Press Release
March 12, 2012

Transcript of Interview of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile

On the Impeachment Trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona

Q: Sinabi niyo po kahapon na mag-reresign kayo if ever na babastusin o hindi rerespetuhin ang mga senators?

SP: Oo, sinabi ko kung mambabastos 'yung mga kasama ko sasawayin ko sila . Kung hindi nila gusto 'yung gagawin kong pagsasaway ko sa kanila, nasa kanila na 'yun.

Q: Mag-reresign kayo as Senate President kung hindi nila susundin 'yung utos niyo?

SP: If they will not obey the rules, it's up to them.

Q: Sir, 'yung Malacañang po kinakausap po ulit 'yung mga senador matapos na may lumabas na internal survey na nagsasabing 37% of the senators ay in favor of Corona's acquittal ?

SP: I don't know anything about it. I cannot comment on it.

Q: Sir, mag-tetestify daw po si Cong. Toby Tiangco. May different treatment po ba siya being the member of the House?

SP: I leave that to him. As far as I know, we settle the issue of sufficiency of the Articles of Impeachment because that issue of lack of verification, I think, was raised earlier in the early stage of the case.

Q: Sir, papayagan niyo pa rin po 'yung mga testimony ng mga congressmen?

SP: I will have to ask the members of the Senate.

Q: Sir, may caucus po kayo mamaya? Ano po ba 'yung agenda natin?

SP: Ipe-presinta ko lang sa kanila 'yung ginawa kong ruling sa approval of the evidence by the prosecution. Pangalawa ay tungkol sa motion ng defense to dismiss formally 'yung Articles 1,4,5,6 and 8. Sa akin, di na kailangan 'yun. Kung gusto ng depensa 'yun, they want it formally dismissed, I have no objection but I have to bring it up with the members of the Senate.

Q: Sir, mag-dedecide ba kayo ngayon kung ano ang tatanggapin dun sa mga sinubmit na fomal offer of evidence ng prosecution?

SP: Meron na akong ruling na ginawa, written, 'yung mga tatanggapin namin at hindi papayagan.

Q: Marami po bang ni-reject?

SP: Wala naman. Normally in trials like this, the court is very liberal to accept the evidence for whatever it is worth.

Q: Wala kayo sir ni-reject, sir?

SP: Hindi ko masasabi sa inyo.

Q: Sir, sa written ruling, nabanggit niyo ba 'yung tungkol sa reservation ng�

SP: Basahin niyo na lang mamaya. I-aannounce na lang 'yun sa proceedings mamaya.

Q: Sir, may sinubpoena rin po ba kayo na mga witnesses ng defense?

SP: Wala, hindi sila humingi ng subpoena.

Q: Mayroon na pong finile ang defense na motion para i-subpoena po 'yung mga kongresista...

SP: Pag-aaralan ko 'yun sapagkat mayroon kaming inter-parliamentary courtesy. On the other hand, kaya noong sinabi ko sa peryodiko na 'yung nakasakdal is entitled to compulsory process, to defend himself, dahil ito ay parang criminal action although it is not. Titingnan ko, kakausapin ko ang Senado kung papayagan nila 'yun.

Q: Sir, may motion din 'yung prosecution kung pwede 'yung sequence na ipe-present nilang witness and evidence ay ilatag din po ng defense para pag-aralan din po nila paano...

SP: Ewan ko kung saang reglamento 'yun dahil you cannot control the defense in the order of presentation of their defense.

Q: Pero for orderly proceedings, hindi po ba kailangan ng sequence, sir?

SP: There's no need. They are defending themselves so they must have enough leeway to handle the defense.

Q: Pero dapat po nila i-inform ang impeachment court kung ano ang magiging sequence nila, sir?

SP: Hindi na. Andoon na ang sequence. Article 2, 3 and 7. Palagay ko, ang concentration ng depensa diyan ay Article 2.

Q: Sir, allowed po sila to present surprise witnesses?

SP: They can present any witness that they want. Defense 'yun.

Q: Sir, ang prosecution kasi humingi sila ng...

SP: It's up to the prosecution. They have all the resources to check.

Q: Sir, kasi 'yung ruling niyo dati sa prosecution, for them to submit the order. Paano, sir, hindi siya applicable sa defense?

SP: It's because they have the burden of proof. Ang gagawin lang ng defense ay to rebutt 'yung ebidensiya nila para pawalang-bisa , to disprove. Di sasabayan nila 'yung ebidensiya ng prosecution.

Q: Hindi na kailangang bigyan ng time 'yung prosecution mag-prepare? Bahala sila?

SP: Nasa kanila 'yun. You cannot control defense lawyers on how they will defend their client.

Q: Sir, do you think it's best if CJ Corona testifies on his dollar account?

SP: I have already spoken about that in the papers. I do not want to keep repeating it like a parrot.

Q: Sir, are you expecting a smoother presentation by the defense?

SP: I do not know. I cannot expect anything. I always take things as they come.

Q: Sir, 'yung kanilang motion to dismiss the five Articles, premise po dun para hindi ma double jeopardy...

SP: Walang double jeopardy sa impeachment. Pinag-aralan ko na 'yan.

Q: Sir, kung 'yun ang purpose nila for asking for its dismissal of the five charges?

SP: Titingnan natin if they can show us jurisprudence that there is double jeopardy in impeachment sapagkat ang judgment ng impeachment court is not reviewable by anybody, beyond the jurisdiction of any other court unless we just pronounce the respondent guilty without any evidence. In which case, ibang salitaan 'yun sapagkat baka maging Bill of Attainder 'yung desisyon.

On BSP Examiner Jerry Leal

Q: 'Yung kay Jerry Leal, mukhang pinostpone...

SP: Sa ibang committee 'yun. Hindi sa impeachment court.

Q: Anong reaction ninyo sa postponement?

SP: Ipaubaya ko na lang sa Committee on Banks 'yun.

On the ethics complaint against Senator Santiago

Q: Sir, may nag-file ng ethics complaint against Senator Santiago...

SP: Anong basis ng ethics complaint?

Q: Sir, kasi kung anong klaseng tao raw si Senator Santiago kung hindi siya magpa-public apology, irereklamo rin daw po siya sa ICC para pigilan 'yung pag-upo niya bilang huwes doon...

SP: Bahala sila. I cannot speak about the conduct of Senator Santiago. She's attending the hearings to perform her duties but she's suffering from some ailment.

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