Enrile: ‘Why should I resign’

CALLING IT QUITS Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile’s chief of staff, lawyer Gigi Reyes (inset), tenders her resignation after the controversy romantically linking her to the Senate President. But Enrile says he will urge her to stay. RICHARD REYES

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile rejected on Thursday the idea of resigning irrevocably from his post lest  he be accused of being guilty of any wrongdoing.

It was Enrile’s resigned chief of staff, Attorney Jessica “Gigi” Reyes, who claimed last week that the Senate leader was contemplating to resign irrevocably even after his motion to declare his post vacant was defeated when 11 senators voted against it.

“Why should I resign irrevocably? I have not done anything wrong,” Enrile said in a press briefing.

“You  know, I thought about this thing.  I studied the matter very carefully. If I resign,  I will be running away from responsibilites and then the impression of the people might be; ‘Oh Enrile resigns because he’s guilty.’ I’m not guilty of anything.”

Enrile reiterated his challenge to anyone file a case against him if he has indeed committed any wrongdoing.

“They can file the case anywhere and I’ll face them directly,” he said.

“But I don’t want to argue the problem in an uncontrolled situation where everybody talks. There are no rules except the ability  to master words and the flexibilty of your tongue,” Enrile added.

Enrile’s recent exchange of words with Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano had turned personal.