A political firestorm now rages at the Senate after 12 senators led by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr., in a five-page resolution, cleared Senator Manuel “Manny’’ Villar Jr., the presumptive standard bearer of the Nacionalista Party (NP), of unethical conduct which was that he benefited from the controversial C-5 road double-insertion issue.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, apparently taken off guard by the resolution, said he wanted to know the purpose of the resolution and ‘’to find out the basis of that resolution, is it based on evidence? I would like to see the analysis of the evidence (presented to the Senate committee of the whole chaired by Enrile) if there is an analysis.’’

Enrile said he is ready to accept the judgment of his peers on the committee of the whole report which is still being prepared and would be submitted very soon to the Senate floor for signing by senators.

“If it becomes a minority report, so be it,’’ he added.

Villar had refused to attend the hearings. He ventilated his position on the matter to media, stressing that he is innocent of the charges of unethical conduct.

The charge sheet against Villar stated that he used his position of power and authority “to influence public officials in relocating the C-5 road extension project to deliberately pass through his properties and to negotiate the purchase of road rights of way thru several properties also owned by his corporations redounding in huge benefits for him to the detriment of the Filipino people thereby resulting in a blatant conflict of interest.’’

The resolution was signed by eight members of the Minority bloc and four members of the Majority bloc.

The Minority bloc was led by Senate President Pro Tempore Jose “Jinggoy’’ Estrada and Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr.

The other signatories in the minority group were Senators Alan Peter S. Cayetano, Pilar Juliana ‘’Pia’’ S. Cayetano, Joker P. Arroyo, Loren Legarda, Francis “Kiko’’ Pangilinan and Villar himself.

Villar wrote after his signature “bilang pagtatanggol sa aking pangalanan (this is in defense of my name).’’

The members of the Senate majority bloc who signed the resolution were Manuel “Lito’’ Lapid, Gregorio “Gringo’’ Honasan, Miriam Defensor Santiago and Ramon “Bong’’ Revilla Jr.

The resolution was deemed important for Villar as the November 30 deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy for elective national election approaches.

Senators Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby’’ Madrigal and Panfilo M. Lacson vehemently objected to the resolution as they were the ones who initiated the probe against their colleague in the 23-member Senate.