LP bloc far from gaining top Senate post—Drilon By Angie M. Rosales 07/21/2010

LP bloc far from gaining top Senate post—Drilon

By Angie M. Rosales 07/21/2010 Using the difficulty being experienced by the Liberal Party camp led by Sen. Francis Pangilinan to gather 13 votes from the senators and clinch the Senate presidency, Sen. Franklin Drilon, an LP official and ally of President Aquino, used this situation as proof that Malacañang has no control over the Senate. President Aquino and his allies do not have any control over the Senate, Drilon said yesterday, virtually admitting the difficulties that the LP bloc is going through as the Pangilinan led group is far from mustering the needed 13 votes in installing the LP bet as the Senate leader. “Nobody controls the Senate. If Malacañang controls the Senate, then the endorsement (of Aquino) should do everything (in securing the required number of votes). Yet, until now, there is still a deadlock,” he said in a phone-patched interview with reporters. He failed to comment, however, on the many moves of the Malacañang tenant to raid the ranks of the other blocs, including Sen. Lito Lapid, who was claimed by Pangilinan to have committed to vote for him. In exchange for Lapid’s vote, it was reported that his son, Mark Lapid, would be retained as head of the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA). This was however, denied by the staff of Senator Lapid, saying that he has not committed his vote to the LP bet. Lapid is said to belong to Sen. Edgardo Angara bloc, which supposedly counts for seven members.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100721hed1.html

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