Senator Zubiri’s resignation widely acclaimed

With his resignation from the Senate, Juan Miguel Zubiri earned plaudits even from the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).

Renato Reyes Jr., Bayan secretary general, said Zubiri “had the delicadeza (propriety) to do what Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wouldn’t do from 2005 to 2010, which was to resign amid questions of legitimacy and allegations of fraud.”

Reyes said Zubiri’s resignation had made the joint inquiry by the Commission on Elections and Department of Justice into the purported poll fraud in 2004 and 2007 more urgent.

“No one should be spared in the probe of the heinous crimes of stealing the elections and making a mockery of the people’s will,” he said.

Roman Catholic bishops lauded Zubiri and expressed hope for clean elections.

“I admire him for being honest to himself. His conscience may be hurting and has bothered him. I admire him and I hope that his action will clean the electoral process,” Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes said over the Church-run Radio Veritas.

In a separate interview with reporters, retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz praised Zubiri for “his gentlemanly act.”

Said Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez: “I congratulate him. Our message is that we should always obey God’s will. We should always listen to the people’s will and always practice the virtues of humility, honesty, truth, love and peace.”

“What he did was admirable,” Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo said over Radio Veritas. “It is a very gentlemanly way of saying that he’s not interested in his position if it was obtained through illegal means.”

‘Truth can’t be hidden’

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said he also thought Zubiri was being bothered by his conscience.

“We don’t know if there are political moves here. Some say that it’s a way for him to avoid accountability. Others say it’s giving way to the investigation. My appeal is that the investigation should not stop with his resignation; it should not sidetrack us in our task,” Pabillo said on Radio Veritas.

He said Zubiri’s resignation “gives us hope” that clean elections could be possible.

“The truth cannot be hidden; it will come out sooner or later. To those who erred, make amends by coming out and admitting your errors so that we can repair the system,” Pabillo added.

Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez, the chair of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Public Affairs Committee, said Zubiri’s resignation “implies” that cheating occurred in the polls.

“[It’s] a call for us, and it is up to us to give the proper response. I know more will be awakened and work for honest elections,” Iñiguez said.

‘Supreme sacrifice’

In the House of Representatives, lawmakers continued to heap praise on the resigned senator.

Marikina Rep. Romero Federico Quimbo filed a resolution commending Zubiri’s “most admirable act.”

“It is but proper that, on this day of his supreme sacrifice, we take cognizance of the contributions of Senator Zubiri as a three-term congressman and as a senator,” Quimbo said.

He ticked off the legislation that Zubiri had sponsored, including the Magna Carta for Private School Teachers, the Magna Carta for Students, the Biofuels Act, the Renewable Energy Act, the Revised Pag-Ibig Charter, the Rent Control Law, the Socialized Housing Condonation Act and the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla also saluted Zubiri: “His act of integrity should be praised because he has shown that honor is more important than a position. I am sure his wife, family and friends are very proud of him today because he has shown that honor, above all, is the most important legacy a man can bequeath to his family.”

Not admission of guilt

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone said he admired Zubiri’s statesmanship and wished the latter well in his private life.

“I think [his resignation] is not an admission of guilt. It only shows he is a decent and honorable person,” Evardone said.

Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Marañon III said Zubiri was “a cut above the rest.”

“I’m sure he’ll be back. He’s a great statesman,” Marañon said.

‘For greater good’

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said Zubiri’s resignation was a big loss to the province because the latter was regarded as one of the Bicolano lawmakers in the Senate.

Salceda said that since Zubiri was proclaimed a senator, he had diligently worked to fulfill his filial duty to the birthplace of his mother’s family, the Fernandezes of Libon, Albay.

“We see the wisdom of his political sacrifice for the greater good of our democratic institutions,” Salceda said.

In Pangasinan province, Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza said: “I sympathize with Senator Zubiri’s predicament. But more than that, I admire his courage to resign as a senator of the land.”

“What a loss. He did very well as a senator, in the positions he held, and the legislation he fought for.”

Loss to sugar industry

The sugar industry leaders of Negros considered Zubiri’s resignation “a big loss.”

“We take our hats off to Senator Migz for his courage to uphold his honor and dignity,” said Luis Tongoy of the Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations.

Enrique Rojas, the president of the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters, said he admired Zubiri’s decision to value honor more than his position.

Manuel Lamata, the president of the United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines, commended Zubiri who, he said, had championed the causes of both the sugar industry and Negros Occidental. Reports from TJ Burgonio, Jerome Aning and Cynthia D. Balana in Manila; Mar Arguelles, Inquirer Southern Luzon; and Carla P. Gomez and Jhunnex Napallacan, Inquirer Visayas