LP admits being shorthanded in bid for Senate presidency
By Angie M. Rosales 06/01/2010 The Liberal Party (LP) of Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino admitted yesterday that it will have a hard time in seating a Senate president from its ranks in the coming 15th Congress unless the party succeeds in working out alliances to get at least the majority 13 votes. “We’re trying to reach out to other senators who are non-LP. Although the LP’s position will be critical (under the incoming administration), I think what’s more critical now is the capacity of the party to convince non-LP (members) to coalesce with us. That’s the bottomline and that’s what’s needed most to get (the needed) 13 (votes),” Sen. Francis Pangilinan told reporters. A vote of 13 in the 24-man chamber is required by the Constitution in electing a Senate President. Pangilinan, who admitted eyeing the Senate presidency, said the LP is yet to resolve who among its members in the Senate will be fielded for the position. Both Pangilinan, who acted as LP spokesman for senatorial candidates in the just-concluded polls, and Senator-elect Franklin Drilon, are said to be gunning for the third highest position in the country. The LP reportedly met last Thursday to discuss their strategy to capture the leadership in the chamber but so far, the only agreement they have reached was to field a candidate for the Senate presidency. “There are four of us (LP members in the Senate) and two are candidates. So that’s what we’re trying to resolve now, who between the two of us and at the same time, the matter of reaching out to other senators,” he said. Senators-elect Sergio Osmeña III and Ralph Recto are the two other LP members who will comprise the upper chamber beginning July. Source: The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100601hed6.html |
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