Senator Juan Ponce Enrile would be proclaimed on Monday as the Senate President of the 15th Congress after gaining the support of 21 senators Sunday.

With the exception of Senators Panfilo Lacson and Antonio Trillanes IV, Enrile is now backed by a “grand coalition” of senators, mostly from the Nacionalista Party (NP) and the Liberal Party (LP).

Sen. Edgardo Angara, whose group was earlier perceived to provide the swing vote for the two main contenders Senators Manuel Villar, Jr. and Francis Pangilinan, said no voting would commence on Monday since Enrile will be proclaimed Senate President by acclamation.

Angara disclosed the consensus among senators after a series of meetings from each group and faction.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada also returns as Senate President Pro Tempore while Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III will head the majority group.

Angara further said that all 37 Senate committees have been distributed except the Finance Committee.

He said he and Sen. Franklin Drilon of the LP are still negotiating over the Finance Committee chairmanship.

Angara previously headed the Finance Committee.

Pangilinan was offered to head the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee which will investigate anomalies in government.

Angara, however, said the Senate will discuss who would be the minority in the next few days.

He said some senators who supported Enrile may have the option to be part of the minority.

Early in the day, Pangilinan announced he was withdrawing his bid for the top post race to keep the Chamber from being “fragmented and disunited.”

“Sa halip na pagkakaisa ay nagkanya –kanya (Instead of uniting each went on their own). This does not serve the national interest. It is a disservice to our people who want to see in our leaders’ efforts at solving the country’s many problems. Instead, they see political maneuvering and posturing,” Pangilinan said.

Villar, who was also in contention, decided not to regain the leadership of the Senate and, instead, decided to support Enrile.