JPE: Even If I’ll Die In My Cell, It’s Okay!
Here’s a transcript of interview with Senator Juan Ponce Enrile regarding the development on the hottest issue for several months now – pork barrel fund scam.
SJPE: …that Mrs. Reyes did not received any money for me or for her. And so it is good that we are given the opportunity to use the proper forum to discharge all of these speculations, all of these charges and all of these things that are being thrown at us.
Q: Just in case that the arrest warrant will be issued here in the Senate, will you resist or accept it?
SJPE: Why should I resist? I am a lawyer. I know the process. Why should I resist? I have no reason to resist.
Q: Are you prepared in case the warrant of arrest is issued?
SJPE: The warrant?
Q: Yes.
SJPE: Of course. I have been prepared since several days ago. I have already packed up my things to bring into Camp Crame if it is where we’ll going to be confined.
Q: So ganun kayo ka-handa, sir?
SJPE: Oo. Bakit?
Q: Bat, okay lang ba sa inyo sir kung dito sa Senado po i-serve yung warrant sir o mas gusto niyong sa bahay na lang?
SJPE: I was served a warrant here in the Senate in 1990. It was here in the Senate that I was arrested. The second time that I was arrested in 2001 was at my house and I went with Gen. Berroya.
Q: Umaasa pa ba kayong may mangyayari dun sa motion?
SJPE: Aling motion?
Q: May ipa-file pala kayong motion, sir, to stop the arrest?
SJPE: No.
Q: …or determination of probable cause?
SJPE: Of course, we will have to exert all remedies. If you are a seasoned lawyer you will use all the available remedies to defend yourself.
Q: Will you be defending yourself sir?
SJPE: It depends if there is a need for it.
Q: Will you ask for a hospital or house arrest?
SJPE: I’ll leave it to the government.
Q: Sir, ang sabi po ni Senator Bong at Senator Jinggoy, wag na raw po kayong arestuhin dahil sa age nyo po, dahil sa health reasons?
SJPE: I thank them for that but I’m prepared. Even if I’ll die in my cell, it’s okay. At my age, I’ve gone through life already.
Q: Sir, hindi ba may provision sa penal code na hindi na dapat arestuhin ang mga 70 years old?
SJPE: I don’t know. I will not going to talk about privileges.
Q: The Ombudsman says na dapat magkaroon ng special division yung Sandiganbayan to try yung case ng PDAF. Is that okay with you na may special division for trial?
SJPE: Personally, it doesn’t matter to me but it depends upon my lawyers.
Q: Payag po ba kayo sa live coverage ng hearing ng case?
SJPE: Ano?
Q: May proposal po sir na i-live coverage ang magiging hearing po sa Sandiganbayan?
SJPE: Better. Para open. Para malaman ng tao ang katotohanan.
Source: Office of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile