Senate Majority Leader Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri (Screen grab/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo has dropped reelectionist Sen. Miguel Zubiri from her Senate slate after he endorsed opposing candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in March, her spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday.
In a statement, lawyer Barry Gutierrez said Zubiri’s endorsement “in contravention of the agreement with all guest candidates, led to this decision.”
“With 12 days remaining before elections, we are moving forward with our 11-candidate Senate slate,” he added.
The slate’s core members are reelectionist Senators Risa Hontiveros and Leila de Lima, former Sen. Sonny Trillanes, former Rep. Teddy Baguilat, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, lawyer Alex Lacson and labor leader Sonny Matula.
It also includes as guest candidates reelectionist Senators Richard Gordon and Joel Villanueva, former Sen. Chiz Escudero and former Vice President Jejomar Binay.
Call for Neri’s inclusion
Robredo’s supporters have been clamoring for Zubiri’s removal since March, asking her to give the vacated slot to human rights lawyer Neri Colmenares, who is on the 1Sambayan ticket.
Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes once again called on the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem to consider including human rights lawyer Neri Colmenares in the opposition ticket as the “logical, most reasonable move.”
Reyes said inserting Colmenares—who is popular among Robredo voters— would make a “truly united opposition and further energize Robredo’s base.”
Pulse Asia says…
According to Pulse Asia’s last survey in March broadcast journalist Raffy Tulfo is the most preferred senatorial candidate (65.6 percent).
Pulse Asia said the other candidates with a statistical chance of winning are former Sen. Loren Legarda (58.3 percent, second to fourth places), former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano (56.4 percent, second to fifth places), Escudero (54.4 percent, second to fifth places), former Public Works Secretary Mark Villar (52.4 percent, third to seventh places), and Sherwin Gatchalian (50.3 percent, fifth to seventh places).
Zubiri was also in the list (50.1 percent, fifth to seventh places), followed by Villanueva (43.9 percent, eighth to 10th places), actor Robin Padilla (42.5 percent, eighth to 10th places), Binay (42.5 percent, eighth to 10th places), former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada (36.5 percent, 11th to 14th places), former Sen. JV Estrada Ejercito (35.9 percent, 11th to 14th places), Hontiveros (35.6 percent, 11th to 14th places) and former Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista (34.3 percent, 11th to 14th places).
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