Drilon mum on Senate presidency

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Franklin Drilon yesterday downplayed his being a strong contender for the Senate presidency in the coming 16th Congress.

Speaking with reporters at the Team PNoy headquarters in Makati City, Drilon reiterated that the Senate presidency is a “gift” of at least 13 senators or a majority to one of their colleagues.

“There has to be an election under a new Congress. Now, whoever is supported by 13 senators will become the president,” he said.

Drilon, Sen. Sergio Osmeña III, and reelected Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano were among those reported to be strong candidates for Senate president.

However, as a former Senate president and with the backing of the administration, Drilon appears to have the upper hand.

He has neither confirmed nor denied his intention to seek the post.

“I don’t want to be presumptuous. Certainly, I will wait for the will of my colleagues. We have no way of telling whom they will support until the sessions open (in July),” he said.

Drilon said every one of the 24 senators are qualified to become Senate president and should be considered as a force to contend with regardless of age or political affiliation.

As soon as the 15th Congress adjourns on June 7, the term of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile ends.

When the 16th Congress opens on July 22, a new Senate president will be elected as the first order of business.

“The 24 senators have every right to aspire for the Senate presidency. I am not surprised by all those theories. This is something that every senator will have to consider,” Drilon said on different strategies that aspirants would take to secure the top post.

However, one of the new senators does not agree that Drilon would be a shoo-in for the Senate presidency.

Senator-elect JV Ejercito Estrada said there is no guarantee that Drilon would become the next Senate president just because he belongs to the ruling Liberal Party (LP).

For one, Ejercito noted that there would be only four LP members in the Senate in the 16th Congress – Drilon and Senators Ralph Recto, Teofisto Guingona III and newly elected Paolo Benigno Aquino IV.

“I think even if Team PNoy won most of the seats, they cannot be sure because Bam Aquino is the only LP there,” Ejercito said over ANC yesterday. “Frank Drilon cannot be a shoo-in. He should not think that he would be a shoo-in as Senate president.”

On the possibility of Cayetano being elected as Senate president, Ejercito said he considers the Nacionalista Party senator as a friend and “we’ll always keep that friendship.”

“Frank Drilon really gave us a hard time in the elections so I would definitely not go for him,” he said.

Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, who is allied with Enrile, admitted that the election of a new leader of the Senate is inevitable with Team PNoy dominating the midterm election.

Estrada said that he would call for a meeting with the so-called “macho bloc” in the Senate and newly elected Senator Nancy Binay to discuss who they would support as the next Senate president.

The macho bloc is composed of Enrile, Estrada, Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III and reelected Sen. Gregorio Honasan.

New Senate

Senators allied with Enrile admitted that the change of leadership is inevitable once the 16th Congress starts in July.

Estrada and Sotto explained that the upcoming 16th Congress will have a new composition of senators, and that each will have to participate in designating its next leader.

“Given the 9-3 in favor of Team PNoy, a change of leadership might be inevitable,” said Estrada.

It was Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago who revealed over the weekend that Enrile is on his way out since a majority of the senators now belong to the administration bloc. Honasan expressed belief that the issues of the day such as poverty, education and national security would not distinguish political party lines.

He added that it remains to be seen whether the administration coalition would remain intact after the elections and all senators allied with President Aquino would support a single candidate.

“I don’t think anybody is speaking with certainty. These are opinions of senior senators, which we need to hear. Ultimately, we will have a reorganization at the start of the 16th Congress,” he said.

On the possibility of having an administration- dominated Senate, Honasan expressed concern over the checks and balances between the Senate and the executive branch. “So what will happen on checks and balances, responsible fiscalizing?”

He defended Enrile against criticisms that he would obstruct the legislative agenda of President Aquino. “That is not the way Senator Enrile is, he does not obstruct. He decides on merits or the lack of merits of a proposed measure,” he said. – With Christina Mendez, Sheila Crisostomo