Ambush Interview of Senate President Franklin Drilon

Q: How do you feel about the Senate because of the growing list of senators implicated in the scam?

SPFMD: Siguro naman the Senate is larger than sum of the 24 senators. The Senate is an institution of democracy. We are a government of laws, and not of men. Kaya po politicians will come and go, but the Senate will remain strong. Ako po ay naniniwala kapag natapos na ang lahat na ito ay lalo pang lalakas ang Senado bilang isang institusyon sa ating burukrasya.

Q: Paano ba malilinis ang reputasyon ng Senado bilang isang institusyon?

SPFMD: Matagal na nating naumpisahan iyan eh. Noong nakaraang taon, kami po ang nanguna na iabolish ang PDAF. Sa 2014 budget, ako at ang 15 sa aking mga kasamahan, eh sinabi namin na hindi na kami tatanggap ng PDAF. Sinusuportahan natin ang imbestigasyon at sabi nga ng Pangulong Noynoy, "We will go where the evidence will lead us."

Sa amin, ipinapakita namin sa taumbayan na sinususuportahan namin ang "No one is above the law." We support the process, and we support the rule of law. We will not cover up for anyone.

Q: A lot of those in the alleged Napoles list are incumbent senators. Have you attempted to talk with these senators?

SPFMD: That was just a list. Simula pa lang, sinabi ko na payag ako na ilabas ang listahan, ngunit dapat naman ay may karapat-dapat na suporta. Kung wala itong suporta, yaan ay listahan lamang. Ingatan natin, malapit na ang halalan at marami ang mga political operators na gustong maghanap buhay.

Maingatan sana ang mga reputasyon ng mga kasamahan natin na on the line, and give them opportunity to defend themselves. But I assure you as the Senate President, we will follow the rule of law.

Q: Was there a sense of relief when Sen. Ping said you were not on the list?

SPFMD: The sense of relief assumes that I was concerned, which I was not. As I have said from the very start, I have not dealt with Mrs. Napoles, so I am confident that I was not on any list.

Q: Does it confirm your earlier position na wala kayong kinalaman?

SPFMD: Yes, I believe so.