Transcript of ambush interview of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile

On the proposed 2013 budget

SP: We finished it yesterday.

Q: Babalik ulit kayo sa Sin Tax?

SP: Tapos na yun. Sa Bicameral Conference na lang.

On the FOI Bill

Q: Kahapon po lumusot na sa House. Dito po sa Senate, ano ang tingin ninyo?

SP: We passed it before. I think we can pass it again. Ako, I have no problem with that. Right of reply? Hindi na kailangan sa akin yun, sanay naman ako na bubugbugin ng lahat ng tao. I survived.

Q: Aaprubahan din ninyo yung FOI Bill pagkatapos ng mga interpellation?

SP: I do not know the exact status of the Bill here. Kanino ba yun? Kay Greg yata.

Q: Naging POGI Bill. SP: I will support his Bill lalo na kung POGI.

On China's e-Passport

Q: Familiar kayo sa e-Passport ng China? Sinama yung mapa.

SP: Ano ba yung e-Passport nila?

Q: May mapa po ng South China Sea including the disputed territories.

SP: We can also make a passport. We will include the entire world. When you include the other parts, ano ba yun? Pati ba Pilipinas in-include nila?

Q: Yung mga disputed territories po.

SP: When you include it in your own passport, I'm sure they will also accept it.

Q: Hindi yun big deal dapat sa atin?

SP: Hindi big deal yun.

Q: Pero sir may diplomatic protest ang Vietnam.

SP: Iba sila. Ako, hindi ko na aabalahin ang sarili ko sa mga ganun.

Q: Can we afford na i-deny yung entry ng mga Chinese?

SP: There is no need for that. If they want to make a passport like that, so what? We can also decorate our passport. We can include the entire Pacific area plus some of their areas there. So, it does not matter.

Q: Hindi po porke tinatakpan natin yung Chinese passport, ibig sabihin...?

SP: It does not matter. It is a matter of diplomatic relations. That is no admission that we accept their claim. They can even wear their own flag if they want. So what? They can even include a map of China on their dress. So what?

On the Sin Tax Bicam.

Q: May members na po ba tayo?

SP: Pag-uusapan namin yan.

Q: Totoo daw po ba na may pressure na in-include sina Senator Recto at Marcos?

SP: Pressure? Hindi pressure yun. Alam mo, sa akin, dapat lang na yung representative nung mga bumoto sa no, dalawa yun, they are the minority in this issue. They voted against it. Now, yung mga may interest doon tungkol sa tobacco, I think I would suggest that Senator Marcos be included. In the case of Senator Recto, since his version of the Bill was set aside, he has a right to also be included so that he can see to it that what we have agreed upon is really going to push through. May consensus yung ginawa namin dito. Ngayon, in order to protect the interest of the majority, we can make the membership seven.

Q: May mga panawagan na gawing open yung Bicam sa Sin tax and budget?

SP: Okay sa akin yun. Tawaran yun. Magta-tawaran pa yun. Yung ginawa namin dito, pwede namang as much as possible, we maintain the 60-40 ratio.

Q: Magtatawaran sa alcohol or tobacco?

SP: Huwag naman natin pahirapan yung anumang product. It has to be an equitable tax. Yan ang equitable.

Q: Yung P40 Billion projected revenue, hindi na mababawasan yun?

SP: Hindi ko alam. Pwedeng bawasan. Pwedeng mabawasan yun. Hindi natin malalaman ang mangyayari.

Q: Yung 60-40 na burden sharing?

SP: Yung burden sharing, kailangan they have to maintain that or reach a reasonable version, but not to over-burden the other. Kung hindi pa aaprubahan yung Bicameral Conference dito, ano ang mangyayari?