Villar takes over Senate presidency

The Senate will have a new leadership when Congress opens its Third Regular Session today.

Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. will take over the Senate presidency from Franklin Drilon under a term-sharing agreement they forged in 2004.

Sen. Manuel Roxas expressed high hopes for the incoming Senate leader, whom he urged to "live up to the grand tradition of preserving the independence and integrity of the Philippine Senate as done in the past by previous Senate presidents."

Villar has "big shoes to fill" when he takes over the Senate leadership from Drilon, especially in preserving the legislature’s independence, Roxas said.

"Outgoing Senate President Drilon must be credited with safeguarding the integrity of the Senate as an institution. On matters of legislative and political import, he pursued a policy of critical collaboration, making sure that the Constitution was upheld at all times," Roxas said in a statement issued to the media yesterday.

Citing Drilon’s predecessors, "our outgoing Senate President has proven himself a staunch and consistent defender of the Constitution, and a leader who was able to preserve the independence of the Senate during some of the most difficult periods of our national life," Roxas added. "I am sure he will continue to do so as a member of the Senate."

Drilon gave assurances last weekend that he will honor his term-sharing agreement with Villar and there will be a smooth change in the Senate leadership when the 13th Congress opens its sessions today.

Drilon will nominate Villar for the Senate presidency. Villar is expected to be elected by acclamation.

Even if Villar is assured of at least 13 votes, opposition senators are reportedly planning to nominate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. as part of "tradition" to give Villar a token "fight." Pimentel retains his post even if he sure to lose.

Drilon struck a term-sharing deal with Villar after the 2004 elections to avoid creating a split in the administration majority. Drilon was then allied with President Arroyo.

Under his agreement with Villar, Drilon will serve during the first and second regular sessions of the 13th Congress. Villar will begin his term this month.

Drilon said he and Villar agreed on a sharing scheme to keep the peace in the Senate and avoid disrupting the passage of necessary legislation.

Malacañang expects relations with the Senate to be smooth with Villar — an Arroyo ally — at the helm.

Drilon earlier said he was confident that he is entrusting the Senate leadership "to a person, whom the record shows, is far more than equal to it."

Drilon will bow out after five years and seven months as Senate president, the longest to hold that post since the 1986 people power revolt. Jovito Salonga, the first post-1986 Senate president, has the second longest stint at four years and four months.

Tributes

Meanwhile, former President Corazon Aquino led a grateful nation in paying tribute to Drilon yesterday.

"Today, I join the Filipino people in expressing our heartfelt gratitude to Senate President Franklin Drilon, an outstanding public servant," Mrs. Aquino said in a prepared statement.

"As Senate President, he worked hard to ensure that the upper chamber continues to be a vanguard of democracy. I hope his sterling achievements as a public official will help to inspire more Filipinos to serve our country," Mrs. Aquino said.

Other political leaders also joined in paying tribute to Drilon, who is scheduled to deliver his valedictory address tomorrow morning, when Congress resumes its session.

In a statement prepared by Drilon’s camp, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, president of the United Opposition, was also quoted as lauding Drilon’s leadership of the Senate that "opposed the repressive policies and authoritarian tendencies of President Arroyo and exposed massive corruption in government."

Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan, the national chairman of the Liberal Party, cited Drilon’s penchant for relentlessly demanding transparency and accountability among public officials.

"He has served the Filipino people well through his efforts to promote good governance, economic development as well as transparency and accountability in our government. His leadership will be missed," Pangilinan said, adding that Drilon was his "mentor" in the Senate.

Senate President Pro Tempore Juan Flavier invoked a personal touch in his tribute to Drilon. "From a small man to a big man. Thank you, bossing, for making me look intelligent."