Enrile to talk charter change with Aquino over smoke and drinks

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Juan Ponce Enrile is so determined to convince President Benigno Aquino III that amendments to the 1987 Constitution that are necessary that he is willing to talk to him over  smoke and drinks.

Enrile, speaking at a weekly forum at the Senate, said that ultimately, the decision whether a charter change will push through will be up to the President.

When asked whether he will convince Aquino who has not been keen on discussing the matter, Enrile said that he can try.

“I do not pretend that I can convince him but I can try,” Enrile said.

When asked how, Enrile said in jest: “Bahala na ako diyan (Leave it to me).  Papausukan ko siya ng sigarilyo kung kailangan makikipag-inuman ako sa kanya (I’ll blow cigarette smoke on him and if it’s necessary I’ll engage him in a drinking bout).”

Enrile was among the Senators who are pushing for charter change. Meanwhile, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, in a separate statement on Thursday, slammed the idea saying that turning Congress into a constitutional assembly may trigger suspicion that legislators are pushing for personal agendas or agendas of certain lobby groups.