindi mo pa natatapos ang one minute, mapuputol ka. O kaya may nag-uusap sa linya, may naririnig ka na mga voices so you have to redial. Babayad ka ulit. Kapag naputol ka, you'll redial the other party, magbabayad ka.

Q: Sir, totoo ba na sa ibang bansa libre ang texting?

SP: 'Yun ang balita ko sa ibang bansa libre.

Q: Pwede ho bang i-adapt natin dito yon?

SP: Kaya nga gusto namin malaman. At yung sinasabi ng Globe na they are maintaing per prepaid sim card for Php 150 a month, I would like to know why. What's the breakdown of that Php 150?

Q: Sir, at this point, is there a need to compel the Telcos to bring down their voice call costs?

SP: I think so. That is the purpose of this investigation not really just the disappearing load. I understand that when you call a landline through your cellphone even your house or vice versa that's long distance rate. Why? Even if it's domestic, it's long distance. But when you are calling from Manila to Mindanao, cellphone to cellphone, it's not long distance. But if you call from Manila, cellphone to landline or landline to cellphone within this building, I understand that that is a long distance telephone call. Why? Isa pa diyan, why do they compel you to use your load over a certain period of time otherwise it will be confiscated? It will be alright if they will refund it. If you will not use it, we will give a refund pero yung kumpiskahin mo. How much do they confiscate every year? How do they treat it for tax purposes?

Q: Sir, bawal ba 'yon?

SP: Hindi ko pa alam kung bawal. Under what right will they do that? What's the justification? Para kang nagdeposito ng pera. I will deposit the money and I'll use it when I need it. Halimbawa kung malaki, when you put it in the back they earn interest. Pagkatapos, kung 'yon ay sayo, dapat yung interes sa iyo rin.

Q: Sir, tanong ko lang tungkol doon sa mga phone numbers, ano ang liabilities ng mga Telcos kung malaman na sa kanila nanggaling yung mga numbers?

SP: Aba, they are invading your privacy. They are not supposed to be doing that. Now, probably we will come up with a law that will require registration of sim cards or telephones that are used for spamming. That's another business which is not franchised. They are using the franchise of these Telcos. At ang lagay pa diyan, if you call them, you cannot identify them. They will not answer you. They block you.

Q: Sir, kapag nag-reply daw po kayo masisira yung database.

SP: Saan nga nila kinuha yung database? We will probably require these Telcos to tell us who are these people that they have authorized to have this kind of business.

Q: Sir, subsidiary kaya nila ang mga ito?

SP: Hindi natin alam. Are they leasing some of these lines? Have they leased these lines? How are these subscriber's numbers obtained?

Q: Sir, these Telcos are also internet providers at marami na rin pong complaints sa kanila.

SP: It will spill there.

Q: Sir, ginagawa na rin nilang business ang texting.

SP: How do they get these numbers? Did they buy these numbers and distribute it to people? Masyado atang malaki iyon.

Q: Sir, nakausap niyo na po si Gen. Balajadia tungkol sa security ni Lozada?

SP: Oo. Kanina nag-usap kami. Sabi ko submit a report to me because I want to know. Ang kaniyang explanation, hindi raw nagcacaddy yung kanilang mga OSAA kundi sumasama doon sa golf course. Second, I want a reassessment if there is still a possible threat to these people who are given security. We cannot maintain the security forever.

Q: Pero sir nag-gogolf si Jun Lozada?

SP: Yun nga. Nag-gogolf is Jun Lozada. If he's under threat, why should he be given the privilege of playing with security.

Q: Sir, yung toll fee na-clarify?

SP: Yung toll fee daw binabayaran ng gobyerno sa government car. Charge to the Senate yung toll fee para sumunod sa kanya.

Q: So yung sa government car lang po at hindi sa sasakyan ni Jun Lozada?

SP: Kahit na pero kung namamasyal siya araw-araw, ang laki ng gastos ng gobyerno.

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