PNoy SONA 2010: Sonny Belmonte and Juan Ponce Enrile Leads 15th Congress

Quezon City 4th Dist. Representative Sonny Belmonte and veteran Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile will lead the 15th Congress of the Philippines. Enrile was elected through 17-3 votes against rival Sen. Alan Peter Cayetono while Belmonte was elected through a 227-29 votes over rival, ALbay Representative Edcel Lagman.

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile had been the leader of the previous senate and was catapulted to the post over a coup against then Senate President Manny Villar. Senators Manny Villar of the Nacionalista Party and Kiko Pangilinan of the Liberal Party both withdrew their bid after failing to muster the needed 13 votes.

“Much as I would like to go down fighting, I realize that to continue with my bid would keep the Senate fragmented and disunited. The disunity must now end. I believe I can help make it happen by voluntarily stepping aside," Pangilinan said in a statement on Sunday.

Meanwhile Sen. Enrile said that his triumph was a triumph of the Filipino people because the Senate for the first time had been a united senate. In the House of Representatives the atmosphere is very similar.

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who is now a Representative of Pampanga is still very influential and says will lead the minority in Congress. Despite having 139 elected LAKAS-KAMPI members in Congress only 29 remained loyal to Mrs. Arroyo.

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