Enrile says he didn’t want Santiago in the majority bloc

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile hit  back at  Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, saying  he did not want  her  in the  majority  bloc in the Senate.

If not for Senator  Manuel “Manny” Villar,  Enrile said Santiago  would not have been in the  majority group  and  would have not gotten a committee  chairmanship.

“I’m not hypocrite. When I don’t like a person, I don’t like a person,”  he told reporters on Monday.

“In fact, I did not want her to be in the majority  when I became the Senate President the last time. And it  was because of Senator Villar who is a friend of mine who interceded for her,” he said.

When  Santiago was attacking him at that time, Enrile recalled  being invited to a dinner  in Shangri-La hotel where  he met  with  the lady senator and  her husband.

“So we had dinner and she apologized and she said sorry,” he said.

“That’s why if you remember, she got the last available committee because I really  didn’t want  (her to be in the majority),” the Senate leader added.

Enrile said  he has no  ill-feeling towards Santiago  although  he was  apparently  hurt by  the latter’s interview when  she said that her relationship with  him has turned ‘ice cold.”

When reminded that Enrile was  her ‘ninong’ or principal sponsor in her wedding, Santiago said  in her  December 5, 2012 interview with reporters that it was just a “status” but “does not  indicate  friendship.”

“Wala akong galit sa kanya sya ang may galit sa akin (I harbor no ill feelings toward her; she is the one harbouring ill feelings toward me),” Enrile said.

“Ngayon kung ang tao ay hindi ako itinuturing na kaibigan o ako’y kinuha lang as a ninong (Now if a person would not consider me as a friend or I was asked to be their “ninong”) for convenience, for status at a time when I was Secretary of Justice, so then I said maybe I will call a spade a spade.  I don’t impose myself upon her,” he added.