Press Release
June 6, 2013

TRANSCRIPT OF KAPIHAN SA SENADO WITH SEN. JINGGOY ESTRADA

On whether Acting Senate President Jinggoy Estrada was surprised or aware that Senate President Enrile resign.

Nung ininterview ninyo ako kahapon, wala talaga akong kaalam-alam sa laman nung talumpati ni Senate President Enrile. I was really caught by surprise when he announced yesterday during his speech that he was resigning irrevocably. Our group did not anticipate his resignation. I thought he was just going to thank his colleagues for the support that was given to him. I thought he was going to commend the outgoing senators, and I thought that was about it, pero meron palang resignation na naglalaman doon sa kanyang talumpati.

Prior to that, you mentioned that once Enrile steps down from his position as Senate President, you will join him.

Yes. Totoo yung sinabi ko, and time and again I have been saying that. Wherever Manong Johnny goes, I will go with him. When he goes down, I will go down with him. In this case, yesterday, there will be no Senate President. I am only on an acting capacity. By July 22, mag-eelect na ng bagong Senate President, of course, I will join Manong Johnny wherever he goes.

On whether Senator Enrile gave him advice.

During the session yesterday, I went to him, I went up to his office. In fact, hinatid ko pa pababa nung umalis na sa Senado. I was on the verge of tears. I can feel his feeling na talagang nasasaktan siya, galit. Galit, pero nararamdaman ko yung sakit na nararamdaman niya. Sabi lang niya sa akin, "Jinggoy, now that you are acting Senate President, kaya mo yan, gawin mo lahat ng trabaho mo and I will still be here to guide you."

On JPE's critics not being impressed with his resignation.

Sa aking palagay, not because I am an ally of the Senate President, there was no theatrics here. Hindi ito sarsuwela, hindi ito drama. Siguro it came from the heart na rin. Napuno na rin siguro si Senate President dahil sa pagbabatikos sa kanya hindi lamang during the campaign period.

Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin tumitigil yung kanyang mga kritiko kaya siguro ay minabuti niya na bumitiw na sa kanyang tungkulin para walang masabi yung kanyang mga kritiko. In fact, he dared all the senators to open their books at i-divulge sa publiko kung paano nila ginagastos ang mga pera nung kani-kanilang mga committee.

On what can be expected from Senator Enrile when he becomes Minority Leader.

Inassure yata ni Senate President Enrile kay Senator Drilon that he will be a constructive oppositionist. Meaning to say, hindi ka rin magiging destructive sa ano mang batas na ihahayag ng administrasyon, o ng mayorya. Kapag meron namang Bill na finile ang majority, basta ang inaakala namin o sa tingin niya ay it will redound to the benefit of the people, palagay ko naman na hindi natin haharangin yun.

On whether Estrada saw the scenario that there will be voting but that there will not be enough numbers from the administration coalition.

Yes, because yesterday only seventeen senators were present and we need thirteen to elect a new Senate President. Pag lima doon sa labing-pito ay umayaw, we cannot elect any Senate President. They agreed in caucus to follow the rules and designate me as Acting Senate President.

On whether Estrada will be the Acting Senate President until July 22.

Until a new Senate President has been elected. On July 22. I think today malabo, palagay ko sa July 22.

On whether there will be a turn-over of work between Estrada and Senator Enrile.

Hindi na. Sa amin ni Senator Enrile hindi na siguro.

On why Senator Enrile did not tell Estrada of his plan to resign.

I really do not have any idea. With all due respect doon sa dalawang kasama ko sa macho block, siguro ako yung lagi niyang nakakausap. Among the three of us, ako yung siguro pinaka-malapit kay Manong Johnny, pero never did he utter a word na magre-resign siya yesterday. In fact, I only read it in our agenda two days ago and I called one of his staff and asked his staff what was the content of the privilege speech of the Senate President and he just answered me "wala, magpapa-salamat lang ako sa mga tao at sa mga senador." I thought that was it.

On whether Senator Estrada would have prevented him from resigning had he been consulted by Senator Enrile.

Sasabihin ko sana "Manong, it might be useless to resign there being only two session days to go. Siguro hanggang July 22 na lang, we will just fight it out hanggang July 22."

Siguro, napuno na rin yung tao. He is already 89, I don't think he deserves that kind of treatment. Panay pagbabatikos, panay pangungutya sa kanya, kaya siguro, sa aking palagay, kaya na rin siya nag-resign para wala na rin masabi yung mga kritiko niya. Pwedeng buksan yung libro ng senado. I think the books in his office are open for scrutiny.

On whether Senator Enrile's resignation was a concession that his group had no numbers.

Hindi naman namin pinaguusapan yung pag-concede. Wala sa usapan namin yan. Basta, we will still put up a good fight on July 22. If we do not have the numbers, we will automatically become the Minority.

The method by which he will become Minority Leader means he will run again?

Yes. By tradition, one of the members of the Minority will have to nominate Senate President Enrile as Senate President. If we do not have the numbers, automatically, he becomes the Minority Floor Leader.

Doesn't that run counter to his statement of irrevocable resignation?

No. Irrevocable resignation for this Congress as Senate President. Iba na ang usapan sa susunod na Kongreso.

On whether JPE's stand remains the same even when he resigned irrevocably.

Manominate para lang makuha yung Minority Floor Leader. Pwede namang pag-usapan ng buong Chamber na wala ng botohan, proclamation na lang katulad nung ginawa last time, nilagay na lang si Senator Alan as Minority Floor Leader.

If many Senators attended the session yesterday, would the election of a new Senate President have pushed through?

Yes. Pwede mamaya, kapag 23 senators ang present mamaya, pwedeng bumoto ng bagong Senate President. Walang problem sa akin. Ako naman, I do not want to cling to that post.

After the 15th Congress, the Macho Block will initiate a meeting. When will that be?

Hindi naman ako nagmamadali. Siguro, after June 30, when all the senators are in the country. Of course, before July 22.

Will you invite senator-elect JV Ejercito and Nancy Binay?

Definitely. They are members of the UNA so it is but proper for me to invite both of them. My staff might coordinate with their staff.

How was Senator Enrile when you saw him after his speech?

He was okay, kaya lang nung pababa na kami, the employees were lined up, parang nagpapaalam nga na aalis na nga siya. Yung kanyang mga empleyado at yung kanyang mga Senate staff, hindi lang sa Office of the Senate President, talagang they were on the verge of tears. Alam ko naman kung gaano ka-popular si SP Enrile among the Senate employees kaya siguro, masakit din sa kanila na nag-resign si Senate President.

On the possibility of inviting Sen. Revilla to the meeting of the Macho Block.

Si Senator Bong belongs to another political party, Lakas. Siguro we will just limit it to the members of UNA, including of course Senator Sotto and Honasan who belongs to the Macho Block. In fairness to him, I haven't talked to him for months, I think he is out of the country right now so I really do not know his position come July 22. I do not know if he's going to join the Majority or the Minority.

On the Lakas members voting for Senator Drilon

Ako, ang bilang ko kay Senator Lapid baka sumama sa Majority. Si Senator Revilla, hindi ko talaga alam.

On Senator Miriam

Si Senator Miriam is definitely joining the Majority.

On the Senate presidency

What I read from the papers is that the Liberal Party and the Nacionalista Party have agreed to put up a common candidate.

On his readiness to work with Senator JV Ejercito

I am willing to work with everybody. I am ready to be a seatmate of everybody. If he seeks my advice, okay. If he doesn't, I can't do anything. If he seeks my advice, I'll give him the proper advice because I've been there for nine years. If he seeks my guidance, my support, as an elder brother, as a senior member of the Chamber, I will support him or guide him.

On the Collective Negotiations Agreement of the Senate employees

Well, I have to study it further. Isang araw pa lang yan. Hindi ko pa nakikitang mga papeles sa opisina ni Senate President. Of course, I have to be briefed before I sign any documents. Kung hindi naman urgent, I will leave it to the incoming Senate President. Alam mo, nakakahiya naman, acting lang ako tapos pirma ako ng pirma. Hindi na lang ako pipirma.

On the plans of UNA members

We will first have a meeting among UNA members.

On the graduating senators

Si Joker mami-miss ko 'yung kapilyuhan niya. Alam mo, when I was designated as the Acting Senate President, palagay ko there's nothing new kasi sa regular sessions naman you can always see me there presiding. Kapag out-of-town naman si Senate President Enrile, he designates me as OIC.

On the next composition of the Senate

Hindi lang anim na babaeng senador pero mas mga bata. Kung mapapansin niyo, mas mga bata ang bagong composition. Mas advantageous sa mga kababaihan natin 'yan. Palagay ko itong anim na kababaihan will defend the rights of the women.

On the Philippine Azkals harassed by the Hongkong crowd

They are poor losers. That was only a football game tapos pagbabatuhin nila ang ating mga kababayan. Our Philippine consulate must step in. Dapat protektahan nila ang ating mga kababayan sa Hongkong. Hindi naman pwedeng basta-basta batuhin tayo ng bote ng mineral water. Hindi naman pwede 'yon.

Siguro naman that is an isolated case pero it's unfortunate na may ganoong nangyari.

On the bills vetoed by President Aquino

It's lack of coordination on the part of the PLLO. Kasi syempre, it's understandable since the head of the PLLO is not in good terms with the Office of the Senate President kaya nagkakaroon ng lack of coordination.

If Malacañang will retain the services of Secretary Mamba, hindi ko alam kung ano magiging relationship doon sa incoming Senate President.

Palagay ko dahil sa dami ng bills na veto ni President Aquino, palagay ko dapat palitan na siguro yung PLLO.

Can you elaborate? Ano yung mga pagkukulang ng PLLO?

Kung hindi sila naguusap ng opisina ng Senate President, panong gagawin mo?

Totoo po bang si Sec. Mamba ay hindi nakikita sa Senate?

Actually, the first time that I saw his face was when we had a caucus sa Senate Lounge about Sin tax. That was the only time that I saw him. Unlike the previous PLLOs katulad si former Congressman Roman lagi siyang nandun. During the time of GMA, yung PLLO niya laging andun. Kahit sa mga senador, nakikipagtouch base yung PLLO. Hindi dapat sa Office of the Senate President lang. In fact, he did not even pay a courtesy call with all the senators as far as I can remember. Si Congressman Roman when he was appointed by President Aquino as PLLO, I remember that he paid a courtesy call to all of the senators.

Magkano po ba ang nagagastos para maapprove ang isang bill?

Hindi ko alam ang eksaktong amount pero siyempre you have to undergo hearings, researches, consultation, pakain, malaki laki rin ang nagagastos. Dapat talaga pinagaaralan mabuti tapos nirerelay na sa Malacanang kung ano yung mga bills na malapit ng aprubahan. Dapat ganun ang coordination.

On LEDAC Meetings

Alam ko dalawang beses lang nagkaron ng LEDAC. Sa aking palagay, dapat siguro once every two months or quarterly. Palagay ko kasalanan ni Mamba kasi di ko nakikita yan baka parati siyang nasa Malacanang o lagi siyang nasa Cagayan.

On being seatmates with Senator-elect JV Estrada

Kung maging seatmates kami, walang problema sa akin.

On Jun Lozada and the ZTE NBN Case

I think ang status niyan ay nasa court. Siguro in terms of support on a personal basis nalang, not the Senate as an institution. I really don't know the real status of the case. Kung nasa Sandiganbayan pa ang kaso, hayaan na natin ang Sandiganbayan ang magdecide.

On the monitoring of the implementation of the Kasambahay law

We will coordinate with the Department of Labor. If I retain my committee chairmanship, that's the time that I will coordinate. Basta we will closely coordinate with the agencies concerned and its attached agencies.

Yung mga kasambahay may mga right silang ireport yung mga employer nila kung hindi sila ipagbayad ng SSS?

Of course.

On his expectations on the last day of session

Magprivilege speech yata si Sen. Loren. We also have three treaties to be approved. I really hope that we can muster enough quorum because we need 16 senators to approve a treaty. Yesterday, 17 lang kami and baka hindi makapasok si Senate President Enrile sa 16. I hope yung 16 na yun ay pumasok mamayang hapon para maaprubahan na yung treaties.

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