Some senators on Monday, March 4 have confirmed their utmost support for Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri’s leadership.

This, after rumors buzzed of Zubiri being replaced by another senior lawmaker in the Upper House—in particular, Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada.

Among those who confirmed signing the resolution or statement of support are Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara.

“I already signed (the resolution) in support of the Senate President,” Angara told reporters in an ambush interview.

Asked if it was the resolution that is still being routed for signature among their colleagues is a form of a loyalty check, Angara said “something like that.”

“Eh kasi nga parang balik balik yung mga rumors so we just want to put the issue to rest para (It’s because the rumors are repeatedly being floated So we just want to put the issue to rest so) we can work properly,” Angara said.

“Wala namang pressure. We just have to make sure that that is not manufactured. So I think the Senate President is reaching out to everyone,” he said.

Gatchalian said he signed the resolution, not only in support to Zubiri, but also out of gratitude for defending the institution.

“That resolution is also to show gratitude and to say thanks to his leadership…I’ve never heard of a coup and you can see how the Senate president has defended the institution,” Gatchalian stressed.

Estrada, his brother Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. also signified their intention to sign the resolution supporting Zubiri’s leadership.

Asked about the issue, Estrada said he is not ready and not interested to be a Senate president, even if he is a senior lawmaker.

“I have high respects to Senate President Zubiri,” Estrada said adding he is ready to sign the manifesto once it reaches him.

Revilla said the same: “I’m willing to sign manifesto to show my support to him.”

Oust plot was from House, not Senate

The President’s sister, Sen. Imelda “Imee” Marcos confirmed there were rumors of a plot to oust Zubiri as leader but the issue emanated from outside of the Senate.

Marcos pointed to the leaders of the House of Representatives, which has been pushing for Charter change through a People’s Initiative, but later on filed their own version of a resolution seeking economic amendments to the 1987 Constitution.

“Lahat ng ugong galing sa kongreso, hindi sa mga senador (All that buzz came from congressmen, not from the senators,” Marcos told reporters also in an interview.

“Nakakatawa nga eh. Palitan na lang kaya nila yung Speaker, bakit nila papakialaman yung SP (They should just change the House Speaker, they should just leave the Senate President alone)?” she pointed out.

At the same time, Marcos expressed doubts any plot to oust Zubiri at this time would materialize.

“Kasi wala naman numero (They don’t have the numbers),” she pointed out.

At least 13 signatures of senators are needed to stabilize Zubiri’s leadership. But a source also confirmed that Zubiri already has a “solid number” to secure his position as Senate leader.

Sen. Cynthia Villar, for her part, said she has no qualms whoever would lead the Senate as long as he or she will protect the Senate from any external threats.

“Basta sa akin, i-protect lang ang Senado ok na sa akin (For me, as long as they protect the Senate, I’m ok with that),” Villar said.

“Kasi kapag pumayag ka sa Cha-cha (Charter change) baka matanggal ang Senate (because if you agree to Charter change, the Senate may be dissolved),” she pointed out.

Other senators who formally signed the statement of support for Zubiri, aside from Gatchalian and Angara, are Ejercito, Grace Poe, Nancy Binay, Manuel "Lito" Lapid, Raffy Tulfo, Mark Villar, Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, Francis Tolentino, and Christopher "Bong" Go.

Zubiri also signed the resolution.

In a separate message, Ejercito said he will join the minority bloc should there be a change in the Senate leadership. Senators Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III and Risa Hontiveros belong to the minority group.

"Pag pinalitan si (if they change) SP Migz, I will be joining the minority," Ejercito said.