Coalition senators support term sharing

Senators belonging to the majority coalition gave assurance yesterday that the coalition is solidly behind the term-sharing agreement between Senate President Franklin Drilon and Sen. Rene Cayetano.

The assurance came following the publication of a report datelined Iloilo quoting Drilon as saying that Cayetano should have the backing of at least 13 senators before he takes over the Senate post next year.

Sen. Juan Flavier clarified that Drilon had no intention of staying on as Senate president for the full three-year term.

"He only meant to say that the majority had the numbers to stay that way, regardless of change of Senate leadership," Flavier said.

Under the agreement forged last July to avert a heated rivalry for the top Senate seat, Drilon and Cayetano would serve as Senate president for 18 months each, with Drilon serving the first 18 months. Drilon’s share of the term is supposed to end on Dec. 31. Neither Drilon nor Cayetano could have mustered the needed 13 votes had they persisted in running against each other, giving then Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. continued hold on the Senate presidency.

Last Wednesday, Drilon approached Cayetano, pointed to the news item and jestingly said that some sectors are trying to drive a wedge between them. Earlier, Drilon told The STAR that he would honor his commitment to Cayetano on term-sharing.

Drilon said that despite his commitment, there still has to be formal vote on the floor, with Cayetano needing 13 votes under Senate rules to be elected Senate president.

In July 1999, Drilon had a similar term-sharing agreement with then Senate President Pro Tempore Blas Ople following the death of Senate President Marcelo Fernan.

Ople gave way to Drilon at the appointed end of his term, but Drilon was not able to complete his term because he was unseated by Pimentel following the move to impeach then President Joseph Estrada.

Flavier said he had no doubts that Drilon would honor his part of the bargain.

"At tumultuous times like these, it is important that the coalition stays to help the administration in nation-building," he said.

Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., meanwhile, said that the tenuous two-vote edge of the majority, any division among them would prejudice the legislative program of the administration and the enactment of needed pieces of legislation.

"Even Senate President Drilon has to tread slowly because of the slim majority. That is why we have been slow in passing laws," Magsaysay noted.

He said he remembered signing an agreement before the start of the first session last July on the leadership structure of the Senate and that he would stand by that agreement.

"With the declaration of Senate President Drilon that he would abide by his commitment, I see no reason why Senator Cayetano could not ascend to the Senate presidency next year in accordance with the agreement, Magsaysay said.