Revilla returns; Senate back to ‘square one’

The return to the country yesterday of ailing Sen. Ramon Revilla has brought the Senate’s political configuration "back to square one," or its state before the June 3 failed opposition coup, Senate President Franklin Drilon and Sen. Joker Arroyo said yesterday.

Meanwhile, Sen. Edgardo Angara asserted that the present 12-12 Senate division would not lead to a constitutional crisis because the "new majority" would support worthwhile legislation from Malacañang and back efforts that benefit the Philippines and the people.

Revilla, who went to the US on April 18, arrived yesterday on board a Philippine Airlines flight from Los Angeles where he had spinal surgery at the Stanford University Medical Center. His absence reduced the administration’s 12 votes in the Senate, excluding Drilon.

Drilon said Revilla’s return "clearly shows that the opposition does not have the majority at the Senate."

He said, "It is 12-12 and therefore the status quo will be observed. They (opposition senators) are saying that the president cannot vote, that’s not correct."

On the other hand, Arroyo said it was "heroic" on the part of Revilla to come home when he could have stayed and recuperated in the US until July 21. Drilon said Revilla would not join the caucus of the administration senators scheduled last night because he had to rest and that primary consideration should be Revilla’s health.

Drilon described Revilla as "looking healthy."

He rejected allegations that Malacañang and the administration senators pressured Revilla to come home early to regain a majority in Senate. "This is a very cruel and an un-Christian observation. Senator Revilla’s health is our primary concern and we will never sacrifice his health for any reason or price," Drilon said.

He said Bong Revilla, Jose Marie Bautista in real life, was the one who informed him about the arrival of his father.

It was the decision of Senator Revilla and his family for him to come home after his doctors assured that he could continue his convalescence in the country, Drilon said.

Arroyo said the opposition’s moves had now gone for naught because the laws and the Senate rules were in favor of the administration coalition.

"Sen. Ramon Revilla returned, ailing, weak. He did so anyway at great pain and sacrifice to himself just to perform a duty, namely: to put an end to the tiresome political zarzuela in the Senate," Arroyo said in a statement.

"But the damage has been done – it is a damaged Senate in the eyes of the people, brought about by the crass opportunism of the opposition leadership who, taking immoral advantage of the absence of an ailing colleague nonsensically moved for a half-baked reorganization – a change in the committee but allowing the Senate President to stay," Arroyo said.