Senators confident JPE will keep Senate leadership

PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, Philippines  – Several senators are confident that Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile would remain in his post amid rumors about his impending ouster.

Sen. Francis Escudero yesterday said he does not believe that there would be a change in leadership at the Senate.

“There is no issue against Senate President Enrile and they don’t have the numbers to remove him,” Escudero said during the Christmas party in Barangay Concepcion here where he was the guest speaker.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson also said that Enrile is secure in his post until the Senate is convened for the 16th Congress in July next year, following the election of the new set of 12 senators in May.

“That is not a question of leadership but a question of issue.  I continuously support him. Even Malacañang said this is not an issue,” Lacson said in a radio interview yesterday.

Lacson said Congress will have about a month to work once it resumes session after the Christmas break on Jan. 21.

Congress will again be in recess in February for the campaign for the May 2013 elections.

“We will have sessions for a month. It does not make sense that you rock the boat at this time,” said Lacson. “The change of leadership will happen after the elections.”

Lacson said the May elections will also be a factor in the Senate leadership since the new batch of senators will form a new political landscape, depending on their alliances.

Lacson noted that candidates of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), where Enrile is among the top three leaders, along with President Estrada and Vice President Jejomar Binay, are ranking high in the surveys.

“UNA bets are ranking high. So I don’t think that he will be moved from the Senate leadership,” Lacson said.

The UNA bets who are expected to join Enrile’s ranks if they win are his son, Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile; Estrada’s son San Juan Rep. Juan Victor Estrada; former senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Richard Gordon and Ernesto Maceda; and Binay’s daughter Nancy. 

Sen. Gregorio Honasan is a re-electionist under the UNA banner.

Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada had earlier said he will continue to support the leadership of Enrile.

“I don’t think Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile will be replaced but if ever that will happen, if he goes down, I will go down with Manong Johnny,” Estrada said.

Earlier, Sen. Edgardo Angara said that it would just be a matter of time before a new Senate President would be installed.

Angara said several senators do not like Enrile’s leadership style and want him replaced, possibly by Sen. Franklin Drilon.

“The young senators are different now. You cannot just dictate on them. You have to be able to convince them with your arguments,” Angara said, without naming names.

He said things are not okay because Enrile opposed important priority measures and will be leading the opposition in the May elections.

But Malacañang said it does not intend to rock the boat in the Senate by espousing a leadership change.

The Palace even cited its good relationship with Enrile despite his strong opposition to the sin tax measure and the RH bill.

Country above all else

Enrile, for his part, said he will continue to have a good working relationship with Malacañang, especially on important legislative measures that need congressional approval.

– With Christina Mendez