Oust-Villar rumors spawn more rumors

A rumored plot to oust Senate President Manuel Villar for allegedly authoring a double appropriation in the 2008 national budget fizzled out yesterday even before it could gather steam.

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, said to be the choice of the plotters, said he was not approached and was not aware of any plot to remove Villar.

"But it’s always a possibility," he told Senate reporters.

"Why should I be offered, who am I?" he added. He said he would rather remain as a "private civilian" in the Senate.

The same afternoon, Enrile named Villar as the author of the double appropriation.

He stressed he will vote again for Villar should another voting take place.

Enrile said senators behind the alleged plot have never stopped since last year.

He did not name names.

Sen. Joker Arroyo said the plotters could always try but succeeding is another thing.

He said that since he voted for Villar, he will still vote for him.

Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel hinted that a brewing coup was gathering steam but doubted if the movers had the numbers.

He stressed he was not approached and said he only heard about it from another colleague Monday.

Before the session started yesterday, rumors were swirling that Villar was minutes away of being ousted as Senate president.

The name of Enrile always cropped up as his possible successor.

The rumors gained credibility after Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who only last week defended Villar from Lacson’s expose, issued a statement calling for the hunting down of the "criminal solon" behind the double entry controversy.

Santiago, who is aligned with Villar, also expressed support to the proposed investigation of Lacson and seven other senators.

But later on the session floor, Santiago said the double entry could have taken place in the bicameral panel when the senators were not looking.

She said there could be syndicate behind the double insertion.

Sen. Richard Gordon said he was certain that Lacson’s expose has "badly damaged a member of the Senate."

"I won’t be surprised kung may mapuruhan dito that could result to a revamp," Gordon said.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said their group was confident that Villar would keep his post amid the controversy facing him.

He said it was clear that the double entry expose was in aid of the fight for the Senate presidency and the 2010 presidential elections.

Lacson stressed that his expose was not about the Senate presidency nor the presidential elections in 2010. – Dennis Gadil