Lapid confirms signing resolution to replace Enrile

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Manuel “Lito” Lapid confirmed yesterday that he was among the senators who signed a resolution seeking the resignation of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

But Lapid stressed it was not an attempt to oust Enrile in retribution for the report of the Committee of the Whole seeking to censure Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. over the C-5 road controversy but to ensure continuity in the leadership of the Senate.

Lapid expressed his belief that the Senate President should not have an expired term, pointing out that Enrile himself is seeking re-election. 

Although Lapid expressed his belief that Villar is not guilty, he said other lawmakers, including members of the House of Representatives, could be equally guilty of making extra insertions in the national budget for their own agenda.

“Even those in the House, they could make a higher amendment in the budget, I myself would do that just to improve my constituency,” Lapid said in Filipino.

Lapid cited as an example the roads and bridges in his home province of Pampanga that were destroyed when Mt. Pinatubo erupted in 1991.

“Of course, I would make the effort to insert anything that my constituents would need to repair the roads and bridges there,” said the actor and former Pampanga governor.

Lapid likened his move to join the ouster of Enrile to that of Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno.

He said there must be a chief justice after the elections and a Senate president whose term has not expired. Enrile is seeking reelection in May while Puno is set to retire on May 17, on a crucial week after the country holds its first automated elections.

Lapid noted the brewing issue over the appointment of the next chief justice ahead of the retirement of Puno.

Legal opinions are against Mrs. Arroyo in making the appointment since the Constitution does not allow the President to make appointments during the remaining months of her term.

It was the first time that Lapid spoke up about the current issues at the Senate, saying he was not really used to talking before the media about pressing issues.

Enrile had tagged Lapid among those who wanted him removed as Senate President.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, an ally of Villar, also admitted to supporting the coup plot against Enrile.

Santiago admitted boycotting the session to prevent Enrile and the Senate majority from tackling the C-5 report of the Committee of the Whole.

In the report prepared by Enrile as chairman of the Committee of the Whole, Villar was recommended for censure and directed to pay back the government the P6.22-billion spent for the road project.

The report said Villar, a real estate developer, used his position as then Senate President to have the C-5 road project realigned to cover his real estate properties and increase their value.

After getting 12 senators to sign the report so it could be tackled on the floor, there was no quorum to have it deliberated.

Enrile blamed the allies of Villar for the lack of quorum and described their absence as a move to avoid the C-5 road project report from being discussed in public.

Santiago, for her part, admitted the boycott calls were made by Villar’s Nacionalista Party (NP) so they could protect their presidential candidate from being politically persecuted by his rivals in the Senate.

Santiago is running as a guest candidate of NP in her re-election bid.

Lapid, who is running for re-election under the administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD, joined Santiago in signing the resolution dismissing the case against Villar.

Lapid was also absent, along with other allies of Villar, when Enrile was about to present the report on the Senate floor last week.

Villar himself said his colleagues thought of replacing Enrile, but cited of the possibility of a failure of elections in May that would necessitate a succession of power, which means the Senate President must be there.

Enrile said the plot to unseat him and the boycott of the session were meant to derail his C-5 report.

Enrile said he was no longer considering Lapid as part of the majority in the Senate.

The C-5 issue has literally divided the Senate between Enrile and Villar.