No plan to replace Zubiri, senators say
Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri —Senate PRIB
Administration senators on Saturday quelled speculations that Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri may soon lose his leadership of the upper chamber amid the political ruckus sparked by the push to revise the 1987 Constitution.
Zubiri, who took over the helm of the Senate unopposed when the 19th Congress opened in July 2022, said he had no clue about the supposed moves by some of his colleagues to replace him.
“[I’m] not at all aware [of such efforts] and I am honored to serve at the pleasure of my colleagues,” Zubiri told the Inquirer.
Zubiri was at the annual alumni homecoming of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Baguio City where he reiterated that the Senate will vigorously deliberate on proposals to amend the Constitution.
“No law is more important than the Constitution,” Zubiri told 1,696 PMA alumni, without mentioning any changes in senators’ plans over Charter change or any changes in the Senate itself.
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said he was also unaware that some of their fellow senators wanted to unseat Zubiri.
“Everyone is super supportive of the Senate president and his leadership,” Villanueva said. “It would be surprising if [it’s] true, But it is what it is.”
Senators Nancy Binay and JV Ejercito said there was no reason for them to have a change in leadership as they continue to defend the institution from the barrage of attacks coming from some leaders of the House of Representatives.
Sowing intrigue
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada likewise said he has no idea of a purported plot to oust Zubiri.
Binay suspected that individuals who wanted to emasculate the Senate were spreading the rumors to sow intrigue and division among its members.
She echoed Villanueva’s statement that the 22-member supermajority in the Senate was still united behind their leader.
“That’s impossible to happen right now,” Binay said in a radio interview.
“This is just part of their strategy to ‘divide the enemy.’ It’s unfortunate because things like this will not help us bring down the prices of fuel and basic goods,” she added.
Besides, Binay said, the attempts to undermine the Senate’s authority only brought the senators closer in fending off the attacks against the legislative body.
“Our relationship in the Senate has become more solid because we have a common goal in defending our institution,” she added.
At the PMA homecoming, Zubiri maintained that proposed amendments to the Constitution will undergo rigorous debate.
“The Senate has always been a safe place for ideas. It is an open marketplace for views. We clamp down on corruption but never on contrarian opinions,” he said, adding this was why it has opened discussions on Charter change.
Continuing conversation
The senate leader is an adopted member of “Marangal” Class of 1974, who counts among its graduates former National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., a lifetime achievement awardee.
Zubiri said any proposal to change any section of the Constitution “would be studied in a manner that is rigorous, not slapdash, and exhaustively, not superficially.”
READ: Senate leadership change? Legarda: We support Zubiri; why fix what’s not broken?
“This business about studying the Constitution is a continuing conversation with the people. We will canvas the opinion of experts and the wisdom of the crowd,” he said. “We will not do it …,” Zubiri began to say when he paused, before adding, “with due respect to the other House.”
He said he was hopeful that the men and women of PMA will also stand to protect the Constitution.
“Let us uphold always the sacred democratic freedoms that our forefathers fought for and died for. Let us stand firm against the tax on every ideology that serves as the foundation of our nationhood,” he said.
Also spotted at the homecoming were Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Risa Hontiveros.
