Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra yesterday questioned the change in the Senate leadership at a time when it is handling what he called “two very questionable and immoral issues, which need objective and impartial investigations.”

“People like myself can’t help raising our eyebrows. Why?” the bishop said.

Manuel Villar, after losing the numbers needed to retain his post, resigned as Senate president Monday and was replaced by pro-administration Senator Juan Ponce Enrile.

The ouster of Villar came as the Senate was conducting investigations into the P728 million fertilizer fund scam and the recent Philippine National Police Moscow fund mess.

It has been alleged that the P728 million distributed by former agriculture official Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante to allies of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo around the country was used for their 2004 campaign kitties, an allegation that Bolante has denied.

Retired PNP comptroller Eliseo de la Paz, who has been subjected to a Senate inquiry, too, was stopped by customs authorities in Moscow on Oct. 11 for carrying funds beyond the allowable limit in Russia.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, who nominated Enrile as the new Senate president, said the C-5 road controversy, which implicated Villar, triggered the movement for change in the Senate.

Senator Mar Roxas told the DAILY STAR yesterday that the vote to replace Villar reflected the view of the senators for change in leadership. It was timely to preserve the integrity of the institution in view of the C-5 controversy, he said.

Yesterday Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri was elected majority floor leader and concurrent chairman of the committee on rules, while Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada was reinstated as Senate pro-tempore.

Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Zayco, an uncle of Zubiri, said the senator is very competent to hold the post and, “We are proud that he is part Negrense.”

As to the resignation of Villar, Zayco said “We will just respect his decision and that of the other senators.”

On the take over by Enrile of the Senate presidency, Zayco said he is the most senior senator who had served the government in various capacities. He is a very experienced public servant and is qualified for the job, Zayco said.

Zubiri, in an interview yesterday, said Senator Lacson was sure to get the committee on accounts, and also wants the ethics committee, which is handling the case filed against Villar over the C-5 road project controversy.

Senator Richard Gordon is eyeing the powerful Blue Ribbon Committee, formerly chaired by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Zubiri said.

Senator Rojas who heads the committee on trade and industry is also eyeing the committee on education, he added.*CPG

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