Transcript of interview with Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile

On the Malampaya-Camago Natural Gas Field

Q: Sir, are you doubting na may existing balance pa...

SP: Yung pera na nanggaling sa service contractor na pinadala sa Treasury ay naka-record sa libro. Pero 'yung mismong pera na dineposito, wala na 'yun at nagastos na. Ang nandoon lang ay 'yung record ng amount. 'Yung balance na sinasabi nila na 200 billion na nasa Treasury, hindi na 'yun ang original na pera na tinanggap ng Treasury dahil napalitan na 'yun. Alam mo sa operation ng gobyerno, kung mingled lahat 'yung pera nila, at hindi mo malaman. Sinasabi nga na money has no earmark at hindi mo ma-identify. So nagastos na 'yun, pero may pera pa rin sa bangko to cover what is recorded in the books if there is a need to utilize it.

Q: Sir, proper ba 'yung sa disbursement?

SP: Hindi mo ma-question 'yun dahil nasa batas na they can utilize it for a certain purpose. But kung kailangan for exploration or such other purposes that is indicated in the law, they cannot go beyond the law. Hindi ko malaman kung land reform is part of the authorization sa kanila and so we have to look into that.

Q: So, sir, 'yung ginagamit nila ay PD 910 that has been abolished. So ano po 'yung basis nila for exemption sa income tax?

SP: Hindi pa nga na-abolish. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang basihan nila to exempt this people from income tax. Imagine ang laking halaga nun. Samantalang sinasabi ang sharing is 60-40. Sixty sa gobyerno at forty sa kanila. Pero pag tiningnan mo, ang tunay na share ng gobyerno is the net of all these charges and now,it's less than 60%. Pati yung branch remittance ay kinarga sa gobyerno. Hindi kasama sa kontrata yung branch remittance.

Q: So, sir hindi maganda yung pag-negotiate dun?

SP: Sa aking pananaw ay nadehado tayo dito.

Q: Can that still be arranged?

SP: Well, if the Department of Finance has the guts and the initiative to protect the revenue of the government, they can file a case and recover at least 'yung branch remittance which, I am sure, they can get back. 'Yung sa income tax, maybe the courts also ought to declare it na invalid 'yung provision ng contract, exempting the consortium from income tax because the law is very clear that they're exempted from all taxes except income tax. Now they said na we need an incentive because exploration is very expensive. True, I agree, it's expensive. But if you want to give incentive, then we must amend the law and repeal that provision and do not exempt them from income tax to authorize government to give them income tax freedom. Unless the law is changed, they cannot violate the law. They have no power to exempt them from income tax. Under the Constitution, exempting somebody from any tax requires the concurrence of the majority of all the members of Congress. And here is the contract, sinabi na nga ng batas, that they cannot be exempted from income tax, in-exempt pa rin.

Q: This was during the Aquino administration?

SP: Yes.

On the Maguindanao Massacre

Q: But the Maguindanao Massacre, ipinailalim na sa state of emergency...

SP: Alam mo, kailangan na gamitin ang puwersa ng Pilipinas to enforce the law. That's the purpose of the military and the police. If police action cannot contain the problem, then the military must step in.

Q: Pero matagal na po itong problema na ito, can't we make other ways to stop the formation of private armies?

SP: What instruments are you going to use? Persuasion? The only way to stop private armies is through an instrument of force. If you have a private army then the only way to stop it is another army.

Q: Sir, may mga questions kasi na na-mention 'yung isa sa mga Ampatuans na kasama doon sa mga nang-hostage at pumatay pero until now never pa rin inaarrest ng mga authorities?

SP: Kaya nga. Dahil nga mayroon silang capabilitiy. Assuming that I do not know the facts, I do not know whether the Ampatuans are involved, but whoever is involved, they must answer for it.

Q: Hindi po ba medyo soft tayo dahil kinausap lang ni Secretary Dureza?

SP: Anyway, that's my position so bahala na ang gobyerno.

Q: Sir, since election-related 'yung nangyari, sa tingin nyo may dapat ba tayong ipangamba sa election sa 2010?

SP: I will not speculate.

Q: Sir, kung alisin 'yung authority sa mga local officials na mamili ng magsisilbing police chief for instance. Can that be done?

SP: Alam mo, merong panukalang batas ngayon na nagsasabi na kailangang isurrender ng mga tao ang kanilang mga baril para lisensiyahan. Ok 'yun. I agree with that. At kung walang lisensiya, parusahan ng kadena perpetua o life imprisonment. Alam mo, unang-una, mae-enforce ba nila 'yan against the MILF? Mae-enforce ba nila 'yan against the private armies? Mae-enforce ba nila 'yan against the Abu Sayyaf? They can only enforce that against the poor civilians who are unprotected because we do not have enough police.

Q: Sir, what is the bottom line?

SP: Well, that is why I'm just raising my own reservation. I'm not going to teach people.