The Senate President of the Philippines has moved to vacate his post as the highest official of the Upper House of the Legislative department of the government but the Senate denied his resignation and instead got a show of support from his colleagues.
In a privilege speech delivered during a Senate meeting, the embattled Senate President nominated any of his critics namely Senators Mirriam Defensor-Santiago, Antonio Trillanes IV, Alan Peter Cayetano and Pia Cayetano to take his place.
The Senate President was quoted as saying that:
“The honor of this chamber must be spared from the rapacity and the sly, cunning and ruinous machinations of some people among us who only have their political ambition and self-interest in mind.
One Senator is so desperate that he has repeatedly and shamelessly invoked and sought Malacañang’s involvement and intervention just to get enough support to oust me. He continues to make a mockery of the Senate as an independent institution.
Of threats and coup rumors, we have had enough. I am way too old to be threatened by anyone, least of all by cowards and hypocrites.
I therefore move that the position of Senate President be declared vacant,” Enrile stated.
Right after the privilege speech, Senator Vicente Sotto III objected while Senator Panfilo Lacson moved to divide the Upper House. A total of Eleven Senators voted against Enrile’s motion while Senators Pimentel, Trillanes IV voted for Enrile’s motion to vacate the post. Senators Joker Arroyo and Ferdinand Marcos abstained from voting.
