Drilon admits meeting with FVR

Has Senate President Franklin Drilon joined forces with former President Fidel Ramos?

Drilon confirmed yesterday his meeting with Ramos and former senator Vicente Sotto III, an opposition leader, in an undisclosed place last Monday.

Drilon refused to divulge details of the meeting, which came amid a deadline set by Ramos for President Arroyo to issue a definitive stand on the proposal by the presidential constitutional commission (con-com) to extend the term of elective officials until 2010.

"We talked of how good the red wine was. It was French… Yes, I confirm na kami po ni dating Senator Sotto at dating Pangulong Ramos ay nagbatian kahapon, bagong taon. Maliban do’n, si President Ramos na ang tanungin ninyo (Senator Sotto, former President Ramos and myself greeted each other on New Year’s Day. Other than that, you have to ask President Ramos)," Drilon said.

"Out of respect for the former president, I don’t want to make any comment, in fairness to him, because he is a senior statesman... and it is not appropriate for the Senate President to talk about that meeting," Drilon explained.

Ramos could not be reached for comment.

A close aide told The STAR that Ramos was undergoing dental treatment near Malacañang and could not speak.

Reports said the meeting took place in Ramos’ office in Makati City.

Sotto, who was also present during the meeting, is a member of the United Opposition (UNO) that is led by detained former President Joseph Estrada and the party under which the late action star and defeated presidential bet Fernando Poe Jr. ran in the 2004 elections.

Among other recommendations made by the con-com, the report suggests the scrapping of the May 2007 congressional and local elections, and the extension of the terms of office of all senators, congressmen and local officials by three years.

Ramos has described this particular suggestion as a "monumental blunder," claiming that Mrs. Arroyo’s silence on it and her referral of the con-com report to her allies in the House of Representatives meant that she favored no-el.

He said instead of planning the scrapping of the 2007 elections, Mrs. Arroyo should step down in May this year to give way to an early shift to the parliamentary system.

Under the con-com report, such shift would take place in July 2010 yet, with Mrs. Arroyo serving as both president and prime minister up to June 30, 2010.

Rumors are rife that Ramos, Drilon and Sotto may have discussed key issues pertaining to the administration which has been rocked by controversies, including alleged election-rigging, since last year.

Malacañang meanwhile yesterday said Drilon is showing his true political ambitions when he declared that he is ready to become "acting president" in case the President steps down from office.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye shrugged off Drilon’s statement, saying the scenario that the President’s and Vice President Noli de Castro’s political opponents are conjuring, which is for them to resign, is not going to happen.

"Your slip is showing," Bunye said.

Drilon on Monday said he is ready to abide by his constitutional duty to become "acting president," amid calls by the Black and White (B&W) Movement for Mrs. Arroyo and De Castro to resign.

As the third highest official of the land, Drilon said it is part of his mandate, under the constitutional succession clause, to assume the top post once it is declared vacant.

Drilon also clarified his earlier statement that he has no intention of joining the B&W Movement, following the Palace’s announcement lauding the Senate president’s rejection of the offer.

Drilon has also denied having joined any meeting of the B&W Movement, which is composed of Mrs. Arroyo’s former Cabinet officials.

The movement, led by former social welfare secretary Dinky Soliman and former education secretary Butch Abad, sought the President’s resignation last July 8, the same day Drilon led the Liberal Party in asking the President to step down.

Former President Corazon Aquino later joined the quit calls, citing the various issues of graft and corruption hurled at Mrs. Arroyo and her government. — With Paolo Romero