ANGARA: ENRILE'S ELECTION AS SP AFFIRMS SENATE UNITY

After today's wide consensus in re-electing Senator Juan Ponce Enrile at the helm of the Senate, Senator Edgardo J. Angara said the Senate as an institution "has proven to be united and independent in its choice of the Senate Presidency."

Angara also assured the country that "as Senator Enrile assumes the leadership of the Senate, we are confident that our legislative agenda for reforms will continue, picking up from where we left off in the last Congress."

The 15th Congress formally opened today with 20 Senators in attendance. Enrile rose to the Senate Presidency again by a 17-vote majority.

"The country can also be assured of an autonomous, reform-oriented and non-obstructionist Senate for this Congress and for the fresh administration of President Noynoy Aquino. We already know the caliber of leadership that Senator Enrile has shown us in the last Congress, so we are confident of his continued commitment to push for both ongoing and future reforms especially under a new government," said Angara, himself a former Senate President.

In the race to the Senate Presidency, Angara's bloc was highly sought after and presumed to be the deciding factor in determining the next Senate leadership.

"I congratulate Senator Enrile, a long-time friend and colleague, and assure him our utmost cooperation in the 15th Congress. I also congratulate my fellow Senators for its unified decision to entrust the Senate Presidency to Senator Enrile," said Angara.