Zubiri:’Tired’ remark due to ‘present condition,’ will work 24/7 if needed

[Updated Sept. 3, 2026, 5:46 p.m.]

MANILA, Philippines — Senate majority leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri on Thursday cleared the air on his statement expressing exhaustion for working 12 hours a day.

His remark came amid the coinciding schedules of the second regular session, the budget hearings and the impeachment trial in the Senate.

When the impeachment court was discussing its potential schedule for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in consideration of the chamber’s urgent legislative work, Zubiri had said he was “very tired,” having to go to the Senate from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. almost daily. 

His pronouncement was met with scrutiny from netizens who pointed out that his exhaustion does not compare to lower to middle-class earners who work the same hours for less income.

Some said that it is part of a lawmaker’s job to work long hours when necessary.

READ: Senate allows budget hearings, plenary sessions after morning trials

“It doesn’t matter if I’m tired. We will do our job as senators and impeachment court judges. If we have to work 24/7, we will do it 24/7,” Zubiri said in a media briefing.

The senator also explained that he was being “honest” about his condition at that time.

“I just mentioned my present condition at that time, because it was very difficult to juggle the three very important activities of the Senate,” he explained.

“It was the first time that there was an impeachment, a budget and a legislative session,” he said.

READ: Zubiri proposes trial be held 3 p.m. onwards for longer proceedings

In a social media statement, Zubiri further explained that his message was primarily on the schedule of all their present duties.

“This was my only point yesterday: Time must be maximized for the impeachment trial, regular session and budget season because these are important,” he said.

“The goal: To finish these three properly, on time, and still be sane,” he added.

Since July 29, the Senate has been holding impeachment proceedings and plenary sessions every Mondays to Wednesdays.

With budget hearings now at play, the Senate approved the temporary suspension of rules to allow the finance panel’s budget hearings to simultaneously be held during plenary sessions after the impeachment trials from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. /apl /mr