TRANSCRIPT OF ENRILE INTERVIEW BEFORE THE PLENARY SESSION

Q: Are you in favor of the Senate investigating the jueteng allegations of Bishop Cruz?

JPE: Yes. Basta may basehan, imbestigahan natin para malinis 'yung lipunan natin.

Q: Sabi, sir, ng mga ibang senators, kapag hindi na talaga mapigilan'yung jueteng, i-legalize na lang?

JPE: That has always been my position, for us to legalize it, or better still, leave it to the local governments to decide for their people whether they like jueteng in their towns or provinces or not.

Q: So, there must be a law on that?

JPE: Yes, there must be a law. Then, if they want, we must see to it that the money they raise will go for the education and health of the people.

Q: Pero, sir, dinadawit 'yung mga Cabinet Secretaries na mayroon daw sa kanila na tumatanggap ng P2 million?

JPE: Sabihin kung sino ang mga 'yun. Name the people, walang taguan. Kung ako mayroong information kahit sino sasabihin ko ang pangalan.

Q: Sir, 'yung sa budget ng judiciary, nagbanta po sila ng revolt?

JPE: Masyadong mabigat 'yung revolt. Alam mo, mahirap 'yun. Titingnan natin kung kukulangin, kailangan dagdagan. We cannot increase the budget of the President but we will see. We'll probably prune some other areas to augment the offices that would require augmentation if there is a need. But the people who prepared that budget must have considered the requirements of the judiciary. Marami namang mga hindi pa na-organize na mga Korte na menor ang budget. Siguro 'yun naputol.