The vote was 14-0 with six abstentions. Enrile, who had been pictured as an administration ally, ascended to the top Senate post with the help of oppositionist Senators Pan­filo Lacson, Manuel “Mar” Roxas 2nd, Loren Legarda and Jamby Madrigal.

Villar resigned before the voting took place.

“I’ve been informed this afternoon [of Monday] that I no longer have the support of the majority members. I now, therefore, tender my resignation,” he said.

No reason was given for the loss of confidence, but Villar’s resignation could lead to a reorganization of the Senate. Until Villar’s ouster, the Senate was investigating corruption allegations against former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante, who is accused of diverting government fertilizer funds to benefit President Gloria Arroyo’s campaign in 2004.

Lacson nominated Enrile to be Senate president after Senate President Pro Tempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada reopened the session. Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Hona­san seconded the nomination.

Enrile was declared Senate president after Honasan administered him the oath of office.

Lacson said that Malacañang, 2010 and committee chairmanships were not at all considered in the change of Senate leadership. Elections for the next Philippine president are scheduled for 2010.

“Malacañang had no hand in the change of leadership,” he said.

Palace reaction

Malacañang said that indeed it had nothing to do with the change in leadership at the 23-strong Senate.

“We respect the independence of any action taken by the Senate regarding its own organization. The Palace had no involvement whatsoever in the Senate’s leadership change,” presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio said in a statement.

The deputy presidential spokesman, Lorelei Fajardo, described Villar’s resignation as “most admirable.” She said Villar and Enrile “will undoubtedly continue to serve the country and maintain the integrity and eminence of the Senate.”

Senate coup

The move against Villar started on Day One of the Fourteenth Congress and he had successfully warded it off until Monday.

Villar, who has been Senate president since July 2006, did not contest his ouster after verifying that he had lost the majority in the chamber. He opened the session an hour late, then read an 11-paragraph valedictory where he announced his resignation and thanked all those who had helped his leadership.

“I am now released from the burdens of the Senate presidency. I shall be happy now to devote more time as a fiscalizer. I shall now have more time with our people in the countryside and with my family,” Villar said, while offering his support to Enrile.

Enrile vowed to raise the bar of independence of the Senate and expressed his gratitude to his colleagues for conferring on him an honor and recognition that he said could not compare with previous ones that he had received.

He revealed that he was approached by a group of senators in 2007 to head the Senate.

“I gave a condition that I thought was impossible to achieve. I told them to present me with a resolution signed by 13 senators and I will agree. Then, this morning, I learned that the impossible had been achieved,” Enrile said.

He was to meet with the new majority, or those who voted for him, last night to discuss a reorganization of some key committees and the legislative agenda.

“I will hold the chairmanship of the finance committee in concurrent capacity so that the passage of the 2009 budget will not be derailed,” Enrile said.

Voting

Sen. Francis Pangilinan resigned as majority leader and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as chairman of the blue-ribbon committee. They were among those who abstained. The others who abstained were Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Sen. Benigno Aquino 3rd, Sen. Joker Arroyo and Sen. Pia Cayetano.

Enrile said he would talk with those who abstained to see how they could work together under his leadership. He would not say if Pangi­linan would also be replaced as ex-officio member of the Judicial and Bar Council.

Those who voted for Enrile were Lacson, Legarda, Madrigal, Roxas, Estrada, Honasan, Edgardo Angara, Rodolfo Biazon, Francis Escudero, Richard Gordon, Lito Lapid, Ra­mon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago was absent. Villar had already left, and Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th is still under detention.

Independent Senate

Lacson said they had considered Enrile as the only one who could push for an independent Senate.

He maintained that the C-5 controversy where he charged Villar with allocating P200 million twice for the same road construction was a principal reason why a change in leadership was realized. Ironically, Enrile, who replaced Villar, had cleared Villar of any wrongdoing in the C-5 road extension project.

Cayetano believed that the presidential elections in 2010 were the main reason of some individual senators for the unseating of Villar.

“That is why they are always speaking of a ‘level playing field’ for 2010,” he said.

Among the senators with known presidential ambitions are Villar, Lacson, Legarda, Roxas and Gordon.

Palace bid

Cayetano also believed that Villar’s ouster would even strengthen Villar’s bid for the presidency in 2010 “because he will now have more time to go around the country.” He dismissed suggestions that Villar had taken advantage of his post as Senate president to campaign for 2010.

The change in Senate leadership also saw the parting of Pimentel and the group of Lacson, Legarda, Roxas, Madrigal and Biazon. Pimentel will remain with the minority by abstaining in the election of Enrile.

“He [Pimentel] has reasons, which I could not share with you. It’s better that he give you his reasons himself. But I hate to see him on the other side of the aisle,” Lacson said.

Erap statement

Former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada rued the decision of Villar to resign as Senate president.

In a brief statement, Estrada said, “We regret to see [Villar] resign as head of the Senate because he has served our country well as Senate president, especially in trying times in the past such as at the height of the NBN-ZTE investigations.” NBN is the scrapped $330-million National Broadband Network project between the Philippine government and China’s ZTE Corp.

The former president congratulated Enrile.

“He is obviously a man of great experience and in these tumultuous times in our political history, as we brace ourselves for the worst effects of the world financial crisis, and as we seek the truth on the many scandals of the incumbent administration, a man of such experience as Senator Enrile is ideal to lead our Senate today,” Estrada said.
– With Angelo S. Samonte And Francis Earl A. Cueto

The Manila Times Internet Edition | TOP STORIES >Senate coup ousts Villar

More than 2,000 supporters from the city and the provinces carrying streamers like “Obama of the Philippines” and “Jojo Binay for President” gathered at 7 a.m. for a Thanksgiving Mass as they waited for the mayor to make the declaration.

In his speech, Binay, who is also the United Opposition president, criticized the Arroyo government by bringing up issues like the national broadband network scandal and the fertilizer fund scam and said there was need for another “revolution.”

“I am accepting your challenge to lead this revolution toward a progressive and respected Philippines,” said the activist and lawyer.

Binay was introduced by Makati Representative Teodoro “Teddyboy” Locsin Jr., who pointed out that the 19-year Makati mayor would like to be known for his “performance” and not his ambition.

“The city is the crowning testimony to his ability to lead the country,” Locsin said.

As to his programs, Binay said he would stamp out graft and corruption and focus on productivity and peace and order.

The mayor’s acceptance speech ended with the supporters releasing yellow and blue balloons with the print “Makati ngayon, Pilipinas bukas [Today Makati, tomorrow, the Philippines].”

INQUIRER.net,

The one percent, he said, is on the possibility of no election.

All that he is waiting is the nomination of the Nacionalista Party (NP), which he heads.

“We are prepared to have alliance with other political parties,” he stated.

Villar was one of the personalities who immediately sent assistance to the typhoon-affected towns in Pangasinan. He donated bottles of purified water; some of the beneficiary local government units (LGUs) distributed these to their rural health units (RHU).

On the possible senatorial candidates, Villar said the NP already has a list of possible candidates long before Lakas started floating their own list. He said some of those being floated as possible Lakas senatorial bets, in fact, applied with NP.

But the Senate President clarified that they do not float their list, saying they announce their senatorial candidates months before the national election.

As regards former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr’s decision not to talk yet on what he knows about the controversial national broadband network (NBN)-ZTE deal, Villar said De Venecia can testify anytime, but that will be after the Senate resumes session.

The Senate will adjourn next week.

Villar clarified that the Senate Blue Ribbon committee is not being obliged to finish the NBN-ZTE deal committee hearing soon as they are still awaiting the court’s final decision on their motion for former planning secretary now Commission on Higher Education (Ched) Chairman Romulo Neri to answer their four questions at the Senate inquiry.

De Venecia announced few days ago that he will not speak up as of yet. He wanted to be physically-prepared when he finally testifies at the Senate as he expects he will be attacked and discredited by the administration and its allies.

“At the proper time and at the proper forum soon, I shall testify willingly on what I know of the ZTE scandal and other instances of corruption in the government. That service I owe to the nation and to the Filipino people, and I intend to fulfill it,” he said.

Villar said he respects the congressman’s decision and that he is a credible witness as, among others, constant travel companion of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo when they were still allies.

As to whether he is a crucial witness in the NBN-ZTE controversy, Villar said this will only be known after De Venecia has given his testimony.

Meanwhile, the senator clarified that no government money is being used in his television public campaign concerning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

He said this is being paid by his own foundation, which he established more than 20 years ago to help oppressed Filipinos especially those working abroad.

He is also advocating that cases of maltreated or abused OFWs must be treated by the government as “no fault insurance” like in vehicular accidents.

The most common complaints of OFWs are maltreatment, prostitution, rape, and no salary. Majority of the victims are working in the Middle East. – Sun.Star

GMANews.TV

The source said the expectation of De Castro, as relayed by his advisers who have started talking with different opposition groups like the United Opposition, Makati Business Club, and the Black and White Movement, the end of the Arroyo presidency is a matter of time and he (De Castro) expects to take over as the Constitution mandates.

“De Castro expects the presidency to fall into his lap like manna from heaven,” the source said expressing the frustration of many in the opposition over De Castro’s refusal to take a position on the issues of corruption and obstruction of justice that stemmed from the exposé on the alleged overpriced $329-million national broadband network deal with the Chinese firm ZTE Corp.

The position of De Castro is that becoming hostile to Arroyo would push her to take the hard-line position which could lead to a violent regime change. By giving her the option of resignation, De Castro thinks she could be persuaded to give up the presidency peacefully.

That would mean, however, that the two would have a deal, which could include sparing Arroyo from facing criminal charges.

The source said De Castro’s advisers do not seem to have a keen grasp of the reasons for the people’s outrage against the current administration and the danger that he could be swept away together with Arroyo.

Many in the opposition find De Castro unacceptable not only because of the perception of incompetence, but his turning a blind eye to the alleged crimes of Arroyo is said to betray a questionable sense of values. Leah Navarro, a member of the Black and White Movement, said they told De Castro’s representatives they want to see him to make a stand and “show us his heart.”

Rodolfo Noel “Jun” Lozada, star witness in the ZTE deal investigation, does not believe that Arroyo will ever resign.

“The ‘Arroyo resign’ call is a myth. She has to be ousted,” he said as he called on the military and police to make a stand and join the people demanding truth and justice in the government.

De Castro said he is “prepared” for the presidency. “From Day One, I already knew my duties under the Constitution as elected vice president.”

That is contrary to the explanation of his adviser to an opposition personality when asked why De Castro ignored the call of Black and White to join its call for Arroyo’s resignation in 2005. He said at that time, De Castro “was not yet prepared.”

The opposition is split over the issue of what happens if Arroyo is ousted. While some agree to follow the constitutional provision, others are calling for a resignation of both Arroyo and De Castro and the holding of snap elections. Others want a revolutionary council as a transition government.

The Black and White Movement said De Castro’s silence on the current issues is not helping.

The BWM includes the “Hyatt 10″ or the 10 Cabinet and other key officials who resigned en masse from the Arroyo Cabinet in 2005.

“We would like to ask the Vice President to bare what’s in his heart so we can see if he is worth supporting for as a replacement for President Arroyo,” said Navarro, BWM executive director. “We hope he can tell us what he thinks about the various issues facing the country so we can make an informed decision.”

Navarro said De Castro owes it to the people to say if he “pro- or anti- Gloria, is he for the truth, is he for the status quo like a traditional politician? Does he feel capable?”

Former Social Welfare secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, a “Hyatt 10 member,” said while De Castro is the constitutional successor, he has to make a stand because he would be leading a transition government.

De Castro on Sunday said he was “prepared” for the presidency but left to legal processes the determination of the truth in the NBN allegations.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said De Castro was merely stating a fact when said he is “prepared” to succeed Arroyo if the need arises.

This does not mean De Castro is calling for Arroyo’s ouster, Bunye said.

Bunye made the statement as De Castro stressed he is the vice president of the Filipinos and not of the President.

“He has stated that he is prepared, that is correct; he has stated that he’s not asking for the resignation of the President, that is also correct; and I believe he stated that he has attended all or practically all the Cabinet meetings, which is a way of really keeping himself prepared for any eventuality. But let me repeat that he is not asking for the resignation of the President,” Bunye said.

Bunye said there is also nothing wrong in De Castro’s pronouncement that he is also interested in the truth “but he wants the courts to be the one to pursue this search for truth.”

He expressed confidence De Castro would remain to be a part of the Arroyo government.

He described De Castro as a “credit” to the Cabinet as he has done a good job at the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council.

“We’re confident that the Vice President would remain as one of the most active members of the Cabinet… I don’t see any reason for the Vice President to change that posture,” he said. – With Ashzel Hachero and Jocelyn Montemayor

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