Drilon will honor deal with Villar

Senate President Franklin Drilon assured his colleagues in the chamber yesterday that he would abide by an agreement to share his remaining three-year term with Sen. Manuel Villar Jr.

Reacting to a statement of Sen. Joker Arroyo that he and the Liberal Party "want to have their cake and eat it too," Drilon said the term-sharing agreement with Villar is anchored on mutual trust and a desire to set aside political aspirations.

"So that the Senate majority bloc can move as one in vigorously pursuing the legislative agenda needed to address the looming fiscal crisis in the country," he said.

"While I admire the maverick posturing of my esteemed colleague, Sen. Joker Arroyo on many important political issues, I am afraid his characteristic cynicism can sometimes get the better of him," Drilon said.

Arroyo said when Villar assumes the Senate presidency in 2006, Drilon will announce that he would honor his commitment.

"But his fellow Liberals, Biazon and Roxas, will say that since the agreement is personal to the two of them, they are not bound by it, thereby effectively derailing the term-sharing agreement," he said.

"That ploy ensures the continued stay of Drilon in the Senate presidency after two years and effectively sidelines Villar."

Arroyo said Drilon’s Liberal partymates, Senators Rodolfo Biazon and Manuel Roxas II are complaining that the senators were not consulted about the term-sharing agreement.

"The song-and-dance play of the Liberals is distressing," he said.

Arroyo said Drilon has not answered the question whether he as LP chairman can make a commitment that his partymates can ignore.

"Why the double standard, 100 percent cooperation when it comes to electing him (Drilon), and not 100 percent cooperation when it comes to Villar," he said.

"One standard for the 10 non-Liberals, and another standard for the four Liberals. Mr. Drilon expects full cooperation from the non-Liberals and would be happy if the Liberals do not cooperate in 2006. Very sweet, but the slip is showing."

Under the term-sharing agreement, Drilon will serve as Senate president during the 1st and 2nd regular sessions of the 13th Congress, which opens on Monday.

On the other hand, Villar will head the Senate on the 3rd regular session in 2006. — Jose Rodel Clapano