Interview Transcript of Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile in SolarTV News.
CJE: I cast a ‘yes’ vote. I believe that the issue has been deliberated upon enough. It was already high time for us to vote and despite the pressures from many quarters I took it upon myself after reading the final version that was submitted to us several times over the course of the last few days.
I was hard-pressed to find anything that I really did not agree on with perhaps with the exception of that provision that classified the contraception and the special medicines. But everything else I tended to agree with. And to me, it was basically a no-brainer.
For me, it boils down to a single provision and single issue, really—that is giving the woman the right to choose for herself what is best for her. And that is the reason why I cast a yes vote despite having had a position over the last year of being against the measure.
Q: Can you tell us how your father probably feels about this?
CJE: I have the proof on my phone. He has been trying to call me since earlier this evening. And I think the last call was yesterday at 10-11pm, asking about how it was going and I said: “It is very tight.” And if either side wins, it would be in the single digits. And he says: “Which way are you going to vote?” And I said: “Well Dad, I have thought about it quite carefully. I have read the bill several times and talked to people on both sides. I think I will cast a yes vote.”
Q: And what did he say?
CJE: Well, he said he will respect my position. And he believes that whatever position I take it’s the right position and we let it at that.
Q: Some people might be thinking that is this your way of distancing yourself from your father a bit? Is this 2013 in mind? What is this?
CJE: You can call it in so many ways, really. I mean, like I was telling my colleagues either way I vote, I will get hit. But I have to vote. I could not abstain on this issue. No, it’s not because I want to differentiate from my father. In this particular instance, we have different views. And there may be a point sometime in the future that we will agree on an issue.
But for this particular issue, he and I actually have been discussing this for the last several months. And I have always told him that I am always leaning towards supporting it. But you know, there is no compelling reason other than my faith.
And I still consider myself a Christian despite having voted for this measure. But I basically put myself in the position of my three daughters and what sort of country would they want for themselves and their daughters—should they have in the future. And I believe that this is that step in that right direction.
Q: What did your three daughters say?
CJE: My three daughters are very supportive of this measure. And I think that this is a generational thing. I believe that their generation believes that this particular measure is necessary. And this is aside from having gone the rounds of 73 provinces and talking to people down to the barangay level regarding this measure. This basically is also for my three children. It is a very personal vote.
Q: Are you foreseeing that this could be a plus point for you in 2013 for the elections?
CJE: It could go either way. You could see that the House is basically divided down the middle. And obviously if you cast your vote for one side, the other side will disagree with you and perhaps we will see come 2013.
Q: How did you cast your vote earlier?
CJE: Thumbs up—under the”Ponce Enrile”. People were expecting it under the “Enrile” but it was “Ponce Enrile”.
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