The C-5 road project controversy and other committee reports pending at the Senate would not be tackled when Congress resumes session at the end of May, incumbent Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said.

Enrile said the Senate may not be willing to dispose pending matters left hanging when the Senate adjourned sessions last February due to lack of time. Congress is set to resume sessions on May 31 to June 4.

“The purpose of the joint session is only to canvass. I don’t think we can dispose
of any other matter. I will have to consult with the Majority Floor Leader and the Minority Floor Leader,” Enrile said at a press forum.

Senator Manuel Villar Jr., a real estate magnate, earlier said he wished to be given the opportunity to clear himself from the allegations that he profited from the road project when he recently conceded defeat in the May election presidential race.

The C-5 road project was one of the issues hurled against Villar during the 90-day campaign period. Critics accused him of failing to avoid conflict-of-interest situation and using his position as then Senate President to realign the Las Pinas-Parañaque and C-5 road to pass through his real estate properties.

Villar had denied the accusations and maintained the project was legal. He also chastised his rivals for not bringing the issue to the courts which he said is the proper fora.

Last February, the Senate was about to vote on whether Villar should be censured for allegedly benefiting from the project but was derailed after he and his allies in the Senate did not show up at the last day of session.

But Enrile, who chairs the Senate committee of the whole that presided over the case, said he sees no need for the Senate to tackle the issue since the country has just recovered from a rigorous election.

“Huwag muna nating pag-usapan iyon (Let’s not talk about it at this time). We should quiet the country instead of cause divisions. We just got through a rigorous campaign which divided the country,” Enrile said.

“Now, it’s time to heal it. All of these issues must be set aside. I am only a presiding officer in that case. I have no special, personal interest in it,” Enrile said.