MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Franklin Drilon on Wednesday confirmed that Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile will report at the Senate on Monday and will come back as a Senate minority leader.
Drilon said Enrile will return to his post as Senate minority leader replacing Sen. Tito Sotto, the acting minority leader while Enrile was detained.
“Dahil si Senator Sotto ay "acting" Minority Leader lamang, kaya pagbalik ni Senator Enrile babalik po siya sa kanyang posisyon bilang minority leader,” Drilon said in an interview with Bombo Radyo.
“Ang sabi po ng aming minority leader ay sa Lunes daw ay mag-rereport na si Enrile sa session hall, dahilan po sa binigyan siya ng bail ng Korte Suprema at ngayong araw - sa pagkalam ko - ay hihintayin sa Sandiganbayan to actually post the bail,” he added.
Drilon said that Enrile’s return is helpful as his experiences will aid and guide them in scrutinizing significant laws. He said Enrile will be helpful in discussing the Bangsamoro Basic Law.
“Malawak na po ang karanasan ni Senator Enrile, at titingnan niya po iyan nang husto,sa palagay ko at sasali siya sa debate to come up with a better legislation,” Drilon said.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court allowed Enrile to post bail for P1 million subject to the terms and conditions to be specified by the court in its order.
Enrile has been detained and is currently under “hospital arrest” at the Philippine National Police General Hospital at Camp Crame, Quezon City. He faces charges of graft and plunder related to the P10-billion pork barrel scam.