Palace silent on support for LP’s senate president bet

While it welcomed the looming victory of President Benigno Aquino III’s party-mate in the race for House Speaker, Malacañang remained tight lipped on the chances that another Palace ally will snare the Senate presidency. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda on Saturday declined to talk about the chances of Liberal Party (LP)’s Sen. Francis Pangilinan winning the race. “I think it’s an LP matter, it’s being discussed within the LP. I won't be able to comment on that," Lacierda said on government-run dzRB radio, when asked about Pangilinan’s chances. Pangilinan will contend other aspirants including Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile and defeated presidential bet Manuel Villar Jr. At least 13 votes are needed to secure the Senate presidency. Earlier reports indicated Pangilinan has the votes of four fellow LP members – Franklin Drilon, Teofisto Guingona III, Sergio Osmeña III, and Ralph Recto. He also claims to have the support of Enrile, Senate President Pro Tempore Jose “Jinggoy" Estrada, Francis Escudero, and detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. Trillanes’ camp, however, had said Trillanes will not automatically vote for Pangilinan. On the other hand, Villar claims the support of Miriam Santiago, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pilar Juliana Cayetano, Joker Arroyo, and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Those still undecided and considered possible “swing votes" include Gregorio Honasan II, Vicente Sotto III, Lorna Regina “Loren" Legarda, Manuel “Lito" Lapid, Ramon “Bong" Revilla Jr., and majority leader Juan Miguel Zubiri. In contrast, Lacierda welcomed the support for LP Speaker bet Feliciano Belmonte Jr., during a fellowship meeting of the party Friday night. At the fellowship, several members of the House of Representatives crossed party lines to ally themselves with the Aquino administration's LP. “Maraming nag-cross ng lines, mabuti yan we will have a Congress that will cooperate and advance the legislative agenda of President Aquino (Many of them crossed lines. That is good, we will have a Congress that will cooperate and advance President Aquino’s legislative agenda)," Lacierda said. He said those who crossed party lines include former First Lady Imelda Marcos, and Rep. Crispin Remulla, who he said looms as Deputy Speaker. — LBG, GMANews.TV