Miriam meets with Enrile, gets one committee

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile has patched things up with Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, who cried foul over his decision not to give her a committee to lead last Monday. As a result, Santiago got a committee chairmanship, Enrile a kiss. “She explained, she understood, she kissed me on the cheeks," Enrile said, describing his meeting with Santiago Tuesday night at the Shangri-la Hotel in Makati City. The meeting was also attended by several other senators, including Senator Vicente “Tito" Sotto III, who described the meeting as “very cordial." “It was a complete misunderstanding. They [Enrile and Santiago] completely understand each other [now]," Sotto said. Enrile said he decided to give the Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws to Santiago because she is a constitutionalist. “That's a big committee," he said. Enrile said Santiago, who is on sick leave, accepted the offer. Sotto said the meeting was arranged by Senator Manuel Villar Jr., and was also attended by Senator Gregorio Honasan. Enrile last Monday said he did not give any committee to Santiago because she was absent during the caucus where the distribution of the 37 Senate committees were discussed. On the same day, Santiago held a press conference questioning the distribution of the committees and accusing members of the Liberal Party (LP) — the party of President Benigno Aquino III — of controlling the chamber. She also questioned why the powerful blue ribbon committee, which she preferred to lead, was given to a neophyte senator, Teofisto Guingona III, an LP member. The blue ribbon committee, or the Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations, investigates anomalies involving government officials and transactions. - KBK, GMANews.TV