Enrile Takes Oath, Thanks Court
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MANILA — Former Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile took his oath as a senator Friday and thanked the Supreme Court for settling a three-month dispute over the May 11 election.
About 150 supporters cheered and applauded when Enrile walked into the court’s main hall, where Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee administered the oath. He was accompanied by his wife, Cristina, two children and three grandchildren.
The Commission on Elections formally proclaimed Enrile a winner Thursday, one day after the court ordered that Enrile be installed as the Senate’s 24th and final member.
Enrile, a fervent opponent of President Corazon Aquino, joins movie actor Joseph Estrada, the only other candidate of the opposition Grand Alliance for Democracy elected to the upper house. The other senators ran on Aquino’s “People Power” coalition ticket.
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