By Raïssa Robles
Senate graft investigations are tedious to cover because they often take hours and hours and are hard to follow. And so I have taken to recording the important probes so I can listen to them long afterward to catch the nuances of what was being said.
Alan suggested that for the purpose of historical record and understanding, I should post the exact exchange that went on between Senators Estrada and Trillanes with Angelo Reyes over the latter’s alleged questionable acceptance of five million pesos monthly during his stint as military chief and 50 million pesos upon his retirement from that post.
I was not able to record the earlier exchange when Reyes first delivered his now famous “Was I greedy” speech. But here’s the rest:
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada:
I was disturbed by the question of General Reyes if indeed he instructed Col. Rabusa –
Gen. Reyes:
Ako po ba ay nagutos? Ako po ba ay ganid? Gusto kong malaman sa kanya. Importante ito. This thing is public. And I have my name to protect. I’ve served this government for a long time. [Did I give the order? Was I greedy? I want to know from him. This is important. This thing is public. and I have my name to protect. I’ve served this government for a long time.]
Sen. Antonio Trillanes:
General Reyes, General Reyes, if you’re so concerned about your name, sana nag-ayos kayo when you were in power. That’s it.
Gen. Reyes:
Senator Trillanes, ako po ay – if I may, if I may – [Senator Trillanes, I am – if I may, if I may]
Sen. Trillanes:
No you may not.
Senator Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Teofisto Guingona Jr. tried to insert himself in the discussion at this point. He said:
At any rate –
But Sen. Estrada butted in, telling Gen. Reyes:
Naalala ko tinanong mo kung meron kayong inutos na ilegal kay Col. Rabusa. Gen. Reyes, the issue here, hindi yung pagkasuwapaang. Hindi yung inutusan mo na gumawa. Ang isyu po rito, tinanggap niyo ba yung pera o hindi. Puwede nyo ba kong sagutin kung tinanggap niyo yung pera monthly? Kahit limang milyon?
[I recall you asked if you had ordered Col. Rabusa to do anything illegal. Gen. Reyes, the issue here is, it’s not about greed. It’s not about you having ordered it. The issue here is, did you accept the money or not. Can you answer me if you accepted money monthly? Even five million?]
General Reyes:
Hindi ko po natatandaan na tumatanggap ako nang ganyan. Pero itatanong ko po kay Col. Rabusa kung pupuwede po, through the Chairman…
[I cannot remember if I accepted that amount. But I will ask Col. Rabusa if it’s possible, through the Chairman…]
Sen. Estrada:
If Chairman Guingona will allow it.
Sen. Guingona:
To be fair, can I request Senator Estrada to continue hearing Col. Rabusa before asking General Reyes so we can hear all the facts?