Wedge among Senate allies favors Villar
By Angie Rosales 06/24/2010 Defeated presidential candidate Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. is emerging as frontrunner in terms of support from senators in the battle for the Senate presidency and as a result of an emerging rift among allies of incoming President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino. “Manny (Villar) is still the man to beat,” Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said yesterday, belittling claims by some quarters that the race is narrowed down to only two of known political allies of the incoming President, who are Senators Francis Pangilinan and Franklin Drilon. “The problem with the LP (Liberal Party), Frank (Drilon) and Kiko (Pangilinan) are at odds with each other,” Pimentel said. Drilon, he said, is being supported by Aquino’s defeated running mate and LP president, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas, while Pangilinan is receiving backing from another group perceived to be that identified with the incoming President. “In short, if the Liberals could form its own group and form alliances with other blocs, then they could easily defeat Villar. But I still think Villar is the man to beat,” he said. Pangilinan supposedly had the edge over Drilon for the top Senate position currently occupied by Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, with 11 colleagues purportedly backing his candidacy. Pimentel, however, disputed assertions made by Enrile, effectively saying that Pangilinan could likely be the one to replace him when the 15th Congress opens in July 26, by sheer numbers. “Villar has more solid support. There are nine supporting him. He only needs four more to be installed Senate president,” he said. “In the Senate, no one can claim that this particular bloc is already assured (of the leadership). They need to form alliances,” Pimentel added. Source: The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100624hed2.html |
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