Transcript of Interview of Senate President Franklin M. Drilon

Q: Okay lang ba na yung sub-committee yung nagdesisyon sa jurisdictional challenge?

SPFMD: Sa aming rules, ang lahat ng mga issues ay naka-delegate sa sub-committee. The sub-committee has ruled that there is no prohibition that this issue be brought up to the main committee chaired by Senator Guingona. That is what the lawyers of Mayor Binay did, they brought it up to Senator Guingona after the sub-committee has ruled on the jurisdictional challenge.

That is valid. Under our rules, that is valid. As I've said, under our rules, all issues and matters related to the investigation is delegated to the sub-committee. It is the main report - the report of the sub-committee - which would have to be approved by the main committee.

Q: Dalawang beses nang hindi sumipot sina Mayor Binay, ano na po ang aksyon?

SPFMD: Kahapon, humingi ng paliwanag ang sub-committee kung bakit hindi naman sumisipot si Mayor Binay at ang kanyang mga kasamahan. Ito po ay kasama sa proseso at binigyan ng pagkakataon na magpaliwanag kung bakit hindi nasusunod yung subpoena.

Q: Ano po ang posibleng consequence?

SPFMD: Let us not anticipate. This is a matter address, at this point, to the committee. Matters of contempt will be decided by the committee as a whole.

Q: On the call for PNoy's resignation by a transport group

SPFMD: Absolutely no basis and uncalled for.

Q: On Pulse Asia survey on Cha-Cha?

SPFMD: As far as I know, the President is averse to any Constitutional amendment which will give him an opportunity to run again. Ang sabi naman ng pangulo ay makikinig siya.

Q: Will we take that as a sign to stop entertaining...

SPFMD: I'm sure the President is reading the surveys.

Q: A question about 2016 elections

SPFMD: As vice chairman of the Liberal Party, the concentration right now is to make sure the reforms we have started four years ago will be in place, so whoever will be the president in 2016 can no longer reverse it.

Q: Si Sec. Mar, second na siya sa Pulse Asia survey, will that boost his chance?

SPFMD: Certainly, it's a boost to his candidacy. Matagal pa ang eleksyon. Marami pang mangyari.

Q: On emergency power

SPFMD: We must recognize and accept the fact that we need additional generating capacity in order to avert looming power crisis in the summer of 2015. Right now, we are looking at a shortage of 300MW. There are about 475MW from new power plants and from the repair of existing power plants. Another 275MW or so from private generating sets. So, the shortfall we are looking at is approximately 300MW at ito po ang kailangan natin na gawaan ng paraan kung paano magkakaroon ng additional generating capacity. May authority sa Section 71 of the EPIRA Law para po mabigyan ng kapangyarihan ang pangulo na gumawa ng paraan para magkaroon ng additional generating capacity.

Q: Are you in favor of giving PNoy emergency power?

SPFMD: Insofar as I am concerned as a senator, yes, I am in favour of giving the administration additional authority to secure additional generating capacity.

Q: Sabi ni Sen. Serge mukhang kakayanin na makapag-produce ng additional megawatts...

SPFMD: As I've said, the DOE right now says we are in need of 300MW. If it is shown in the committee hearings that we can address if, so be it. It's good. But we are just saying that there is a need to generate additional generating capacity of 300MW.