The Graduates

THE adjournment sine die of the 16th Congress last Monday also saw the “graduation” of six senators who had ended their second consecutive six-year term: Juan Ponce Enrile, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Pia Cayetano, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Revilla and Lito Lapid.

Of the six, I covered JPE the longest – and for good reason. He has the longest stint in the legislature among them, with four terms in the Senate and one term in the House. I first covered him at the Regular Batasan (1984-1986), at the House in the 9th Congress, and at the Senate until I ended my stint as Senate reporter for the Manila Times three years ago.