After gaining vote of confidence, Enrile ready to face foes

Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile admitted that his motion to declare his post vacant was his way to get the “vote of confidence” of his peers.

And Enrile got what he wanted when 11 senators voted to reject his motion Monday.

“Vote of confidence ang hinihingi ko (is what I’m asking for). I’ve not committed anything wrong to resign,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

But since there was so much talk about the alleged cash gifts he gave to senators last year, Enrile said he decided to ask for the “confidence” of his colleagues to find out if they still want him to stay as Senate President.

“And I’m glad that they expressed their position and I’m thankful to them,” Enrile said.

Despite this, the Senate leader reiterated his readiness to any attempts by his foes to unseat him.

“It’s OK with me if they keep on and I’m waiting for the time that they  can muster the number of vote necessary to make me (resign),” Enrile.

And if necessary, he said, he would move again to declare his post vacant.

Enrile also repeated that he was willing to answer in court all questions being hurled at him over the P2.2 million additional maintenance and other operating expenses that he gave each to 18 senators in 2012.

But as to Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s plan to investigate the controversy, Enrile said: “I don’t know whether she has jurisdiction to do that.”