Nearly two weeks before embarking on another six-year term as senator, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on Friday took his oath of office before Chief Justice Renato C. Corona.

Enrile, who won re-election after placing fifth in the May 10 senatorial polls, said his swearing-in before the Chief Justice was his way of showing respect for the Supreme Court and to discourage divisiveness among the three branches of government.

“I came here to take my oath before the highest magistrate of the land. And this I do in order to recognize the institutions of our government. We operate under a republican-democratic form of government where powers of government are divided into three parts – the Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary,” Enrile told reporters when interviewed after the oath-taking.

As head of the Senate – which is one half of Congress – Enrile said he finds it necessary to take his oath before “the highest officer, magistrate of the third department of the government, who is no less than the Chief Justice of the land.”

Enrile also reacted at President-elect Aquino decision who broke the tradition by not allowing the Chief Justice to administer his oath.

“We should not create division. We should create an atmosphere and an environment of unity in spite of our diversity,” Enrile said.

Aquino has decided to take his oath before Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, the lone dissenter in the March 17 decision of the Supreme Court (SC) allowing President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to appoint the next Chief Justice.