ON JULY 26, President-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is scheduled to deliver his first State of the Nation Address before a joint Congress session. Before the watchful eyes of the Filipino and observing foreign countries, the president is expected to discuss his plans for the country—the promises he has made before and after he was elected.

Also on that day, the Senate—with its 23 members—will proclaim the next Senate president, the country’s third most powerful man. However, the grueling battle between two dominant political parties—Nacionalista Party and Pres. Aquino’s Liberal Party—seems inevitable as one senator in each party is gunning for the position.

Nacionalista Party President Manny Villar is a favorite to win the Senate leadership despite having been ousted as Senate President in 2008. He resigned as Senate President for his alleged role in the controversial C-5 road extension project. Although he is still facing some unproven charges from his colleagues, Villar’s plan to confront the country’s challenges is still apparent.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan of the Liberal Party confirmed his bid for Senate presidency after receiving the nod from Pres. Aquino and party elders to represent LP. Concerns have surfaced as some feared Pangilinan’s affinity to the President may work against him or the chamber’s independence.

A senator needs 13 votes to secure the Senate presidency. Under the Constitution, majority of the Senate is pegged at 13 because the number of senators is fixed at 24.

Villar has guaranteed four votes from NP—those of Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Bongbong Marcos and his own vote, while Pangilinan is also assured of four votes from LP—those of Franklin Drilon, Teofisto Guingona III, and his own vote. Neither of the two blocs has the 13 needed votes to win Senate presidency yet.

The impasse between the LP and NP has opened the field for a swing vote led by Former Senate President Edgardo Angara. Angara’s bloc claims on a total of seven votes from Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Loren Legarda, Ramon Revilla Jr., Lito Lapid, Vicente Sotto III, Gregorio Honasan and his own.

Angara said his group of seven senators had already talked with both contenders and have expressed that casting their vote will be difficult because both Senators Villar and Pangilinan have all the values they set for Senate leadership. Angara said his group would back a Senate president who will uphold the Senate’s autonomy, push for reforms and should not be an obstructionist.

Both candidates are strong and eligible contenders; both carry with them a highly impressive and trustworthy track record. The position of Senate presidency is about to be filled soon and now the country should be afforded with a well deserved peace after the series of political woes it has experienced.(AJPress)

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( Pubished July 22, 2010 in Asian Journal Las Vegas p. A6 )