MANILA (PNA) — Neophyte senator Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. vowed on Thursday to keep his support for senator Manny Villar in the exciting battle for the Senate presidency.

"It is a prerogative of an intelligence mind to change his idea but I cannot see right now any great impetus to change by the position that I have supporting Manny Villar for the Senate presidency," Marcos said his first interview as senator with Senate media during the weekly Kapihan sa Senado.

Marcos said that Villar's Nacionalista Party has contributed in his success in the last elections to reach the Senate where his father, the late former President Ferdinand Marcos, served as Senate president from 1963 to 1965.

"It's my loyalty to the party that I got elected to the Senate. I've never been comfortable about changing party. It would be in the interest of loyalty, propriety and consistence that I stayed with the NP," he explained.

Marcos admitted the he has already signed a resolution expressing sense of support for Villar to get the Senate presidency.

However, the lawmaker from Ilocos refused to reveal the other senators who signed the resolution.

"It's not for me to tell. I can tell you about my position, I will tell you I signed. I don't think it would be proper for me to speak for the others," Marcos said.

When asked about the chances of Villar getting the required 13 votes, Marcos said the NP president "is making very good progress in gaining support for his presidency."

Marcos has seen indication that the block of senator Edgardo Angara might choose Villar over senator Kiko Pangilinan of the Liberal Party.

"With the pronouncement of senator Angara that he thinks that the LP candidate is too close to the President (Benigno Aquino) which I think would be an indication as to which way he is leaning," Marcos said.

Aside from Marcos, other senators expected to vote for Villar include Miriam Defensor Santiago, Loren Legarda, Pia Cayetano, Joker Arroyo and Alan Peter Cayetano.

Angara has claimed his block is composed of senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Ramon 'Bong' Revilla, Gringo Honasan, Tito Sotto III and Lito Lapid.

On the other hand, Pangilinan is already assured of support from other LP member senators Teofisto Guingona Jr., Ralph Recto and Franklin Drilon who gave way to Pangilinan. LP is also counting support of senator Serge Osmena.

Marcos revealed that he has already talked with incumbent Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, saying the veteran lawmaker is not seeking anew the highest position in the Senate. (PNA)