Zubiri’s advice to Senate presidents: Always be ready to be replaced

Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri. (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — Ousted Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has some advice to present and future Senate chiefs: “Do not be too comfortable in your seat.”

Zubiri remarked in a Kapihan sa Senado forum on Thursday after being asked to comment on the alleged ouster plot against his successor, Senate President Chiz Escudero.

According to Zubiri, ouster plots are a “normal occurrence” in the chamber, especially when the institution is about to go on session break.

“It’s a normal occurrence. I think if you are Senate President, don’t be too comfortable in your seat as Senate President,” said Zubiri.

The former Senate President said present and future chiefs of the chamber should “always be ready to be replaced” or to “respect the decision of the majority.”

“My advice to Senate Presidents, current and future, is to never warm up too much on your seat [and] never be too attached to your office,” said Zubiri.

For his part, Escudero already dismissed these coup d’etat talks as mere rumors.

“Diyos ko, huwag na! Papatulan ko ‘yung mga kwento niyong kalokohan?” Escudero told reporters in an ambush interview on Monday when he was asked to comment on the alleged coup d’etat attempts against his leadership.

(My God, let’s not. Why would I meddle with your silly stories?)

Though he refused to comment on “mere rumors,” Escudero reiterated that officers of the Senate, including the Senate President, serve at the pleasure of the majority.

“Why will I comment on mere rumors from unknown sources?  Suffice it to say [that] the entire senate leadership serves at the pleasure of the majority,” the Senate leader said in a separate Viber message.

Senators Loren Legarda and Sen. Cynthia Villar are at the center of these coup rumors, both of whom denied their involvement in the alleged ouster plot.