Transcript of Interview of Senate President Pro-Tempore
Franklin Magtunao Drilon

Q: On the shame campaign issue

Drilon: My reading is that the President has to resort to shame campaign because of the failure of our justice system. Sa ating sistema ng hustisya, ang deterrent sa crime ay yung certainty of punishment, subalit dahilan po sa ang ating hustisya ay maraming pagkukulang, yung mga gumagawa ng krimen ay hindi napaparusahan. Kaya there's a failure of the justice system mula sa investigation, sa prosecution, sa paglilitis sa husgado at sa system ng pagkulong. Dahilan dito, it results in frustration on the part of the public and even the president, so what happens is that there is no more public indignation. Kaya kami po na nagsasabi ng rule of law at due process, yung taumbayan ang sinasabi ay "wala namang nangyayari."

The problem is that a shame campaign is not based on evidence. The margin of error is quite significant. Sa katunayan, ang sabi ng Pangulong Duterte ay pwedeng tama siya at pwedeng mali siya. Kapag nasama ka sa listahan at mali, kawawa naman at baka mapasama ka pa sa statistics. To me, the bottom line is we must have a drastic reform in our justice system para po mabalik ang tiwala ng taumbayan sa sistema ng hustisya. Kung sinoman ang nagkasala ay mapaparusahan para sa ganon ay kung may nangyayari ng katulad nito na maraming namamatay, there should be a public indignation because we have a justice system that works. The challenge to all of us - President Digong, the Judiciary and the Congress - is to come up with a complete and significant reforms in our judicial system.

Q: Ano po ang masasabi ninyo sa pagkakasama ni Iloilo City Mayor Mabilog?

Drilon: He said he is ready to face an investigation and he should be investigated. Kung talaggan may ebidensya at may ginawa siya, he will be held responsible. Kung wala naman, at least he will be given the opportunity to clear his name. he should submit himself to an investigation.

Q: Di ba the damage has been done, Sir?

Drilon: That's precisely what I'm saying. The problem is that the shame campaign is not evidence-based. It is based on intelligence reports, which may or may not be true. In fact the President admitted that. Pwedeng tama, pwedeng mali. To me, that's how I look at it.

Q: Anong dangers non?

Drilon: Ang sabi ko na nga, ang problema if it is shown na hindi naman tama at nagkamali, baka masama ka pa sa statistics.

Q: On the Marcos burial issue

Drilon: Sa akin, at this point in our political and social life, the burial of Marcos is a very divisive issue. It should not be done.