00:00I stand my ground.
00:03Ngayon kung taturin nyo kung sino sila,
00:06abangan nyo ang susunod na kabanata.
00:10I stand my ground
00:11because what is at stake here
00:13goes far beyond my personal circumstances.
00:16What is at stake here
00:18is the independence of the Senate.
00:21This institution must never become vulnerable
00:25to external pressure.
00:27It must remain free
00:28from political coercion,
00:31free from undue influence,
00:34and free from any scheme
00:36designed to weaken its constitutional role
00:39as a co-equal and independent branch of government.
00:44If this is the price
00:46I must pay for the decisions I have made
00:49and the principles I have chosen to uphold,
00:52then I am prepared to face the consequences,
00:56however difficult they may be,
00:59especially for my family.
01:02I will not be broken by accusations,
01:05nor will I yield to political pressure.
01:07I will meet these charges head-on,
01:09defend my honor through due process,
01:12and place my faith in the truth.
01:14I will be proceeding now
01:17to the CIDG
01:19to voluntarily surrender myself.
01:21Thank you forever.
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