Transcript of interview of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile

C-5 Project

Q: It will depend sir on the claim ni Senator Jamby (Madrigal), eto 'yung stretch na 'to, paano natin madedetermine?

SP: That is in the planning of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Nasa record 'yun. Hindi pwedeng imbento lang ng tao 'yun. Every road system in the country has a plan. Hindi pwedeng gagawin mo lang 'yon. At 'yung mga plano na 'yan, ginawa pa noong panahon ni Marcos.

Q: Sir, sino po ang tutulong po sa inyo para magturo na ito po 'yung lugar?

SP: May mapa 'yan. May dating mapa 'yan. May record 'yan.

Q: So hindi niyo na kailangan ng guide mula sa kampo ni Senator Villar?

SP: Hindi ko kailangan ng guide doon. Ang guide namin 'yung DPWH, kapag nagsinungaling sila, pananagutan nila 'yon sa amin. If they lie to us, no way.

Q: So Secretary Ebdane will be there tomorrow sir?

SP: No, Secretary Ebdane was not the one who planned it. It's the officials of the department. It's a matter of record that all these road systems have their own plans.

Q: At tomorrow's hearing, will Senator Jamby (Madrigal) still be on stand or we go straight to C-5?

SP: We will have a hearing in the morning and then ocular inspection in the afternoon.

GMA Foreign Trips

Q: Sir, can I get your reaction doon sa sinasabi nila na si GMA ay neg-exceed sa budget sa foreign travel?

SP: It is possible that they exceeded. I do not know all the facts. But under the Constitution, all the three departments of government - Executive, Congress and the Judiciary -- can realign their savings for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE). So, it is possible even if you have a deficit of budget for a particular item in your MOOE, you can cover that through a realignment of savings in other portions of your MOOE.

Q: Sir, sa calamity daw po nakalaan yung contingency fund na 'yon?

SP: I do not know. The fact is, it is Constitutionally authorized for the three departments of government, whether it is the Judiciary, Congress or Executive, to realign savings. Q: Sir, kahit sa foreign travels pwede 'yon?

SP: Pwede 'yon. Correct, basta MOOE.

Q: Sir, justifiable ba na gumastos ng sobra-sobra si GMA?

SP: I do not know the facts. You know, she is the one in-charge of foreign policy. She is the head of state, mind you. She has interacted with the leaders of the world. If depending upon her time and the problem she encountered, so we cannot say. That's a judgment call on the part of the President as head of state.

Q: So, you mean to say, kailangan natin siyang bigyan ng konting flexibility when it comes to spending?

SP: Well, naturally. You cannot shackle her hands in foreign policy. Not even the Supreme Court can shackle her hands.

Q: Sir, pwede bang limitahan 'yung big number of members joining the entourage?

SP: You know, actually, that is the responsibility of people going with the President. What I know is that whenever a President of this country goes on a foreign trip on official business, there is an agenda and there is a number of accepted visitors of the receiving country. Now, kung may mga hangers-on, that's the problem of these people. Where they got the money to pay for their trips, whether they were paid for by the government, that is worth looking into because some of them have no business of being there.

Q: Sir, 'yung mga congressmen daw ay 27 or 28. Sabi ni JDV noong panahon niya, five lang ang allowed niya?

SP: Mayroon talaga kung state visit or official visit, limitado 'yung guest. Kung minsan, binabayaran ng foreign government 'yang byahe -- yung accommodation.

Q: Sir, kung sino po ang nag-invite, siya ang magbabayad?

SP: Depende kung ano ang invitation.

Q: Sir, sino pa po ang mga pinapatawag niyo bukas aside from DPWH?

SP: 'Yun lang ang importante sa amin muna.