Cayetano: Villar's ouster linked to 2010 elections

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said the switching of support by some senators from Senator Manuel Villar to Senator Juan Ponce Enrile may have been related to the presidential elections in 2010.

“I can’t really speculate, but from the start, the rest of the minority wanted what they call a level playing field for 2010 and some didn’t want Senator Villar,” he said.

Cayetano cited Villar’s leadership style as the possible reason why the Senate president lost the support of his colleagues.

“The controversial order to arrest Mr. Bolante may have also touched some nerves of some of the senators here,” he said.

What is important, according to Cayetano, is for the public to keep its eyes on the Senate and for the Senate to keep its integrity and independence from the executive branch.

He also expressed support for Enrile especially on items which need support.

“Hopefully, he will also respect our roles to be fiscalizers,” said Cayetano.

When asked to identify his colleagues who withdrew support from Villar, Cayetano said they only will be apparent when the new majority distributes the committees.

“Since there are only five or six of us who abstained, I would assume that everyone else supported this move for a new leadership,” said Cayetano.

“Everyone who gets their choice is a part of the new majority. I think it is happening now with Senator Miguel Zubiri at the podium,” referring to Zubiri’s present role as Monday’s acting majority floor leader.

Cayetano said some of the committee chairmen have already given up their posts in accordance with the new leadership.

Among those who reportedly withdrew their support from Villar are Senators Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, Francis “Chiz” Escudero, and Edgardo Angara.

Meanwhile, a Senate source told abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak said that with Villar moving up in the presidential opinion polls, other senatorial candidates eyeing the presidency would rather see Villar out of the Senate presidency even it means being allied with the pro-administration senators. abs-cbnnews.com