‘Not an errand boy’: Enrile parries doubts on probe reopening

Senator Juan Ponce Enrile. AP FILE PHOTO

“I am not the errand boy of anybody.”

This was how Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile shot back on Tuesday at insinuations that the reopening of the Mamasapano investigation in the Senate was political motivated.

READ: Aquino sees politics in probe

Enrile, who initiated the reopening of the Mamasapano probe, also thumbed down proposals for senators running in the May 2016 elections like Senator Grace Poe, to inhibit from the hearing scheduled on January 25.

Poe, who is running for president, is leading the investigation as chair of the Senate committee on public order.

READ: Poe should inhibit from Mamasapano probe, says Alan Cayetano

“Kalokohan ‘yan; walang grandstanding dito. Sila ang namumulitika, dinidiskurso nila na may motibo kami na masama. E ‘di ‘kung may motibo kami na masama, ipakita nila. Sagutin nila itong mga tatanungin ko. I will challenge them to answer the questions,” Enrile said in a phone patch interview with Senate reporters.

(That is rubbish; this is no place for grandstanding. They are the ones politicking, insinuating that we have an unscrupulous motive. If we have such motive, they should prove it. They should answer my questions. I will challenge them to answer the questions.)

“Bakit sila mag-inhibit, trabaho nila ‘yun e (Why would they inhibit, it’s their job). Are they saying that because they are running for public office that they can’t be trusted anymore, they can’t perform they work impartially? Oh come on. You are not worthy of the trust of the people if you’re like that,” he said.

Enrile also assured that former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, the administration’s bet for president, could expect a fair treatment when the latter appears again in the hearing.

Roxas was one of the resource persons that Enrile requested Poe’s committee to invite in the hearing.

“Hindi ko sasabihin sa inyo ‘yung mga tatanungin ko (I will not tell you the questions I am going to ask); I hope you understand my position. I’m not trying anybody in public. I’m going to ask them questions,” said the opposition leader when asked why he wanted Roxas in the hearing.

“It doesn’t matter if he’s a candidate, I’m not going to deal with his candidacy. I’m going to ask about performance of duty while you’re in office,” he added.

Asked again if Roxas could expect a non-partisan conduct of the Mamasapano probe, Enrile said: “Wala akong interes sa pulitika. Kung manalo s’ya, well and good. Hindi ko isasama ‘yang mga bagay na ‘yan. Sinasabi ko na sa inyo, I’m no longer a politician. I’m only serving the country, I’m not the errand boy of anybody.”

(I am not interested in politics. If he wins, well and good. I will not include his (political aspirations) in the probe. I am telling you, I am no longer a politician. I’m only serving the country, I’m not the errand boy of anybody.) IDL