Aquino, who is attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China, said the investigation should be completed immediately to find out if charges should be filed against anyone.
Asked if he relayed a request to put pressure on the Senate to stop the investigation, Aquino maintained he didn't.
"No. The very first sentence I said was ‘pinakiusapan akong sabihin ito, at least, nasabi ko na sa’yo.’ Hanggang doon na lang… ‘Yung parang tumotoo naman ako doon sa nakiusap ka, sabi mo ito, pinapasabi ito—sinabi ko," he said.
Aquino was asked about Senate President Franklin Drilon's revelation that the President told him to stop the investigation.
Aquino also said Binay, who celebrated his birthday Tuesday, enjoys presumption of innocence.
Aquino however clarified he was only the messenger--relaying the request made by the vice-president.
The said he respected the senate's independence, being a former senator himself.
"The way I phrased it with the Senate President… As you know, ‘nung nagkita kami ni Vice President—medyo some time back, we met in (Bahay) Pangarap—tapos ang… Ang sabi… Was it… But bottom line was ‘pwede bang pakiusapan mo si Frank na pabayaan na ‘yung dapat na processes…’ Nandiyan na lahat e, meaning, the Ombudsman to… In a way, ‘yung hindi… Okay. Ang ginagawa ng Senado is a legislative inquiry—well, an inquiry in aid of legislation," he said.
"‘Yung Ombudsman naman is tasked to ferret out if a crime was committed or not, and if a crime was committed, then to forward the case or to file the case in the Sandiganbayan. Kung nagkakamali ako sa terminology, humihingi ako ng paumanhin sa mga abogado. Pero, ‘yun na nga, so ang sa akin, sabi ko: ‘Frank, pinasasabi ito; sinabi ko lang sa’yo.’ Ang sinabi ko lang naman kay Vice ‘nung binanggit niya sa akin, sabi ko: ‘Nanggaling ako diyan, at saka ‘yung anak mo nandiyan, tanungin mo. ‘Yung Senado 24 kingdoms e, 24 separate kingdoms, so…’ Ang kaya ko lang diyan, kako, basta iparating ko ‘yung pananaw mo; iparating ko ‘yung sinasabi mo, hanggang doon lang," he added.
Aquino said Drilon reminded him that. "‘Alam niyo naman kung paano ang kalakalan dito sa Senado na separate kingdoms nga.’ You’re equals—‘yung, ‘di ba, may phrase: ‘The Senate President is primus inter pares.’ Pero sa Senado, parang ang emphasized ‘yung ‘pares’—equal kayong lahat."
The President said he is neutral in the investigation."I think part of my job here is to be parang neutral eh, ‘di ba? At the end of the day, there will be evidence, one-way or the other, and then to ensure that all of the processes are carried out, ‘di ba? My oath says to defend and uphold the Constitution and other laws. So, at some point in time, nagkakaroon ng formal na complaints and I have to ensure that everybody does what they’re doing or what they are supposed to do. Walang suppression of anything; walang exaggeration of anything. ‘Yung ‘as is’ and ‘where is’. Ano ba ang ebidensya? Does it support the contention or does it not? Then, ‘pag mayroong pinipressure doon sa mga kailangang magtrabaho, e ‘di ibu-buttress ko sila, for them to be able to do their jobs."
Asked why he even acted as messenger, Aquino responded, "Sila ang magdedesisyon eh. Has it gotten to the point that it has matured to go into the more formal processes? Has it… Parang hindi pa ba naabot ‘yung puntong ‘yon? Sila rin ang magde-decide. Nakaabot na ba o hindi nakaabot? Siguro ‘yun ang punto. So, sa akin, tingin nitong nakikiusap naabot na ‘yung punto na dapat, ‘di ba, kung meron man pumunta na doon sa formal. Itong ganito parang… Parang natapos na ‘yung silbi ‘nung inquiry. "
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
