MALOLOS, Bulacan—Vice President Leni Robredo and running mate Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan officially dropped reelectionist Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri from their ticket after he openly endorsed former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s presidential bid.
Lawyer Barry Gutierrez, Robredo’s spokesman, made the announcement through a statement released to the media on Wednesday, April 27.
“His open endorsement of another presidential candidate, in contravention of the agreement with all guest candidates, led to this decision,” he said.
“With 12 days remaining before elections, we are moving forward with our 11-candidate Senate slate,” Gutierrez added.
The reelectionist senator first called Marcos “our president” on March 31 and raised his hand with his father, Gov. Jose Maria Zubiri, during Marcos’ Malaybalay, Bukidnon rally.
Bukidnon is the hometown and bailiwick of the Zubiris.
Zubiri is a guest candidate in the Marcos-Duterte, Pacquiao-Atienza, Lacson-Sotto, and Robredo-Pangilinan tickets. But under the terms, he should not openly endorse any presidential bet.
READ: Robredo says her campaign team will decide on Zubiri’s fate
His apparent endorsement of Marcos pushed Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III to drop him from the ticket.
Pacquiao has yet to drop him from their ticket.
Zubiri is one of the adopted senatorial candidates in the Robredo-Pangilinan slate, along with former Vice President Jejomar Binay, Sorsogon Gov. Francis “Chiz”Escudero, reelectionist Senators Joel Villanueva and Richard Gordon.
The Leni-Kiko senatorial slate also includes former Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr., incumbent Senators Leila de Lima and Risa Hontiveros, human rights lawyer Manuel “Chel” Diokno, labor leader Sonny Matula, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, and book author Alex Lacson.