MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on Wednesday denied that he made up his story about Senator (NP) Manuel Villar offering his help in exchange for Enrile's support in the Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer's ethics case.

He said there was "no reason to fabricate" his discussions with Villar in that August 29, 2009 meeting.

Enrile said he had a witness, his chief of staff Gigi Reyes, while Villar had none. He added that Villar came to "talk the way he talked."

Enrile quoted Villar as telling him during the meeting: "Manong, pag may pangangailangan naman kayo, maaari naman ako tulungan kita (Manong, if you ever need anything, maybe I can help)."

He said he felt like Villar was trying to buy his loyalty and bribe him.

Enrile added he excused himself and left his chief of staff to talk with Villar because he felt very uncomfortable.

Force Villar group's presence at plenary

Meanwhile, Enrile said senators will resume plenary session on Wednesday afternoon to take up the Senate committee of the whole report recommending the censure of Villar. 

He said members of the majority were scheduled to interpellate the sponsors of a resolution which previously cleared Villar in connection with the C-5 road project controversy.

The resolution was signed by at least 11 senators who are supportive of Villar, including his vice-presidential candidate, Sen. Loren Legarda of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC).

Enrile said independent presidential candidate Sen. Jamby Madrigal, who filed the ethics case against Villar, will be interpellated by Villar's group.

He also expects to be interpellated by Villar's group.

Asked if he is anticipating a boycott by the pro-Villar senators, Enrile said that if that happens, any senator present at the plenary can express a motion asking the Senate leadership to order the sergeant-at-arms to forcibly bring members of the minority to the plenary to attend the session.

"I hate to do this, but if it becomes necessary in order to serve the interest of the country, then I will do it. There's no question about that," Enrile said in an interview over ANC’s On The Scene.

At the hearing, members of the majority spent an hour talking about the issue before declaring a "ceasefire" and suspending the debate on the pending censure of Villar.

Sen. Miguel Zubiri, majority floor leader, said the Senate had to defer tackling Villar's ethics case and focus on more important pending bills because they only have until February 5 before Congress goes on recess for the May 10 election campaign.

Bayan Muna backs Villar

Meanwhile, a Bayan Muna leader on Wednesday came to the rescue of Villar. Two Bayan Muna candidates are guest senatorial bets of the NP.

A radio dzMM report said that according to Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, Enrile probably lied about the alleged bribe offer of Villar to Enrile.

Colmenares said Enrile, who was then the secretary of national defense, admitted faking his own assassination that was used by the late President Ferdinand Marcos as one of the reasons for the declaration of martial law in 1972.

Colmenares added that Enrile could have made up the story that he met with Villar last Aug. 29, 2009 and was asked by the NP presidential candidate to tone down the committee report on his ethics case. - With a report from Jun Lingcoran, radio dzMM