Drilon expected to keep post

Three senators — two from the administration and one from the opposition — expressed confidence yesterday that Senate President Franklin Drilon will keep his post until Congress adjourns next year.

Pro-administration Senators Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and Francis Pangilinan said they are confident Drilon will finish his term as Senate President despite persistent rumors that some of his colleagues in the chamber are plotting his ouster.

Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III, on the other hand, said the opposition is prepared to ensure "mutual cooperation and coordination" with Drilon in the remaining six months of his term.

"Changing Drilon from his post is highly improbable at this time. The expression of supports earlier made by opposition Senator John Osmeña and Minority Leader Tito Sotto are good indications. Drilon has been objective in his leadership," Magsaysay said.

Magsaysay denied any movement to oust Drilon. "At the maximum, the Senate only has three months left to do its job. We will have the third and last regular sessions of the 12th Congress on July 28. There are six months left, from August to February next year. But in October, we will be in vacation again and the Christmas break in December," Magsaysay said.

Given the remaining time, Magsaysay said the majority wants a status quo in the Senate leadership.

For his part, Pangilinan maintained his position that any move to oust Drilon from the Senate leadership will have to secure a total of 13 votes.

Pangilinan stressed he would continue to support Drilon’s leadership.

But while denying that he was conducting a loyalty check on his colleagues, Drilon met with Sotto to ensure "mutual cooperation and coordination" between the majority and the minority blocs.

Drilon refused to reveal what agreement he reached with the minority leader but political observers viewed the meeting as an indication that he was afraid of being ousted from his post.

Sotto confirmed to The STAR that Drilon met him Friday evening at the Shangri-La Hotel Makati where they "seriously" discussed the arrangements between the administration and opposition blocs in the Senate.

Sotto said they agreed to map out plans to make the Senate "productive" in the last five months of the 12th Congress.

"It was the first serious meetings that we had. Frank and I agreed to lay out whatever good that we could do in the (third) and last regular session of the 12th Congress," Sotto said.

On the issue of committee chairmanships, Sotto said they have not substantially tackled the assignments.

Drilon earlier refused to elaborate on the ongoing development on the chairmanships of the Senate committees on energy and education, which was chaired by the late Sen. Renato Cayetano who passed away last June 24.

Sotto said Senators John Osmeña and Tessie Aquino-Oreta have expressed their interest in heading the respective committees.

"Frank and I have not tackled yet the matter on who will be assigned to the two committees left by Senator Cayetano. But it is probable that it will go to Senators (John) Osmeña and Oreta, although we did not go into that details yet. But in principle, yes," Sotto said.

On reports of a brewing Senate coup, Sotto dismissed them and said they are "mere speculations."

"At the moment, those are mere speculations of some people only. As far as the member of the minority is concerned, Senate President Drilon will stay in his post if the mutual cooperation and coordination will succeed," he said.

As part of the arrangement with Drilon, Sotto said he will be meeting with his colleagues in the opposition a week before Congress resumes its last regular session on July 28.

He said members of the minority will be informed of the details of Drilon’s call for "mutual cooperation and coordination."

Drilon has been reportedly making the rounds getting the support of his colleagues in retaining his post.

Opposition Sen. Edgardo Angara had said it might be that Drilon was being the target because of his strong position against the ratification of House Concurrent Resolution 16 that seeks to convene Congress into a constituent assembly to introduce amendments to the 1987 Constitution.

Angara has said it could be those belonging to the majority bloc who wanted Drilon out of the way to advance the call for Charter change by constituent assembly.

Sotto, for his part, admitted the proposed changes in the Constitution is a very important issue for the Senate to discuss.

"Anything is possible in politics. Actually, that (Charter change) is a very important issue also. But I really doubt that we can still tackle it comprehensively. There are time constraints," Sotto said.