Angara bloc may back Enrile as Senate chief By Angie M. Rosales and Gerry Baldo 07/05/2010

TO PRESERVE CHAMBER’S INDEPENDENCE Angara bloc may back Enrile as Senate chief By Angie M. Rosales and Gerry Baldo 07/05/2010 Senators who the Liberal Party (LP) has been courting to support the candidacy of its bet Sen. Francis Pangilinan would likely instead give their backing to current Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Sen. Edgardo Angara said. Angara who commands the vote of at least five senators had said his group is looking for a Senate president “who can uphold the independence of the institution and who will pursue an agenda of reform and change,” implying that his bloc is considering a better alternative to Pangilinan who is perceived to be too closely associated with President Aquino. “He’s still a potential (candidate). He’s still there, we cannot rule him out (of the race),” Angara said yesterday referring to Enrile. Enrile was earlier bruited about as likely to keep his post in the coming 15th Congress in the event that there would be a “stalemate” or deadlock among senators in the choice of a new leader in the chamber. Angara noted that besides Pangilinan, who had already announced his bid, his bloc is looking at two other choices, Enrile or Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. His bloc included Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Lito Lapid, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Loren Legarda. Angara is also considering Senators Gregorio Honasan and Vicente Sotto III as part of their bloc. Angara, however, dismissed insinuations on the statement he issued over the weekend that his bloc is not keen on electing Pangilinan because of his perceived close association with Aquino as it could eventually put into question the independence of the Senate. Angara’s statement came a day after the LP, which is also the party of Aquino, named him as the party’s bet for the top upper chamber post.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100705hed1.html

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