Palace welcomes Enrile, like it welcomed Villar -- Dureza

MANILA, Nov. 19 (PNA) -- Malacanang today said it welcomes the installation of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile as it welcomed Sen. Manuel Villar when the latter became Senate president.

In his regular Tuesday briefing in Malacanang this afternoon, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said: “We welcomed Senator Villar when he became Senate president. We also welcome Senator Enrile as the new Senate leader now.”

Dureza pointed out that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself has not said a word about the change of leadership in the Senate. “She has not said anything to us. We were focused on the issues of the two sectors – the NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority) and the NSC (National Security Council).”

“Whoever is head of the Senate, the Palace will continue its agenda and appeal to that chamber to act on priority bills. Our priorities are still the same – we would like to see them move in the Senate. How to act on these is up for them to determine,” he said.

Asked if the Palace expects a “more cooperative Senate,” Dureza said, “We have our own expectations (but) we keep it to ourselves. Let the Senate set its own priorities under Senate President Enrile.”

Faster action on administration measures? “We leave it to them. They are an independent institution. We’d rather they determine it according to their own pace,” said Dureza.

He admitted, however, that the administration would “want early action on the budget and faster action on the amnesty proclamation and other measures but it is entirely within the competence and mandate of the Senate to determine what their priorities are – the palace does not want to interfere.”

“Yun kasing revamp in the Senate is an internal matter that the Senate can adequately handle under the new leadership of Senator Enrile. He will steer the Senate accordingly. So let’s just wait and see how the new leadership will handle it as the Senate is an independent chamber.”

Dureza added that “Senator Enrile has a wealth of experience spanning generations.”

“Parang ‘man for all seasons’ ‘yan (Enrile). We will see how Senate steers the Senate. We are confident that the nation will benefit from his long experience and competence. Let’s just wait and see how the Senate will proceed according to its own agenda.”

Asked if the Senate is expected to be more supportive of Charter reforms with Enrile’s ascent to the presidency of the chamber, the Press Secretary said: “Ipaubaya na lang natin sa kanila ang reform action to be taken.”

He added: “Continuing ang advocacy ng Palace We take the position that they (the senators) would do something according to their priority.”