Transcript of ambush interview of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile

On the reported bombing

SP What was the explosion? Was it a bomb? A grenade, a kuwitis? Let us wait until we know the facts. It's hard to make a statement when we are ignorant of the facts.

Q Sabi daw po ng NCRPO chief, explosive device?

SP Well, there are always crazy people in this world. Not necessarily the entire (inaudible). It could be somebody was playing with an explosive in the bus that exploded. There are many theories.

Q Pero hindi ba ito makaka-destabilize sa administration?

SP Of course not. How can one grenade or two grenades destabilize the government? We are not that brittle.

Q Sir, 'yung over-all peace and order situation, baka ma-reflect doon?

SP The situation in the country is not that bad. Take it from me, I went through it. When we had Martial Law, it was an entirely different situation. The security environment was so different from what it is today.

Q Ano po ang magiging effect nito sa economy? Babagsak po ba?

SP Wala. Hindi naman tayo kagaya ng Timbuktu. We have a big country.

Q Ano ang objective nun, takutin ang tao?

SP Ewan ko. Siguro may naglalaro. Bakit niya titirahin 'yung bus company? Baka kasi galit doon sa bus company na 'yun? Hindi pa malaman.

Q Pero hindi dapat bale-walain ng mga authorities itong ganitong mga insidente?

SP Dapat imbestigahan. Dapat tingnan kung ano ang dahilan nun. Kung ano ba 'yun. At kung krimen 'yun, kailangan 'yung gumawa, katulad ng ginawa nila dun sa sinunog na may-ari ng kotse, dapat masuri kaagad. Mahuli kaagad. Ikulong kaagad para maging mapayapa ang lipunan.

On the SWS survey indicating a higher trust rating for the Senate

SP Salamat naman sa Diyos... Kami dito, siguro hindi naman sa pagmamalaki, hindi kami gagawa ng kalokohan, makakasama sa bayan natin. Sa tagal ko na sa gobyerno, ang mga hinawakan kong ahensiya ng gobyerno ay palagay ko naman ay wala silang masasabi sa resulta ng management ko nung araw. Maging sa Customs na sinasabing pinaka-marumi, hanggang sa Department of Defense na humawak sa kaguluhan ng Pilipinas, ganun din.