Enrile says aquino ally must get senate finance committee

By Andres Garcia

SENATE President Juan Ponce Enrile believes that any government will "collapse" if the chairmanship of the committee on finance as well as the committee on ways and means will not be given to the President's allies in Congress.

Enrile said this was the reason why he “promised” the chairmanship of fi- nance panel to Sen. Franklin Drilon while he assured the ways and means to Sen. Ralph Recto. Both are members of the Liberal Party like President Benigno Aquino III.

The head of the powerful Blue Ribbon Committee which is tasked to investigate anomalies in the government will be headed by Sen. Francis Pangilinan, another LP member.

Enrile said he has been in the government for a long time and he knew the needs of the administration.

“The program of government is the budget. The support is the ways and means committee. If those two committees are handled by people who are not of the confidence of the President, his administration will surely collapse,” Enrile explained.

“If this administration will bog down, it is not the President who will suffer but the nation and the people.”

However, Enrile maintained that the Senate will remain independent from Malacañang.

"There is no question about that. No one can say we are going to be lackeys of anybody, not even the President with due respect to him. I can assure you of that,” Enrile added.