Enrile vows to make Senate free
from personal political interests

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile today vowed that he would preside over a Senate that will maintain its reputation of independence and uphold its tradition of integrity and freedom by making it free from personal political interests.

Speaking before the weekly Senate flag raising ceremony, Enrile said he will be guided only by public interests in the performance of his tasks as Senate President.

"I can assure you that I will never do anything that will shame the Senate," Enrile told the more than 800 Senate employees present. "I will maintain its reputation of independence, its tradition of integrity and freedom, unencumbered by any political consideration, unencumbered by any political ambition and unencumbered by any of my own personal interest."

"The only guide that I will use in running the Senate is: What is it that is going to be good for the country?" Enrile said. "And to answer that question, I will only be answerable to God and my conscience and the Filipino people."

Enrile assumed the Senate presidency last Nov. 17 vice former Senate President Manuel Villar. In past media interviews, Enrile dismissed speculations that neither Malacanang nor former Senate President Joseph Estrada had a hand in his installation as Senate President.

In his speech, Enrile said he did not expect to be named Senate President. "I'm humbled to appear before you as the newly installed president of our institution, the Senate of the Republic of the Philippines," Enrile said. "This is something that I never expected. I never worked for it. I never asked anyone of the members of the Senate to elevate me to this exalted position."

Before the Senate reorganization, Enrile revealed that he warned Villar of "ongoing efforts" to oust him as Senate President. "To a certain extent, I must tell you that I was saddened because I never realized, that at a certain time in my life, having served for the government for almost five decades (I started government service in 1966) that I would become an instrument to oust him, and that is our former Senate President Manny Villar. There was never any instance, or any effort, to act clandestinely against him on my part."

Enrile also assured the Senate Secretariat led by Senate Secretary Emma Reyes of his full support. "I know that you are the Senate. Employees of the Senate are the Senate of the Philippines. You are the permanent structure of this institution. A senator like me is a transient member. We come and go. But you remain. You are the memory of the institution," Enrile pointed out.