Will Drilon keep post as Senate president when session resumes?

Speculation on whether Senate President Franklin Drilon will remain at the helm is increasing, with barely a week before Congress resumes its session.

Sen. Richard Gordon is staying clear of the Senate leadership issue and has left it up to possible aspirants to take up the challenge.

He did not rule out the possibility of Senators Lito Lapid, Juan Ponce Enrile or Miriam Defensor-Santiago eyeing the post.

Gordon has instead urged his colleagues to work together so the Senate can "move forward."

Drilon had struck a term-sharing deal with Sen. Manuel Villar after the 2004 elections to avoid creating a split in the administration majority.

Santiago, who is with President Arroyo on a state visit to Saudi Arabia, still has her sights on the Senate presidency. "She will be in a fighting mood once the session resumes on Monday. We will know her stand by Monday," said one Santiago staffer.

Drilon is attending a meeting of the International Parliamentary Union in Kenya and could not be reached for comment.

Under his agreement with Villar, Drilon will serve during the first and second regular sessions of the 13th Congress. Villar will begin his term in July.

Drilon said he and the former real estate businessman agreed on a sharing scheme to keep the peace in the Senate and to ensure the passage of necessary legislation would not be disrupted.

"There is an urgent need to address the looming financial crisis that our country faces. Hence, the need for a united effort of the Senate, particularly the majority coalition, which has been given the mandate of the people," Drilon and Villar declared in a joint statement.

Drilon was then allied with President Arroyo. He broke away in June last year following opposition allegations that Mrs. Arroyo cheated in the 2004 presidential election.

Sen. Joker Arroyo, a known ally of Villar, refused to comment on the issue, saying there are more pressing concerns that need to be addressed by the legislature.

Villar’s camp said they are waiting for developments and have refused to make any further comment. Villar did not return phone calls to The STAR.

Sources close to Sen. Luisa Ejercito, wife of deposed President Joseph Estrada, and her son Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, doubt that Villar has the numbers to slug it out with Drilon.

Ejercito and Estrada reportedly back Drilon, who has been vocal in calling for President Arroyo’s resignation over vote-rigging allegations.

An unofficial count shows that Drilon may enjoy the support of 12 senators — Edgardo Angara, Rodolfo Biazon, Ejercito, Estrada, Juan Flavier, Panfilo Lacson, Alfredo Lim, Jamby Madrigal, Sergio Osmeña, Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel and Manuel Roxas II.

Villar is a member of the so-called "Wednesday Club" at the Senate, which has in its ranks Arroyo, Pangilinan, Ralph Recto and Lito Lapid.

Senators Gordon, Pia Cayetano, Ramon Revilla and Roxas have their own "Monday Club." Senators Enrile and Ramon Magsaysay Jr. want to keep an independent stand.

If the term-sharing deal with Villar pushes through, it will be the third time that Drilon will share the Senate leadership.