Press Release
September 2, 2009

Transcript of ambush interview of Senate President

On Noynoy Aquino

Q: Sir, reaction lang po sa pag-give way ni Sen. Mar Roxas?

SP Well, that is a noble act on the part of Mar to give way to Noynoy, because of his desire to maintain the unity of the party. Because if Mar insisted to run, a split in the Liberal Party was imminent. Now they have solidified their group. Now in the case of Mar and Noynoy, he has a good standing point. His parents are well known, Ninoy was an ebullient, vibrant, enigmatic leader, very good speaker, and many people still remember him. The mother was a president. Although, he will have to still go around to test the waters. I do not know whether he has exposed himself far and wide over the political horizon of the country. By the way I used to be the president of the liberal party in 1992, 1993, 1994, up to 1995. Because when the Nacionalista Party was inactive, and I ran for Congress, I became a member of the House. I joined the Liberal Party and we coalesced with the ruling party then and I became a president of the party. So, I know a little bit about the party now. I do not know whether they have built the political structure of the party across the land. If they have done that, that's good starting point because there are many members of the Liberal Party all over the nation.

Q: Sir, you are saying, yung popularity ni Cory at ni Ninoy, is not enough for Noynoy to win?

SP Well, it is a good starting point but Noynoy will still have to convince the people that he can do as much as his parents did.

Q: Sir, malaki po ang pressure sa kanya na patunayan na kaya niya?

SP Even though he is a senator, and he has enough experience already, he still has to touch base with the local leaders in the field. He is now the leader of the party, and normally in the field, people will expect the future president to belong to them and to be familiar with them.

Q: Sir, is it too late for him to make a campaign?

SP Well, if they do a class program, maybe. You have to cover a very wide area. You know, during a campaign period of ninety days, you are lucky if you can go to 300 towns, 300 points in the country. In ninety days, ha? Without rest. That's why even Erap who is a seasoned politician, who has been all over the place for several years campaigning for the same position, has started very early. He has already covered the entire country, all the provinces. But that's not enough, he has to go back. For instance, you go to Pangasinan, you go to Lingayen, so what? You have to go to other parts of Pangasinan, you go to eastern Pangasinan, you go to western Pangasinan; you go to central Pangasinan; southern Pangasinan; northern Pangasinan; same thing in other areas. You cannot cover one province in this country in one day. Lahat, marami yan. Pupunta ka sa isang lugar, pag hindi ka pupunta doon sa iba, magsesentimiyento yung mga iba.

Q: Sir, ano ang chance ni Noynoy na talunin si Villar?

SP Ah, malaki rin ang chance. Malaki rin ang chance niya but it's too early to predict. He has just declared himself a candidate yesterday. And he will have to sit down. He will need a lot of propaganda effort.

ON ZTE

Q: Sir, about the ZTE controversy, pabor po ba kayo dun sa plano na kasuhan din sina Joey de Venecia, as whistle blower daw?

SP If they are participants, they should be included. Anybody with evidence should be included if there is strong evidence to indicate participation in a criminal act.

Q: Kahit na po siya ang nagsilbing whistle blower?

SP Well, kahit na nagsabi siya, siya ang whistle blower. That will not exculpate him. The only one that can remove him from the charge will be the judge, if he is the least guilty, and if he wants to be a state witness. ON C-5 Insertion

Q: Sir, sino ang haharap sa hearing ng Committee of the Whole bukas?

SP Karamihan mga taga DPWH.

Q: Bangko Sentral po, hindi pa?

SP Hindi. Yung Bangko Sentral, peripheral yun eh. The transaction happened before he became a senator. What the ethical issue really is, is the problem of changing the alignment to allegedly benefit himself. That is the ethical issue.

Q: Sir, sa DBM, may dadating din po?

SP Hindi naman importante, pero sinubpoena din namin si Secretary Andaya. Pero release of fund lang yun.

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