http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=648276&publicationSubCategoryId=63MANILA, Philippines - Linked to several coup attempts many years ago, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile is again reportedly at the center of a coup – but this time with him at the receiving end.
President Aquino’s allies and members of the Liberal Party (LP) are reportedly plotting to remove Enrile as Senate president.
“I am used to coups. I don’t know where that story came from but there is no need for them to do any coup d’etat. All they have to do is to tell me, here we have 13 numbers… and I will give it (leadership) up right away,” Enrile said.
He said the selection of the Senate president is a numbers game and that he doesn’t have to check on whom he can count for support.
“I’m not going to do loyalty check. I think I will demean the members of the Senate if I’m going to conduct a loyalty check. For what? I told them before when they approached me to become the Senate president that if I have become remiss (of my duties) over and over, anytime if you want to change me, you’re free to change me. So, there’s no need for me do to any loyalty check because if I’m going to do it, that’s means I’m clinging to the position,” he said.
‘Very tedious job’
At 86 years old, Enrile said he is ready to give up this “very tedious job.”
He tried to make light of the issue and even joked about it to officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Reserve Command, who paid a courtesy call at his office yesterday and presented him with a plaque of appreciation for his role in the approval of the awarding of the first ever Reservist Medal.
“At least, if I am kicked out tomorrow, I will have a medal,” he told the officers.
The officers who paid him a visit were Brig. General Juanito Dalmas, commanding general of the AFP Reserve Command; Brig. Gen. Joseph Sevilla, Brig. Gen. Eduardo Lacanienta, Brig. Gen. Oscar de Leon and Commodore Antonio Antonino Gascon and Col. Erik Espina.
Cordial with Palace
Enrile said he does not believe that President Aquino had a hand in the alleged ouster move against him.
“I don’t think Malacañang would even bother to involve in anything like that. For what? As far as my relationship with Malacañang ( is concerned), whether during the time of President Gloria (Arroyo) and during this time of President Aquino, I have not changed my attitude towards Malacañang,” he said.
“My degree of cooperation is the same and I’m not doing this because I don’t ingratiate myself to anybody for power. I have had enough power in my life, you know, I’m doing it for country. We cannot afford to be bickering, to be fighting in this country anymore. There are people who are waiting for us to work together and serve them,” Enrile added.
Liberal Party senators led by Finance committee chair Sen. Franklin Drilon have vehemently denied any LP ouster plot against Enrile.
Apart from Drilon, senators Francis Pangilinan, Teofisto Guingona III and Francis Pangilinan form the LP bloc in the Senate.
While Sen. Sergio Osmeña is an ally of Aquino, Enrile noted that Osmeña is his own “independent republic” while Pangilinan and Recto are members of the Wednesday Group composed of Senators Villar and Joker Arroyo and former Vice President Noli de Castro.
“(The) allies of the President… they are the ones initiating this? They can have it if they want. I don’t know if they have the numbers. If the Palace wants to change me which I doubt because I have not felt any such effort, my relationship with the Palace is very cordial,” Enrile said.
“But if they want to have their own man here, sure, by all means. I will give it to them on a silver platter,” Enrile said.
Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said he only heard about the alleged ouster plot from a lawyer-friend.
He approached Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. but the latter claimed to have no knowledge of it.
Zubiri said Sen. Edgardo Angara also belied reports that there was a coup brewing against Enrile.
Majority leader Sen. Vicente Sotto II branded the reports as rumors. “I’m not aware of any moves,” he said.
“That’s a complete surprise! I haven’t heard anything. It’s unthinkable that they are initiating because their terms are both ending. And they don’t have the numbers,” Sen. Loren Legarda said, referring to Angara and Villar.
Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada also denied that Enrile would be replaced.
“They don’t have the numbers. Senate President Enrile has been working like a bull. He is always there everyday, doing his job,” he said.
Meanwhile, Malacañang distanced itself from reports that it was maneuvering to have Drilon replace Enrile as Senate chief.
“It’s something internal. It’s an exercise in democracy. We’ll see who becomes the next Senate president,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told Palace reporters.
“It is something that can be resolved entirely by the Senate and we don’t have to say anything if there will indeed be some changes. It is something that can go on and that is entirely within the purview of the senators,” she said. With Delon Porcalla
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My goodness gracious. this guy is already 86 years old and still going at it. i always wondered how, n the midst of a failing body, the human mind could have the audacity to cling onto the delightful thought of ambition and prestige.
True, the spirit really is stronger than the flesh.
