Senator Nancy Binay speaks during a Senate hearing on tourism and the high rate of plane fares. (Screengrab from Senate of the Philippines YouTube channel on September 13, 2023)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Nancy Binay has poked fun at claims that the issue of Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.’s injured foot led to former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri’s ouster.
Binay wondered if the foot had more “kick”than powerful people.
In a statement on Friday, she referred to Senator Ronald dela Rosa’s claim that Zubiri’s decision to deny a request from Revilla, that he be allowed to join the session virtually, initiated the leadership change in the Senate.
Zubiri resigned from the Senate presidency on Monday, amid rumors that there were enough votes to oust him.
He was replaced by Senate President Francis Escudero.
But such a reason, Binay says, is strange.
“Medyo weird lang kasing isipin na sa dinami-rami ng conspiracy theories na nagsilabasan sa likod ng Senate coup, isang paa lang pala ang dahilan kung bakit nasipa at natanggal sa pwesto si Sen. Migz (Zubiri),” she lamented.
(It’s somewhat weird to think that with the many conspiracy theories that emerged after the Senate coup, only a foot would be why Senator Migz was kicked out of his post.)
“So ganoon na nga (So that’s how it is). The best or worst interest of the nation is just a foot away,” she noted.
Revilla is recovering from an Achilles tendon injury, but his participation in the Senate proceedings allegedly worsened it, prompting him to ask that he be allowed to participate virtually.
Zubiri denied this request, out of consideration for traditions, noting that the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago had been marked absent even if she was on medical leave.
Dela Rosa told GMA’s Unang Balita last Wednesday that the ouster talks started from this — when Senator Francis Tolentino and now Senate President Francis Escudero moved that Revilla be allowed to join the session online.
Binay said this would mark the first time that a foot has shown “more kicking power” than the powers-that-be — referring to the reason cited by Zubiri as to why he was ousted.
“Kung ‘yung paa ang dahilan ng pagkatanggal sa pwesto ni Sen. Migz, masasabi natin thay they have really put their best foot forward,” she said.
(If it’s the foot that led to Senator Migz’ removal, we can really say that they have really put their best foot forward.)
“If a sore foot can inspire such decisive action, just imagine what a fully functioning pair of feet could do,” she observed.
(If a sore foot can inspire such decisive action, just imagine what a fully functioning pair of feet could do.)
“But for now, the foot has spoken,” she said.
“Sama-sama para sa paa ni Sen. Bong Revilla,” she told the people.
(Let’s unite for Senator Bong Revilla’s foot.)
Senator Bong Revilla makes his first public appearance at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City since injuring his Achilles tendon on May 8, 2024. (INQUIRER.net file photo / JEAN MANGALUZ)
READ: Villanueva, Binay, Angara, Ejercito, Legarda follow Zubiri’s resignation
During the Senate session on Monday, Escudero was elected Senate President with no other members being nominated for the spot.
According to Zubiri, he believes that the moves to oust him were orchestrated because he failed to follow directives.
READ: Chiz Escudero is new Senate president; Miguel Zubiri out
Binay was one of the six senators who stuck by Zubiri, resigning from their posts.
The others were Senators Sonny Angara, JV Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, former Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, and former Majority Leader Joel Villanueva.