Enrile unfazed by possible ouster over RH, sin tax

MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile has shrugged off talks that his stance against the Reproductive Health (RH) bill and the recently ratified sin tax reform bill might cause him the Senate presidency.

Speaking over radio dzBB, Enrile yesterday said he is at the disposal of his fellow senators.

Enrile reminded his critics, particularly Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, that he has established good rapport with Malacañang, as well as with President Aquino’s allies at the Senate since he retained the top Senate post in 2010.

“I don’t have a problem with my relationship with President (Aquino),” he said.

“There is none that I know of. I don’t know if his allies have a problem with me. I don’t think the President has anything to do with it. Even if he does, I will respect his decision.”

Enrile said he did not request Aquino to back him up as Senate president shortly after Aquino assumed office in 2010.

“As respect to the President, I sought an appointment with him (about the Senate presidency),” he said.

“I told the President that I am being pitted as Senate president. Then I asked him who are the senators he is comfortable with and those not.”

Enrile vowed during the meeting that the Senate under his leadership would support the administration and allow key allies to corner relevant committees.

“For the sake of your administration, I am willing to give the committee on appropriation and ways and means, Blue Ribbon to men of your choice,” he said. “I respect the President, but with due respect to him, I am already supported by more than 20 senators when I went to him.”

As a compromise, he gave key committees to Aquino’s allies, with Sen. Franklin Drilon cornering the finance committee that reviews the annual budget; Sen. Teofisto Guingona the Blue Ribbon committee; Sen. Sergio Osmeña the committee on energy; and Sen. Francis Pangilinan getting the Senate committee on agriculture, Enrile said.

Another Liberal Party ally, Sen. Ralph Recto held on to the Senate committee on ways and means until he was forced to resign amid pressure of setting up a higher target for the additional taxes for tobacco and alcohol. Drilon was appointed acting ways and means chairman.

In the same radio interview, Enrile lashed out at Santiago for spinning another oust move issue against him.

Enrile said if not for Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. of the Nacionalista Party, Santiago would not be part of the majority.

“I had the support of non-Liberals in 2010, I gave them most important committees to help the President,” he said.

“I always help the President for the good of the country. If I have a different position, sorry I have to differ with him (Aquino). I hope he understands that.”

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, a re-electionist, is also working for his ouster, he added.

On the issue that he returned the Christmas gift of Santiago, Enrile said he was merely reciprocating her feelings toward him.

“She said her relationship with me is ice-cold, and that I was her godfather as a matter of status... so she does not see me as a friend,” he said.

“I thought her staff made a mistake of sending a gift to me, so I sent it back... besides, if she thinks we are not close and that I am an ordinary person... and she said that her relationship with me is like ice, why will I force myself to be her friend. I am used to being alone in my life.”

Enrile said he has already accepted the cooling of his relationship with Santiago.

“If she does not even want me as a friend, why else will I think of her as a friend?” he said.

He gave Santiago an opportunity to work with him when he was justice minister, he added.

Enrile said he had grudges with Santiago through the years when she was member of the Cabinet.

“If she thinks she is insulted, or I insulted her, she knows what to do,” he said.