Enrile won't preside over opening of Senate

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile will not be presiding over the opening of the Senate session on July 26 to dispel speculations that he wants to prolong his stay as the head of the chamber. Lawyer Emma Reyes, Senate secretary, said Enrile asked her to preside over the Senate session next Monday to show that he is not "sticking to the post." "He came to me and he said you will (be) the presiding officer... he already told me twice," Reyes told reporters in an interview on Monday. She said this will be the third time that the Senate secretary will be presiding the opening of a Senate session. She noted, however, that she will only preside over the opening of the Senate session and will not be a representative for the Senate during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) later in the day. Reyes likewise said the Senate will be sure to elect a Senate president or a temporary Senate president to go to the SONA in case of a stalemate. "I'm sure they will be able to vote on July 26... they will be able to decide on that," she said. As of posting time, neither Senate president aspirants Senators Francis Pangilinan and Manuel Villar Jr. have secured the 13 votes needed to bag the top post in the chamber. Senator Sergio "Serge" Osmeña III had earlier said Enrile, who was recently reelected, cannot remain as Senate president because his term as Senate president ended when his term as a senator ended last June 30. Enrile assumed the Senate presidency in November 2008 when Villar resigned because of lack of support from the chamber. — VVP, GMANews.TV