Drilon: Senate ‘one of the most unmanageable groups’

Senator Franklin Drilon

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate now being headed by Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile has been described by Senator Franklin Drilon as one of the “most unmanageable” groups.

“I’ve been in the Senate for 15 years. This is one of the most unmanageable groups,” Drilon said in a television interview Tuesday night.

“As the recent event would show, it is the most unmanageable,” he said, apparently referring to last week’s exchange of verbal insults among  some senators over how  the  Senate  funds  were being spent.

“I repeat, my 15 years of experience in the Senate, they are the most unmanageable. Look, in the recent past and even today, can you tell me who is in the majority and the minority in the Senate?” said the senator.

This was the reason why, Drilon said, it was important for President Benigno Aquino III to have the support of the majority of the Senate so he can push a lot of reforms during the last three years of his administration.

“Yes. He (Aquino) is going to spend his political capital for his candidates. He is not afraid to spend his political capital because there are a lot of reforms that he has to do in the last three years of his administration,” said the senator.

“Therefore, it is essential that he should have the majority in the Senate in order that he can push these reforms,” he added.

Drilon has been  floated  by some senators as a possible replacement of Enrile, who has been highly criticized for giving senators P1.6  million each last December except for four known allies— Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, Senators  Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV and Pia Cayetano.