Official Senate photo

Senate chief Juan Ponce Enrile is nimbly transforming himself into a champion of democracy and honest elections, trying to leave behind like an abandoned snakeskin his long-held role as suppressor of basic freedoms.

But what is he really up to?

The May 31, 2010 issue of Tribune newspaper quoted him as saying on radio station DZBB that “my target” for proclaiming the next president is June 15. But then he added:

If there will be any snag, it still should not be later than the 28th or 29th of June.

He vowed:

I will not allow this country to be without a president by June 30. I will not let that happen even if they hang me.

Should we clap now that he is the people’s champ for democracy?

I would clap except for this tiny bit of information that I got two weeks ago that makes me suspect Enrile is up to something that in the end will benefit himself. Of course it could also benefit the Filipino people but that remains to be seen.

Two weeks ago, I was doing a story for my newspaper SCMP and I managed to talk
to ex-president Joseph Estrada’s closest ally, former Senator and Philippine ambassador to Washington Ernesto Maceda.

Enrile told Estrada – don’t concede

Maceda explained to me why Estrada will not concede to Senator Benigno Aquino III just yet. And he mentioned in passing that it was Enrile who advised Estrada not to concede.

He told me: “Manong Johnny advised (Estrada) against early concession.” Maceda quoted Enrile as saying that despite the swift counting of Smartatic and Comelec, as of 5 pm of May 11th, not a single COC (certificate of canvass) had arrived at the Senate.

Maceda is used to my being makulit – now how do I translate that into English? Bothersome with questions?

So I asked Maceda – are you saying Enrile met with Estrada and personally told him not to concede?

Maceda replied:

It was Enrile who strongly recommended that Erap not issue a statement.

For days I waited for Enrile to disclose that bit of information. But to this day he continues to give the public the impression that he has nothing to do with Estrada’s refusal to concede. That he will try mightily to resolve all issues that will snag Aquino’s proclamation when in reality, all he has to do is tell Estrada that he, Enrile, no longer has any objections to it and Estrada can already concede defeat.

Perhaps Enrile could explain why he is holding the entire nation hostage when he knows perfectly well that Aquino had nothing to do with the election cheating.

As for Estrada’s complaint, I believe now that he has reason to complain but it doesn’t mean he was robbed of his victory by Aquino, as what Koala Bear claimed in that suspicious videotape.

Enrile is the last person to take up the cudgels for someone who was cheated in an election. Fifteen years ago, Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr accused Enrile of cheating him of victory in the 1995 Senate race. Pimentel won his case against Enrile before the Senate Electoral Tribunal. Enrile tried to have the decision reversed by the Supreme Court but lost.

Here is the link to the ruling dismissing Enrile’s appeal.

I asked one of my sources why Enrile did not want Estrada to concede. My source laughed and said Enrile must be “horsetrading”. Perhaps he wants to remain Senate President for starters?

It must hurt Enrile so

That’s entirely possible. But there might also be another reason.

The sudden election of Senator Aquino to the presidency must hurt Enrile so. When he was around the same age as Senator Manuel Villar is today, Enrile lusted after the presidency. I interviewed him then for Business Day when he was at the height of this Martial Law administrator powers. He cut a dashing figure.

He made it known without saying it aloud that he intended to foil the presidential ambitions of then First Lady Imelda Marcos and the military chief Fabian Ver. He intended to succeed Marcos.

The plot that would have installed Enrile to power was unfortunately discovered by Marcos. Then people power came to Enrile’s rescue and prevented Marcos from killing Enrile.

And Corazon Aquino became president. She had no choice but to embrace Enrile
and make him defense secretary.

But that did not stop Enrile from wanting to be president. His chief aide-de-campe Gregorio Honasan led a series of bloody coup attempts – including one that laid siege to the Makati business district -  to try to dislodge Aquino from Malacañang Palace.

Fighting back, Mrs Aquino charged Enrile with the crime of “rebellion complexed with murder” and jailed him overnight, I think. It was sweet revenge to all the human rights victims of Enrile and Marcos. And that included the Aquino family, I guess.

Now Enrile is again confronted with the difficult task of proclaiming as president the son of the woman who foiled his precious ambition. Ooh, that must hurt.