Transcript of Interview of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile

On the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Corona

Q What do you think of the suggestion to change the schedule of the Senate and to limit the time for the impeachment trial?

SP I am amenable to anything that the Senate would adopt.

Q Does this improve your schedule of legislation?

SP I think so. If we study the bills before they reach the Senate floor then we lessen the debate.

Q There is some concern by your colleagues that the legislation of bills have been tied up by the trial.

SP Well, necessarily we have to accept that because we double the effort of the Senate. Of course, in the House they are freer but here in the Senate we are saddled with two distinct functions, trying an impeachment case and at the same time attending to our legislative work and also our confirmation authority.

Q Limiting the trial for three hours or until 5PM, that will be good for everyone?

SP I am amenable to trying it even beyond if that is the pleasure of the Senate.

Q Di po ba four-day work week kayo, yung Friday po ba possible na gamitin din for public hearings?

SP Friday? Pwede rin pero motion day yun para magkaroon ng panahon na magfile yung mga magkabilang panig ng motion. Pag-aaralan namin yung motions bago namin papasyahan.

Q Kailan po mag-start yung stipulation?

SP Ewan ko dun sa dalawang panig. Sinuggest ko yun sa kanila para maiksian yung panahon ng hearing, sapagkat yun ang nakakatagal.

Q Posible po yan to shorten the proceedings sa three articles o four articles na lang magpresent ng witness at evidence yung prosecution?

SP Nasa prosecution yun.

Q Papayagan po yun ng impeachment court?

SP Bahala sila. Kung iwa-waive na nila yung ibang articles, tatanungin ko ang Senado. Pero sa akin, okay lang sa akin yun kung hindi na nila isusulong yung ibang grounds. That means that they will abandon those grounds.

Q Hindi po sila obligadong tapusin lahat nung walo?

SP Personal ko ito. Sa aking paningin, depende sa desisyon ng Senado, pwedeng i-atras nila, sabihin nila parang tatanggalin na namin sa Articles of Impeachment yung mga iba at iwa-waive na namin yung presentation of evidence, hindi na lilitisin yun at idi-disregard ng Senado. Ito na lang mga articles na ito ang pagbabatayan ninyo ng desisyon. Kung sasabihin nila sa amin yun on the record, nasa kanila yun.

Q So doon na lang kayo magbobotohan sa mga articles na naiwan?

SP Na iiwanan nila pero yan ay kailangan ipiprisinta pa sa Senado at sa Court. Hindi naman ako ang Korte.

Q Dapat po officially i-withdraw nila yung ibang articles?

SP Oo.

Q You said you will call a caucus po sa quantum of evidence?

SP Oo. Ako, hindi ko gagamitin yung beyond reasonable doubt. Yung preponderance of evidence naman, sa civil case yun. Although, may mga nagsasabi na may civil content yung impeachment pero sa aking paningin it is closer to a criminal case. Yun namang substantial evidence, sa administrative case yun, so nasa gitna yun ng criminal case at administrative case.

Q Which is?

SP Yung sinabi ko nga na it has to be clear, convincing, and substantial evidence. Clear and convincing evidence. Yung kapani-paniwala na ebidensiya at klaro.

Q You will submit that for adoption?

SP Hindi. Pag-uusapan namin. Tatalakayin namin yan. Malayo pa naman yun, nag-uumpisa pa lang tayo ng hearing, hindi pa natatapos yung isang article.

Q Yung P10 million discount na na-reveal doon sa trial, do you think it warrants a separate hearing?

SP Iha, I cannot answer that question. Wag mo akong tatanungin sa weight or quality or merits of the evidence.

Q Mayroon pong en banc ang Supreme Court tungkol doon sa petition ng TRO, yung gustong ipatigil yung impeachment trial?

SP Ipaubaya natin sa Korte Suprema yun kung ano ang kanilang gagawin, wag natin pakikialaman sila.

Q Mayroon kayong expectations sir?

SP I will keep it to myself.

Q Kung magpalabas na wag paburan yung TRO?

SP Hindi ko sasagutin yan, mahirap yan.

Q Hindi ninyo ineexpect na ipatitigil yung impeachment trial?

SP Alam mo mahirap sagutin yang mga ganyang tanong.