Enrile confirms moves to unseat him

MANILA (Updated) — A change in the leadership of the Senate may be in the offing, the chamber’s highest-ranking leader said Wednesday.
Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile declined to give details about the plan except that he received this report from a “reliable source” a month ago.
“There are always people who are unhappy with the leadership of anybody,” he said in a chance interview.
The ouster plot, however, will not bear fruit, according to Senator Panfilo Lacson, since it was already “out in the open.”
He said Enrile’s opposition to the Reproductive Health bill–a controversial measure backed by Malacañang allies–may not be the reason behind the coup rumors.
The bill, which eyes a comprehensive sexuality education for teenagers and distribution of contraceptives to couples, is now undergoing amendments in the Senate.
Enrile, who is set to celebrate his fourth anniversary as Senate chief this November, earlier said he has no plans of clinging to the post and that he would be willing to hand over the administration to anyone who gets the majority support.
At least 13 votes of the chamber’s 23 members are needed to install a new Senate President.
“Why would I participate in a plot to oust him? That’s out of character,” Lacson said.
In December last year, a newspaper report said the 88-year-old Enrile was training Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada on the rules of evidence during the impeachment trial of then Chief Justice Renato Corona in case moves to oust him by President Benigno Aquino III’s allies will succeed.
The possibility was floated at the time when Enrile was perceived to be favoring for Corona’s acquittal regarding allegations of betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.
Enrile though joined 19 other senators in kicking Corona out of the Supreme Court over misdeclared cash assets on May 29.
Senator Franklin Drilon, a member of the ruling Liberal Party, had already denied eyeing to reclaim the position he last held from 2001 to 2006. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breaking-news/2012/09/12/enrile-confirms-moves-unseat-him-242380