Transcript of Interview of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile

On the creation of a fact-finding body to investigate the alleged poll fraud

SP Sinabi ko na sa aking paningin, dapat 'wag ng gawin 'yun. Dapat mausisa 'yan kung mayroon mang dayaan, at kung may ebidensiya na may dayaan ay dapat dalhin na yan sa may kapangyarihan na magsakdal sa kanila para diretso na sa husgado.

Q 'Yung proposal ni Sen. Chiz Escudero na mag-create ng fact-finding commission, ang intention niya ay malaman 'yung katotohanan para mai-correct daw 'yung records ng ating history, kung si FPJ 'yung nanalo.

SP Well, pwede siguro for that purpose only pero kung ang purpose natin ay para maparusahan 'yung mga gumawa nung pandaraya na 'yun, kung mayroon mang dayaan, at hindi lamang 'yung kuro-kuro o salita ni Bedol, o ni Gov. Ampatuan at kailangan makita 'yun, ay dapat dalhin na sa husgado, sa DOJ. Kung ang gagawin natin ay patunayan natin na nanalo si FPJ at hindi nanalo si Presidente Gloria, ibig sabihin nun, rerebisahin natin ang buong election noong 2004. Kailangan rebisahin mo 'yun para malaman mo kung sino ang tunay na nanalo dahil electoral process na 'yun. Ngayon, kung pandaraya lang ang gusto nating tapusin, nandiyan na 'yung mga isinisiwalat nung mga nagpre-presenta na mga testigo. 'Yung nangyari sa Maguindanao, kung totoong nangdaya doon, crime na 'yun. Krimen na 'yun. That alone will impose a penalty on anybody.

Q So hindi na dapat sa COMELC ma-custody si Bedol?

SP Ibang issue 'yun. Custody is something else. We are talking of a crime.

Q Doon po sa hearing, malaki pa ba 'yung magiging role ng Garci tapes?

SP Lahat 'yun, ebidensiya 'yun. All of that is evidence. Alam ng prosecutor ano ang gagawin d'yan sa mga 'yan.

Q Kung lumitaw na si FPJ 'yung nanalo nung 2004 presidential election, considering na patay na siya, ano po ang pwedeng gawin?

SP Wala. Wala na, tapos na.

Q What do you mean by revision?

SP When you want to determine the winner in an election, especially in a national election, you have to go over all the precincts.

Q Not just Mindanao?

SP No, it is not just Mindanao. Mindanao does not elect a president.

Q Mahabang proseso?

SP Oo, matagal 'yan.

Q Pero sir, knowing na tapos na 'yung termino ni GMA, wala na rin si FPJ, may sense pa ba na palitan at imbestigahan ulit?

SP Ewan ko. Sa akin, what is the purpose of the investigation? To punish? If it is only to punish for cheating in elections, the case of Maguindanao will be enough. If there was cheating there, that's a crime. The cheating in Maguindanao is separate from the cheating in Cagayan, cheating in Lanao, cheating in Batanes, cheating in Tawi-tawi. Each one of those will be a separate crime. Any one of those where you are convicted, you will go to jail. If our purpose is to find out who really won as president, then you have to go through all the ballot boxes throughout the country and tabulate again.

Q The DOJ should deal with Bedol's testimony as a localized case?

SP Only in that particular case because that is the only thing known by Bedol. Now if he can prove that there was cheating there, then a crime has been committed and all the people responsible for the cheating must answer for it.

Q Considering na may mention na si GMA ang nasa likod...

SP Mentioning only is not enough. You have to present evidence. I can mention Jesus Christ and that does not mean that Jesus Christ is guilty.

Q Tama po ba na i-consider na ng DOJ na ipalagay sa watch list si GMA?

SP Not yet. Wala pang krimen, wala pang nasakdal. Panay salita pa lang.

Q Wala po bang prescription period 'yung election case?

SP I don't know. I think there is a prescription. I am not current in my knowledge of election laws. That is a function of the prosecutors to determine. I do not have to be examined on that.

Q Hindi po ba applicable 'yung election sabotage? May pinasa daw na batas nung 2007?

SP I do not remember.

Q Ano ang pwedeng ikaso sir?

SP Alam mo pag napatunayan na nangdaya ka sa election, you can suffer perpetual disqualification to hold office, if I remember correctly.

Q Tama po ba 'yung mga sinasabi ni Bedol...

SP Sila, competent lamang na mag-testigo doon sa kanilang probinsiya. Hindi nila masasabi kung may dayaan o wala sa ibang probinsiya. Hindi sapat.

On what PNoy should prioritize in his SONA

SP I don't know. I think he should think of the economy. How to attract investments in the country, because investment is the key to create jobs and livelihood for the people.