Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Wednesday, March 8 said reports of leadership changes in the Senate is “a figment of someone’s boredom and in their between lucid intervals.”
“With due respect, We are not a rubber stamp institution. So this talk is nothing but tabloid gossip rubbish,” he added.
“At the end of the day I serve at the pleasure of my colleagues and if there are 13 votes to elect a new Senate President then i will gladly step down,” he stressed.
Senators led by Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda and Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva rallied around the Zubiri leadership and tagged such talk as “baseless, preposterous and malicious.”
“This is totally untrue. Senate President Miguel Zubiri, the Senate leadership and the majority Senators, together with the minority Senators have been working diligently and productively. We work harmoniously too, even on some contentious issues,” Legarda said.
“Let us focus on our job, to enact laws that best serves our people, at this crucial time in our national life. Let’s not waste any minute on useless, imaginary thoughts that do not uplift lives,” she added.
“Not at all! He is one of the most progressive, hardworking and unifying Senate Presidents. In fact we just passed two priority bills this week alone. (There’s) no basis,” Sen. Grace Poe said.
“Super not true,” Sen. Nancy Binay also said.
Senator Juan Edwardo “Sonny” M. Angara thinks Zubiri is a very good leader and his team from Senate President Pro Tempore and Majority Leader are outstanding.
“They should be given a chance as it is way too early to pass judgment,” he also said.
Villanueva said this news article is ‘’obviously a desperate and pathetic move to destroy not only the reputation of Senate President Migz Zubiri but also to destabilize the integrity of the Senate as an institution.’’
“Obviously the majority of the Senators have put their full trust and confidence in SP (Senate President) Migz’s (Zubiri’s) leadership. Being a consensus-builder, it allowed the Senate to accomplish a lot since the beginning of the 19th Congress,” he added.
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said he and majority of the Senators are satisfied and are happy with the leadership of Senate President “Migz” Zubiri.
“He has been supportive of the administration’s priority measures. Personally talking to every senators in fact to pass the Palace certified measures. He has been supportive of the administration, but fair and allows the Senators maintain their independence on controversial issues by allowing a conscience vote,” he emphasized.
“I still strongly support Senate President Zubiri,” he pointed out.
Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero said: “Not from me and not that I know of.”
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said that Zubiri enjoys the full trust and support of the majority.
He has successfully steered the approval of the 2023 budget at record speed, successfully defended the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement even though the proposal faced stiff opposition among members and most importantly, push for the approval of the country’s first learning recovery program especially in light of the pandemic.
“I am 100 percent sure that the fake news is connected to the talks about constitutional amendments wherein the Senate as body, will play a key role to its success,” Gatchalian said.
Zubiri defended his leadership’s style by involving all members of the Senate on discussing issues and bills are what I feel is ideal for this institution.
“Even the delay in the passage of RCEP was due to the lack of support it got from the main sponsor herself who is the chair of the Committee on Foreign Relations so i took it upon myself to take over and sponsor the measure on the floor. That has never been done before where the Senate President himself will be subject to sponsorship and interpellation, after which we approved and ratified it in three days with the highest ever vote count for a treaty at 20 affirmative votes and only one against with one abstention. Does that not show real leadership in this institution?’’he asked.
“My stand on Senate’s independence as an institution will never wane and my treatment of our employees in the Senate will and always will be my priority till the end of my term,” he added.