Drilon in tight situation presiding over Senate pork probe

By: Bong Lozada - 10 years ago

Senate President Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—He may be the “big guy” in the Senate, but this hefty senator has some tough bumps ahead.

After Senate blue ribbon committee chair Senator Teofisto Guingona III recommended that fellow senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. be filed with plunder charges, Senate President Sen. Franklin Drilon admitted that he is in a “very difficult” situation.

“It’s extremely difficult, I will not deny it, we are still humans after all,” Drilon told INQUIRER Radio 990AM Wednesday. “It’s difficult but that is what we have to face.”

“This is a process to reveal the truth, which I think is the first time that this kind of episode has happened in the Philippine Senate.”

Drilon also downplayed Estrada’s accusations that the investigation regarding their involvement in the Priority Development Fund Scam is a massacre of the opposition.

He said that the Senate investigation does not lead to any of Estrada’s claims and the evidence does not support the beleaguered senator’s conclusions.

Drilon, however, said that he could not blame Estrada for his accusations.

“I’m not blaming Senator Jinggoy to claim that what is happening is considered as political persecution, but the evidence and findings would not support the conclusion.”

Estrada allegedly received PDAF kickbacks amounting to P183.79 million while Revilla and Enrile each received P224.5 million and P172.8 million respectively.

Drilon, however, said that the investigation has not dented his personal relationship with Enrile, which he described as a “no problem” relationship.

“He understands where I am coming from, he understands that this is a public issue and it cannot be helped that statements would be made public,” Drilon said of his predecessor on the Senate presidency.

Drilon added that no matter what happens, he must defend the Senate with his position as its president.

“At this point as the Senate president, I’m not only the president of majority, but the president of both the majority and the minority and it’s my responsibility in the institution and I must defend that institution.”