The expose on the P1.6-million Christmas bonus given by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to 19 senators was made to instigate change in the chamber, according to the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

The UNA, a coalition between Vice President Jejomar Binay’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan and former president Joseph “Erap” Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, made the pronouncement in a statement of support for Enrile who is one of its key leaders and a member of the UNA executive committee.

“There are certain parties who will use this supposed controversy to advance their own agenda of instigating a leadership change in the Senate. Such a move would be ill-advised and politically provocative,” said Rep. Tobias Tiangco of Navotas City, UNA secretary-general.

Tiangco said that Grace Tan, chairman of the Commission on Audit, has stated that the bonuses given to senators were legal.

Tiangco added that since assuming the Senate leadership in 2008, Enrile has strictly adhered to commission’s rules and regulations regarding the Senate budget.

“It is obvious that the allegations against the Senate president, first made by a source who refused to be named, are baseless and can be safely dismissed as political grandstanding. UNA reiterates its commitment to good governance, transparency, accountability and independence, principles that everyone in the alliance, including Senate President Enrile, has sworn to uphold and protect,” Tiangco said.