MANILA, Philippines -- Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said he would stay on as chairman of the finance committee until the proposed P1.4 trillion budget for 2009 is approved in the Senate.

Enrile said he would also head the committee on accounts, contrary to Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson’s claim that he would get the committee chairmanship.

“I understand that this is the prerogative of the Senate President I will hold it and I will be responsible for the finances of the Senate,” the newly-installed Senate leader told reporters on Wednesday.

“If there’s any error, any mistake, any malfeasance, any malfeasance, I will answer for it. I will go to jail for it if I am foolish enough to commit any misconduct in the handling of the funds,’ he said.

In separate interviews with reporters Tuesday, Lacson and Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri were almost sure that the accounts committee would go to Lacson.

Zubiri was also almost certain that Senator Edgardo Angara would get the chairmanship of the finance committee.

But its incumbent chairman, Enrile, said he would continue to head the committee until the proposed budget for this year is approved.

“Because we’re in the middle of the debate…I have to finish it because I was the one who heard the matter,” he said.

At a hearing by the congressional oversight committee on comprehensive tax reform program, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero hinted at his readiness to relinquish his chairmanship of the ways and means committee.

Lacson had allegedly expressed his desire to replace Escudero.

But more than losing his own committee, Escudero was more concerned on the chairmanship of the powerful Senate blue ribbon committee.

If he would be asked, Escudero said he would recommend to the majority to just let Senator Alan Peter Cayetano retain the blue ribbon chairmanship so that he could continue the pending works of the committee.

“My concern is the blue ribbon. Whoever will replace Senator Cayetano as chairman should be as vigilant in investigating anomalies,” said Escudero in Filipino.

“And in truth, if you were to ask me, I will suggest to the majority to retain Senator Cayetano as chairman of the blue ribbon so that he could continue the work he has started of being the watchdog of the Senate against corruption,” he said.