Enrile assures Drilon that UNA will be a constructive opposition

Senator Franklin M. Drilon said on Friday/May 31 that Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile assured him that the United Nationalist Alliance will be a constructive opposition in the 16th Congress.

During a meeting yesterday/May 30 in a hotel in Makati, Enrile told Drilon that while UNA will actively engage the Liberal Party-led majority coalition in policy debates in the Senate, Enrile assured him that UNA will not obstruct legislation needed to address pressing national problems such as poverty and unemployment.

"We will not be an obstructionist," Enrile assured Drilon.

Drilon also took the opportunity to discuss with Enrile the matter of the Senate leadership.

"Senator Enrile expressed no objection to my seeking the support of the senators presently identified with him or the so-called 'macho bloc' (Senators Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, Gringo Honasan, and Tito Sotto), so that we can all work together on measures that can improve the lives of our people," Drilon said.

Last week, Drilon met with Sen. Manny Villar, the president of the Nacionalista Party, where Villar assured Drilon the Nacionalista Party will stay with the coalition.

"Sen. Villar assured us that the NP will continue to support the President and his legislative agenda in the Senate and that there will be a common candidate of the coalition in the Senate," Drilon said.

"The people sent a clear message with this election: let's continue with what the President started three years ago," Drilon added.

He said the important measures to be tackled in the next Congress are the new charter that will replace the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, rationalization of government fiscal incentive program, mining law, among others.