11/18/2008

Lapid on Enrile vote: Nothing I can do
By Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE) Senator Lito Lapid has admitted to voting for Senator Juan Ponce-Enrile as Senate President because there was nothing he could do.

Lapid was counted as among the 14 senators, who voted for Enrile to replace incumbent Manny Villar.

But in an interview Tuesday, Lapid clarified that he did not vote for Enrile thinking that there was no longer need for a vote since Villar had stepped down from his post.

In a separate radio interview, Lapid said he is joining the Senate minority.

"Nakaboto na ako, pero sasama na rin ako sa minority [I have voted, but I will join the minority]," Lapid said.

“Wala na akong magagawa, on record na yun [There was nothing I could do. That’s on record]. E magkakagulo lang pag nag-manifest pa ako [There will only be confusion if I issue a manifestation],” he said.

“Nag-resign na e [He has resigned]. Wala nang pagtatalunan [We have no more arguments on that]. Ba’t pagbobotohan wala nang kalaban [Why do we have to vote on it when there’s no one else]?” he said.

With Villar’s resignation, Lapid thought that Enrile would “automatically” assume the Senate presidency.

“Walang pagbobotohan kasi automatic na nag-resign si Villar so automatic ding [na-elect] si Senator Enrile [There is nothing to vote for since Villar’s resignation was automatic, naturally, so was Enrile’s assumption of the post automatic],” he pointed out.

But despite this, Lapid said he would not withdraw his vote for Enrile and even promised to give his full support to the new Senate president.

“Idol ko yan…Susuportahan ko yan [He’s my idol…I will support him],” he further said.

Senator Richard Gordon, who voted for Enrile, confirmed that Lapid was never part of the anti-Villar group.

“He [Lapid] just announced his vote on the floor,” Gordon said over the phone.


Source: INQ

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