DESPITE persistent rumors of ousting Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III on Sunday assured that majority of members still supports the leadership of the veteran legislator until it finishes the remaining three weeks left before Congress adjourns for the mid-term elections.
In a radio interview over DzBB, Sotto said that based on his reading, most of his colleagues are not amenable for any reorganization to take place and are content to have Enrile remain at the helm of the Senate.
However, in a separate interview, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV had brought up the Senate leadership issue by saying that at least 15 senators had agreed to change leadership in the Senate.
“Ibat ibang grupo sa Senado ay ready na, inaantay na lamang actually ang liberal party members,” Trillanes said in an interview.
The LP members in the Senate are Senators Franklin Drilon, Ralph Recto, Francis Pangilinan and Sergio Osmena III.
When asked if Enrile will remain as Senate President, Sotto said he will, “obviously.”
Besides this, the 15th Congress, under Enrile’s leadership, performed well compared to how the Senate performed during the 14th Congress.
And even if the verbal war between Enrile and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago was put on hold due to Santiago’s illness, Sotto assured that the Senate will not allow any intrigues to disrupt Senate to perform its mandated task.
“We won’t let those things affect us. Otherwise, we will incur the public’s ire,” Sotto said.