Barbers: I will support revamp if Cayetano replaces Drilon

Sen. Robert Barbers said yesterday he would vote for a change in the Senate leadership only if it would be Sen. Renato Cayetano who would replace Senate President Franklin Drilon.

Barbers clarified that such a vote would be in accordance with the term-sharing agreement between Drilon and Cayetano, with the former’s share supposed to end last Dec. 31.

The agreed-upon turnover of leadership, however, was not implemented because Cayetano is still in the United States on advice of his doctors.

He is reportedly suffering from a serious viral ailment.

Barbers noted that during the contest for the Senate presidency, Cayetano agreed to give way to Drilon provided he would lead the Senate in the last 18 months of the 12th Congress.

‘I would support Senator Cayetano in implementing that agreement," Barbers said.

The minority, according to Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., would not vote for Cayetano because it was not a party to that agreement.

Barbers, however, pointed out that the minority never votes for the majority’s candidate for Senate president.

"The majority never consults with the minority on who should be the Senate president because that is the prerogative of the majority," he stressed.

Media reports earlier claimed that Barbers would junk Drilon in favor of Sen. Edgardo Angara. Angara has denied that there was any move to oust Drilon, while Barbers laughed off reports that he would side with the opposition on the Senate leadership issue.

"My only candidate to succeed Senator Drilon is Senator Cayetano; otherwise, Senator Drilon stays as Senate president," Barbers said.