Enrile forgives Angara for Senate "coup" try

CEBU, Philippines - Senatorial candidate Juan Ponce Enrile said he has already forgiven fellow senator Edgardo Angara for the reported attempt to oust him as Senate president.

Enrile, who is running under the Partido ng Masang Pilipino told reporters yesterday that he was taken aback by the attempt since Angara is his fraternity brother.

He also said that he no longer considers Angara and senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Loren Legarda and Lito Lapid as members of the majority bloc following their alleged attempt to oust him.

He claimed he still enjoys the support of 12 senators —enough to keep him on as Senate president.

He said that Villar was behind the plot against him in order to prevent the Senate from taking up the committee report and accused him of placing allies in control of the chamber in time for the canvassing of votes for president and vice president to be cast in the May 10 elections.

He also explained why the senator should be held accountable for diverting the C5 extension road to benefit his real estate business.

Aside from seeking to censure Villar for unethical conduct, the committee also asks that Villar return P6.2 billion that his companies gained from the C5 project.

 “The coming president should be bold enough to stand before the people for scrutiny of misusing the money of the people…It’s my obligation to continue the investigation kung ano ang katotohanan,” he said.

But he said that what was important is that he has set aside grievances for the benefit of Senate and the country.

As a senator, Enrile said that he has helped Cebu through the rehabilitation of Cebu-Toledo Wharf worth P30M and has given financial assistance to local government units of Liloan, Sogod and Camotes, among others.

“All campuses of Cebu State College of Science and Technology have been transformed into a university…and they are now called Cebu Technological University,” he said.

He said that he is against telephone companies that deny consumer’s rights to better and cheaper service.

The passage of Senate Bill No. 3465, which gives regulatory powers to the National telecommunications Commission, he said, should be passed, citing reports that local telecommunication companies are still being plagued by “vanishing load” and text scam problems.

He also urged the immediate approval of the anti-trust law to protect consumers from greedy oil companies.

He said that he will push for the passing of the Electricity Rate Reduction Act of 2009, which directs the reduction of the government share from indigenous energy resources in order to achieve parity of tax treatment, lower commodity price and eventually reduce the cost of electricity.

If elected, Enrile said that he supports amending the Philippine Constitution because of its “loopholes”.

Meanwhile, he said that his running under presidential candidate Joseph Estrada is a gesture of loyalty.

“I am under his party…I don’t transfer one party to another for political convenience,” he said.

Enrile has devoted almost two decades to public service in the Philippine Legislature, both as a senator for three terms and a congressional representative for one term. — Marjun A. Baguio/BRP   (FREEMAN NEWS)