Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero (left) and Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri (right). | FILE PHOTOS: Senate PRIB
AURORA, Philippines — Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero has no reason to worry as the upper chamber’s Solid 7 plans to remain independent and non-obstructive, according to Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Zubiri, who was unseated by Escudero as Senate chief on May 20, is part of the bloc, whose members also include Senators Joel Villanueva, Nancy Binay, Sonny Angara, JV Ejercito, Loren Legarda, and Sherwin Gatchalian.
“Aang plano namin will still remain independent. Wala pa pong usapan ng magma-minority. We’re waiting lang for Senator Joel. Syempre majority leader namin siya. Of course, sya rin isa sa mga spoken members namin. But we will wait for him before we can make any decisions,” Zubiri told reporters in an ambush interview here Monday.
(We plan to remain independent. We have not talked about being a minority yet. We’re just waiting for Senator Joel. Of course, he is our majority leader and one of our spoken members. But we will wait for him before we can make any decisions.)
READ: ‘Solid 7’ in Senate still part of the majority bloc, says Escudero
“But before July 22, of course, we’ll already know how we will be positioning ourselves. But definitely, Sen. Chiz has nothing to worry about as far as I’m concerned basta gawin niya lang ng trabaho niya nang matapat para sa taumbayan,” he added.
(But before July 22, of course, we’ll already know how we will be positioning ourselves. But definitely, Sen. Chiz has nothing to worry about as far as I’m concerned, as long as he does his job honestly for the people.)
Some members of Solid 7, particularly Villanueva and Ejercito, earlier admitted they were mulling joining the Senate’s two-man minority bloc following the Senate shakeup in May.
But when Zubiri was asked if Villanueva and Ejercito’s stance still holds now, he said none of the Solid 7 members have categorically indicated an intention to join the Senate minority group.
Zubiri likewise made it clear that he will never be an opposition senator.
READ: Emergence of Solid 7 stuns Escudero, realizes ‘separate group’ in majority
“No, bakit naman ako mag-opposition? I entered 2022 as part of the UniTeam,” he said.
(No, why should I be in the opposition? I entered 2022 as part of the UniTeam.)
UniTeam is a political alliance formed to boost the 2022 election bids of then-presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and then-candidate for vice president Sara Duterte.
“Y’un nga lang, sabi ko nga eh, nalulungkot ako dahil parang nabubuwag na nga ‘yung UniTeam. But as far as I’m concerned, I’ll still remain assisting the President in legislation that needs to be done for our country,” he added.
(However, as I said, I’m sad because UniTeam seems to be disbanding. But as far as I’m concerned, I’ll still remain assisting the President with legislation that needs to be done for our country.)