"Whoever wins the senate presidency by courting the administration senators is clearly the real purveyor of division within the opposition ranks."

“There is an attempt to pin on two other senators (Ping and Loren) and myself the blame for a fragmented opposition in the Senate. Yet, whoever wins the senate presidency by courting the administration senators is clearly the real purveyor of division within the opposition ranks.”

“Whatever the outcome of the SP race, the LP senators except for Sen. Pangilinan will remain within the minority bloc. The people’s mandate in the last election is clear: an independent, fiscalizing Senate under the leadership and control of the opposition. I follow that mandate.”

Sen. Mar Roxas, on the Senate Presidency Imbroglio

Here's what I thought of the whole thing.

More from Ellen Tordesillas:

They are probably thinking that 2010 is three years away. Filipinos have short memories.

Erap reportedly warned Villar about it: “Naku masisira ka niyan.” But Villar reportedly replied, I’ll take my chances. I’m willing to go down as Senate President.”

He also said something like “Media lang dyan. Kayang ayusin yan.”

Yan rin ang sinabi ni Villar kay Lacson, after he failed to live up to his agreement with opposition members, and goes back on his word.

Lacson did not hide his disgust over the reported “flight” of their allies in the opposition to the side of the administration senators as well as the alleged maneuvering by Villar amid their efforts to form a opposition-led majority bloc in the Senate.

In radio reports, he claimed Villar had approached Mrs. Arroyo for support, leaving them hanging in the air, and broached alignment with the ranks of administration senators.

“When he (Villar) was warned that it (his meeting with the President) could adversely affect his political career, he said (his career will be taken care of through ‘media handling’) as if all media are paid hacks who can be cajoled into twisting the real situation,”the opposition senator said.
.....

“There’s nothing wrong with our opposition colleagues supporting Villar or Pimentel or whoever from the opposition. What is unacceptable among the eight of us who compose the minority is Villar and the three other senators’ turning their backs on our agreement that we will stay together in the opposition not join the administration camp,” he said.

maybe pwedeng idaan ito sa "media handling". pero the internets won't forget this, Manny V.

UPDATE: or maybe it will?

UPDATE: the opposition turned down the admin's proposal to oust villar as senate president.

NEOPHYTE Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III yesterday said it was Malacañang that approached the group supporting the Senate presidency bid of minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and not the other way around.

Aquino said the Palace sent an emissary around the last week of May or the first week of June. He said the emissary, whom he declined to name, talked with Sen. Mar Roxas about a deal wherein the eight pro-administration senators would align with at least five senators from the opposition bloc to oust Senate President Manuel Villar.

Aquino said Roxas then consulted the pro-Pimentel group and asked "if we could align with specific administration senators (to elect a new Senate president)."

He said the proposed deal was shot down.

"I declined (the deal) and so did Senator (Rodolfo) Biazon. Subsequently all our efforts have been directed to consolidating the opposition," he said.

But Villar has no compunctions dealing with the admin (dahil talo siya sa bilangan within the GO and oppo members) just to get his SEnate Presidency back.

UPDATE: Thanks kuya manuel for linking.

Eto yung lastest ko sa isyung ito:

- quote of the day from Loren Legarda
- Lito Banayo's inside info on what really happened