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Ceasefire over: Senate resumes debate on Villar, C5 mess


The supposed ceasefire in the Senate was lifted Monday as the chamber resumed its deliberation on the committee report seeking the censure of Senator Manuel Villar Jr. on his alleged involvement in the C5 road controversy. First to interpellate Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, chairman of the committee of the whole that investigated the case, was Senator Ma Ana Consuelo Madrigal, the complainant. She will be followed by Senate ProTempore Jose 'Jinggoy' Estrada. Senator Joker Arroyo initially objected to it saying that traditionally, those who oppose the report should be given the first crack on the interpellation. Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said it was Madrigal who first registered her intent to interpellate Enrile. Madrigal said she is willing to yield to any member of the minority bloc who wishes to ask questions. "I'm willing to yield to any of the minority ready to interpellate the Senate President so that it will not be said that we are manipulating (the proceedings)," she said. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said he would have been ready to interpellate should Zubiri told him that they would resume discussion on Monday. "I would have been ready if the Majority Leader told me that it was today," he said, adding that he was told the interpellation would be on Wednesday. He said he did not bring with him his computer, which he said he would use to present a map. - Amita Legaspi/KBK, GMANews.TV