July 13, 2001, Manila Bulletin, Drilon, Cayetano unable to agree on Senate issue, 

The contest for the Senate presidency within the ranks of the administration bloc is far from resolved as the discussion between two contenders - Senators Renato Cayetano and Franklin M. Drilon - on the concept of term sharing ended in an impasse yesterday.

Their meeting was held at the Westin Philippine Plaza with Sen. Juan Flavier acting as amicus curiae. Flavier said he was asked individually by Cayetano and Drilon to mediate.

Drilon, Cayetano, and two other contenders in the administration bloc - incumbent Senate President Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. and Sen. Joker Arroyo - have to resolve among themselves the matter of who should be the Senate chief within the next 10 days.

When he was allied with the Estrada administration by being a member of the now opposition Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) party, Drilon agreed on a time-sharing agreement with Sen. Blas F. Ople in a formula worked out before then President Estrada.

Ople was the Senate President in 1999 for nine months ending April 12, 2000. After that date, Drilon took over the Senate presidency but his tenure was cut short when he left the administrative party after the house of Representatives impeached Estrada late last year.

"A meeting of the giants transpired. There was very extensive discussion but there was an impasse and the aspirants have agreed to continue the dialogue because there has been no agreement in terms of the term-sharing concept," Flavier said.

Drilon confirmed Flavier's assessment of the meeting, saying they took up the "term-sharing arrangement" proposed by Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr.

"This morning's meeting did not produce any substantial agreement. We could not agree on the concept of term-sharing. In deference to Senators Cayetano and Flavier, I prefer that our discussions remain confidential for now," Drilon said.

"I continue to hold meetings with my colleagues in order to finally resolve the issue of the Senate leadership. I expect that we can arrive at a consensus early next week. I am confident that the members of the (administration) People Power Coalition (PPC) will be able to form a working majority soon," he said.

"On the reported endorsement of President Arroyo of my candidacy for the Senate presidency, I would neither confirm nor deny the story," he added.

Flavier maintained that the PPC is the majority bloc in the Upper Chamber "but it is a fragmented majority because lima kami sa Lakas (we are five at Lakas), there are four in the 'House bloc' and the grou of Drilon."

"So we have to solve the impasse so the two groups can vote as one which can muster something like 14 to 15 votes," he said.

The House bloc refers to the group of former congressmen now senators Joker Arroyo, Francis Pangilinan, Ralph Recto, and Manuel Villar.

The opposition LDP-Puwersa ng Masa (PnM) coalition is made up of eight senators led by Sen. Edgardo J. Angara, LDP president.

Asked to comment on the possibility of Angara being able to wrest the Senate presidency from the fractious administration bloc, Flavier said he knows Angara as a "very constructive ally."

"At least that was my experience in the past. I don't think there would be any problem. I know Edong (Angara). He will be a constructive critic but positive," Flavier added.

Angara had earlier said his opposition bloc is close to getting a working majority as he assailed the interference of President Arroyo in the affairs of the Senate, particularly in the selection of Senate president.