Transcript of Interview of Senate President Franklin M. Drilon

SP Drilon: We do not have to apologize in the same manner that China did not apologize for the death of Filipino tourists - and this not...official. I'm sorry. The apologies have been made, below the President's level. I do not see the need for an apology. The victims have been compensated and I do not believe that an apology is called for.

Q: May legal repercussion ba kapag nag-apologize?

SP Drilon: I do not know.

On the Marina bill

Q: Yung United Filipino Seafarers hindi raw sila naniniwala na kaya ng Marina...

SP Drilon: The important thing is we will have a single maritime authority which is one of the shortcomings; one of the deficiencies of our system is that we have multiple maritime authorities. Hindi kaya ng Marina is a question of upgrading Marina;s competence and ability, but this concept of having Marina as the single maritime authority is what we are trying to address.

We have had public hearings. We have to decide and we believe it is to the best interest of our seafarers. We have sought the opinion of every quarter and this is the best remedy that we can provide.