LP still backs Enrile, Belmonte says

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Thursday assured that the Liberal Party will not join moves to oust Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile.

He told reporters at the sidelines of the budget deliberations that he has never heard of such talks to oust Enrile from within the ranks of the ruling party.

“This administration owes a lot to him for the way he has handled not only the impeachment trial but other measures he has come up with. We have no complaints,” Belmonte said.

The LP secretary-general, newly confirmed Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, echoed Belmonte’s statement, saying that the idea of a coup on Enrile within the ruling party was “farfetched.”

He told reporters at the sidelines of the budget deliberations at the House of Representatives that the LP “believes that the Senate President has done well.”

The Senate President’s son, Cagayan Representative Jack Enrile meanwhile said that he was not angry at Trillanes despite being shocked by the senator’s actions towards the elder Enrile. He maintained that he would not meddle in the feud between the two senators, saying his father was capable of resolving sensitive matters.

Trillanes accused Enrile of being former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s lackey and left the majority bloc during Wednesday’s session at the Senate.