Senate leadership change likely

A change of Senate leadership looms making it harder for President Gloria Arroyo to have control of the upper house of Congress.

The battle for the Senate leadership has been going on for a week, causing Arroyo a major headache because she needs a majority in Congress for the passage of her favourite bills.

Moreover, the ongoing fight in the Senate could cause a defection of the majority senators to the Opposition, making Arroyo's presidency weak and unstable.

Senate minority leader, Aquilino Pimentel, said at least two disgruntled administration senators were expected to join the minority.

If they defect, the configuration in the Senate will favour the minority, now composed of 11 senators. It will also trigger a reorganisation, said analysts, who added that this will make the senate quite ineffective.

They note that if this happens, it will reflect on Arroyo's performance as a president until 2004. Arroyo is expected to run for the presidency at the end of the term of former president Joseph Estrada, which she is now finishing since his ouster in January, 2001.

The ongoing Senate scuffle involves current Senate president Frank Drilon and Pimentel.

Pimentel said he was willing to relinquish the minority seat any time in favour of Opposition senator, Edgardo Angara.

But Pimentel is widely believed to be pro-Arroyo. He resigned as Senate president when many of his colleagues prevented the release of more evidence on the secret account of Estrada during his impeachment trial last year.