Pangilinan backs out of senate presidency

The Philippine Senate Building

Contrary to Senator Kiko Pangilinan’s previous statement, that he will fulfill what he promised the Filipino people, which is to run for the Senate Presidency, win or lost, he withdrew his bid, a day before the Senate elects its president. Following speculations that he did not muster his 13 votes, Pangilinan’s withdrawal meant, the race is down between Enrile and Villar. However, Villar and his camp, to this date, have not made any public pronuncements on this, paving the possiblity that Manong Johnny may win unopposed, today.

Sen. Kiko Pangilinan

 There are some reports that Villar met with Enrile in the latter’s house last Thursday. But while Enrile insists that there was nothing political or anything that have something to do with the race to the senate presidency was discussed, the two talked about Villar’s concern on the possibility that his C5 Road controversy will be revived in the 15th Congress. I bet Villar was so pleased to hear Enrile’s response, to wit;  

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile

“I told him that as far as I’m concerned that since this ethics case [did not prosper in the last Congress], I think we cannot take that up in the next Congress. Some of the people who heard it are gone,”. Since there may be some senators who are still interested in knowing the facts about the ethics case, Enrile said he suggested “it’s better for us to archive it”.

Senators Tito Sotto and Gringo Honasan

But whatever transpired in that meeting, it resulted to Villar camp’s another meeting, guested by Sotto and Honasan, which allegedly came up with a consensus to support Enrile. It seems to me, that Villar is more concerned about his C5 controversy, rather than becomig a senate president, but that’s beside the point.

Senators Villar and Enrile

The big question now, given this is correct, who will compose the majority in the Senate? Im afraid, aside from the independent senators, and LP members who will vote for Enrile, also the group of Villar’s Nacionalista party.

But as to who would comprise the new minority group? It is still a puzzle. A person who ran and lost for the Senate presidency race automatically becomes the minority leader along with those who supported him or her.

The Battle for Senate Presidency: Is it going to be Pangilinan? Villar? . . . or Enrile?

As July 26 draws near, the country’s politicians in the Upper Chamber become more and more restless, on how they cradle their race towards the Senate Presidency. 

Sen. Kiko Pangilinan

New developments arise daily as our Senators change their minds, like they change their clothes. Surprisingly, aside from contenders Kiko Pangilinan and Manny Villar, come the name of Johnny Enrile, who, given the scenario is true, will most likely, to retain his position. By law,  thirteen votes are needed in order to win the Senate’s highest ranking position.

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile

According to Enrile, supporters of Pangilinan, whom he refused to name, met with him last Tuesday and expressed their intention to support him since Pangilinan is unlikely to get his 13 votes in order to snatch the top post. I don’t know who among Drilon, Recto, Guingona, Osmena, Escudero and Trillanes (in prison), were he referring to, and reportedly assured him that they could muster the 13 votes for him.

Sen. Manny Villar

Also, there was late indication that the seven-member independent bloc of Senator Angara is now sympathetic to Enrile. They are composed of Zubiri, Revilla, Lapid, Honasan, Sotto, Legarda and Angara himself. Although I have doubts with Senator Legarda to vote for Enrile, because of her “pinagsamahan”, with Manny Villar, during the last election, of which they both lost, I am certain of Senators Sotto, Revilla, Honasan and to include, Estrada and mostly likely Senators Arroyo and Marcos, to vote for Enrile, plus Enrile himself. That makes the vote count up to 11, in favor of JPE. Now, the big question is, who among Pangilinan and Villar’s allies, will complete the missing 2 votes? Will the race end up in favor of the reluctant 86 year old Senator, who said, the job is tiring and time consuming? Or Pangilinan will make his way to win? Or Villar? Who among them, will rise to become the third, in line of succession for the presidency, behind the Vice President and in front of the Speaker of the House of Representatives? We will all find out, come Monday.