Zubiri says he will retire from politics in 2028
Published Jun 30, 2023 03:55 am
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri will retire from politics come 2028.
"I’ve already gone through so many hardships politically. If God says take a break, take a break," Zubiri told Senate reporters during a Kapihan sa Senado press briefing yesterday, June 29.
Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri (Senate PRIB Photo)
Zubiri, 54, ran and won in the 2022 national elections under the political banner of then former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr. and former Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. He said he does not feel threatened by reports being floated that there is a possibility of his being ousted as Senate Chief, presumably at the start of the second regular session of the 19th Congress starting July 24. "I don’t feel sad," he added. During the interview, Zubiri said his colleagues were surprised by the alleged coup. "Ang info galing sa inyo (The information came from you). I don’t want to sound presumptuous,” he explained. With the entry of new senators after the 2025 senatorial elections, Zubiri said no one knows. "I serve at the pleasure of my colleagues. Kung ayaw nila sa akin they can replace…(They can always replace me if they don’t want me anymore)," he said. "I told them (that in) 2025, expect that I’m going to be an ordinary senator," he stressed. "Ganun ang pananaw ko, wala akong ambisyon sa 2028, magreretire na ako (That is my view, by 2028, I will retire from (politics)," he pointed out. "Tama na it's about time to let the new guys to come in, maybe Gen Z na iba, na gusto nila ( A new generation will come in and replace me)," he said. Zubiri stressed that he is thankful of the statement of support given him by his colleagues in the 24-member Senate following an alleged coup attempt. "Nakakapagpataba ng puso ang support nila (Their statement of support fattens my heart),’’ he emphasized. From the sidelines, former Senate President Franklin M. Drilon had said Zubiri is too kind to noisy colleagues during plenary at the Senate session hall. "Nagusap kami ni Senator Drilon (I talked to Senator Drilon). I do not react because I highly respect the advise of Senator Drilon,’’ he pointed out. "Mahal na mahal ko yan, di ako napikon nung sinabi nya yun (I love him..I was not irritated when he said that). I took it as payo ng nakakatandang kapatid (I took it as a advice from an older brother). I told him in my message I acknowledge,’’ he said. He also said that he took note of his concern and that he would do better when they come back in July. Zubiri told Senate reporters that Senate Presidents have their individual style of leadership. "I always seek the opinions of our members. I am a consultative leader," he said. He cited the style of former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile who, when he gets mad, would call them out. Zubiri said he would suspend the session and remind his colleagues on the proper decorum. “Yan ang istilo ko (That is my style). Di ako nagpapahiya ng kapwa senador dahil senador pa rin yan halal ng taumbayan yan (I don’t put my fellow senator to shame because he was elected by the people as a senator),’’ he added.
Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri (Senate PRIB Photo)
Zubiri, 54, ran and won in the 2022 national elections under the political banner of then former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr. and former Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. He said he does not feel threatened by reports being floated that there is a possibility of his being ousted as Senate Chief, presumably at the start of the second regular session of the 19th Congress starting July 24. "I don’t feel sad," he added. During the interview, Zubiri said his colleagues were surprised by the alleged coup. "Ang info galing sa inyo (The information came from you). I don’t want to sound presumptuous,” he explained. With the entry of new senators after the 2025 senatorial elections, Zubiri said no one knows. "I serve at the pleasure of my colleagues. Kung ayaw nila sa akin they can replace…(They can always replace me if they don’t want me anymore)," he said. "I told them (that in) 2025, expect that I’m going to be an ordinary senator," he stressed. "Ganun ang pananaw ko, wala akong ambisyon sa 2028, magreretire na ako (That is my view, by 2028, I will retire from (politics)," he pointed out. "Tama na it's about time to let the new guys to come in, maybe Gen Z na iba, na gusto nila ( A new generation will come in and replace me)," he said. Zubiri stressed that he is thankful of the statement of support given him by his colleagues in the 24-member Senate following an alleged coup attempt. "Nakakapagpataba ng puso ang support nila (Their statement of support fattens my heart),’’ he emphasized. From the sidelines, former Senate President Franklin M. Drilon had said Zubiri is too kind to noisy colleagues during plenary at the Senate session hall. "Nagusap kami ni Senator Drilon (I talked to Senator Drilon). I do not react because I highly respect the advise of Senator Drilon,’’ he pointed out. "Mahal na mahal ko yan, di ako napikon nung sinabi nya yun (I love him..I was not irritated when he said that). I took it as payo ng nakakatandang kapatid (I took it as a advice from an older brother). I told him in my message I acknowledge,’’ he said. He also said that he took note of his concern and that he would do better when they come back in July. Zubiri told Senate reporters that Senate Presidents have their individual style of leadership. "I always seek the opinions of our members. I am a consultative leader," he said. He cited the style of former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile who, when he gets mad, would call them out. Zubiri said he would suspend the session and remind his colleagues on the proper decorum. “Yan ang istilo ko (That is my style). Di ako nagpapahiya ng kapwa senador dahil senador pa rin yan halal ng taumbayan yan (I don’t put my fellow senator to shame because he was elected by the people as a senator),’’ he added.