MANILA, Philippines ? After crossing swords with them for some time, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Friday found herself sharing the limelight with two of her bitter critics?Senators Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Francis Pangilinan.

The occasion in Plaridel, Bulacan: the signing of a bill extending the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program for another five years.

Pimentel and Pangilinan, along with fellow bill proponents Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Gregorio Honasan, turned up at the signing of Republic Act 9700 in a packed gym in front of the municipal hall.

The crowd, especially women employees, erupted into cheers when Pangilinan arrived at the gym, briefly forgetting he was a vocal critic of the administration?s policies.

Ms Arroyo, who arrived last, was gracious, acknowledging Pimentel and Pangilinan along with other lawmaker proponents in a media interview prior to the signing ceremony.

?Congratulations to our authors, sponsors and the champions of land reform,? she later said, addressing the senators and congressmen.

Differences of opinion

Pangilinan was among the senators, congressmen and several government officials who crowded around the President on the stage when she signed Republic Act 9700. Pimentel stayed in his seat because he had difficulty going up the stage.

?She?s being civil,? Pimentel said when asked in an interview how he felt when Ms Arroyo acknowledged him and Pangilinan. ?I never take things personally. I criticize her for differences of opinion.?

The opposition senator said he was invited by the Office of the President to the signing, and was only too glad to witness it for the sake of the farmer-beneficiaries.

?This law is for the landless tenants. I was a part of the legislators who really worked hard to get this enacted. And I want to see it signed by the President. I?m so happy that the people for whom this law has been crafted are enjoying this moment,? he said.

Pimentel said the last time he appeared with Ms Arroyo was a ?long time ago.?

Pangilinan, who last appeared in public with Ms Arroyo more than a year ago and has indicated plans to take a crack at the vice presidency in the May 2010 elections, left after the signing and picture-taking. He later sought to downplay his presence.

?I was there because it was my duty as chairman of the agrarian reform committee and chairperson of the Senate panel of the congressional oversight committee on agrarian reform,? he later said in a text message.

Part of the job

?No big deal, really. All this is part of the job of governance. We may not see eye to eye on a number of issues, but this should not mean we cannot be civil toward each other,? he added.

After initially supporting Ms Arroyo after she rose to the presidency in January 2001, Pimentel and Pangilinan became critical of her after her alleged involvement in irregularities surfaced.

At different times, both had called for Ms Arroyo?s resignation over scandals that dogged her administration.