Press Release
May 31, 2011

SP Enrile's interview during a public hearing on the reported share-swap deal between PLDT & DIGITEL Mobile Philippines

On his statement that Globe first made the offer to buy DIGITEL shares

Yes, gusto nilang bilhin 'yun. Mababa 'yung presyo nila. So, smart 'yung Smart. Dinoble nila 'yung presyo, kaya nabili nila. Ganyan lang ang negosyo. Parang sugal 'yan. Kung talagang 'di ka desididong sumugal ay hindi ka mananalo.

On his comments about the radio wave frequency

It should not be given free. They must sell it to these people. That's a very valuable asset, a national resource. It should not be given for free. In other countries, they bid it out to the highest bidder. Negosyo 'yan, ang laki ng kinikita ng mga telecommunication companies. Kaya lumaki sila nang lumaki dahil hindi nila binabayaran ang kanilang frequency. Binili ng PLDT 'yung shares ng DIGITEL kaya sa kanila na rin ang frequency nito.

On whether the approval of Congress is needed

Hindi na kailangan ang approval ng Congress dahil iyong franchise ng Sun/DIGITEL, nakalagay doon na kung anuman 'yung mga pribilihiyo ibingay sa mga susunod na franchises ay magiging parte din itong franchise nila. There are many franchises na inaprubahan ng Kongreso na sinasabi na 'yung sale of controlling interest in that company and the succeeding companies did not require a Congressional approval. So that is also available to Sun/DIGITEL. That is the so-called "equality clause." So, walang problema sa transaction. Hindi naman siguro ako magsasabi na legal 'yun o tama 'yun, na hindi ko muna pinag- aralan ang batas. Tungkol sa merger- merger na 'yan, kaya ako naging Master of Laws dahil d'yan.

On the transfer of rights to the franchise

Hindi naman franchise ang na- transfer, shares of stock lang. 'Yung binigyan ng Kongreso ng franchise ay 'yun pa rin. Walang pagbabago.

On Globe's complaint about the transaction

Kaya ba sila nagku- complain dahil natalo sila? Pwede bang bawiin ng gobiyerno 'yung transaction? Anong violation? 'Yun ang sabi nila dahil gusto nila makipag- areglo. Gusto nilang gamitin ang Kongreso para sila ay mapaburan. No way.

On Jaime Zobel de Ayala's request to the President asking for a free frequency

Ewan ko. Ang intindi ko ay hindi ang Presidente ang magbibigay noon. Ang magbibigay noon ay ang National Telecommunication Commission, which is a delegate of Congress. Siguro, sinusubukan nila. Pero alam natin na ang Presidente ay "daang matuwid".

Comments on the alleged monopoly

Monopoly alone does not mean that it is bad. There are natural monopolies. Kung binigyan ka ng franchise to operate a public utility in a given area, that's a monopoly. But the price is regulated. Dito, there's no showing that the acquisition is to restrain competition. Nagkakaroon ng competition. Marami pa nga ang pumapasok. So, walang basehan 'yung pag-alma ng Globe.

On his comments about the Divorce Bill

Pag- aaralan pa 'yun. In other countries, their experience ay iba at iba ang kultura nila. We'll have to study that.

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