Zubiri seen as next Majority Leader with looming Senate reorganization
Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO /CATHY MIRANDA
As the Senate reorganization looms, senators point to Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri as the next likely Majority Leader to replace Vicente Sotto III once the latter takes the helm of the Senate presidency from Aquilino Pimentel III.
“If chosen, I will perform with the same work ethic as I had in the previous 14th Congress where we passed a record number of bills into law at over 600 Republic Acts,” said Zubiri, who served as the chamber’s Majority Leader in 2008 to 2010.
“I am deeply honored that my colleagues have once again considered me as their Majority Floor Leader if and when the change in the Senate leadership happens,” he said in a text message when asked to react to the endorsement from his peers.
At least three senators in the majority coalition said Zubiri was emerging as the strongest candidate to take over from Sotto once the latter had replaced Pimentel.
“Senator Zubiri would be very acceptable. He’s very amiable. He has no enemies, and he has been Majority Leader before so he knows the work,” Sen. JV Ejercito told reporters on Friday.
He said Zubiri’s personality was perfect for the post.
Sen. Nancy Binay, in a separate interview, said the majority senators were inclined to support Zubiri.
“Our group is leaning towards Sen. Migz Zubiri because first of all, he has already served as Majority Leader, so he already knows the work,” she told reporters.
Sen. Manny Pacquiao, in an earlier interview, also said he requested that Zubiri lead the Senate majority bloc, as he wanted another Senate leader from Mindanao. Zubiri hails from Bukidnon.
Zubiri thanked his colleagues for expressing their confidence in his leadership, adding that he would work to “keep the integrity of the Senate above and beyond reproach.”
If chosen, Zubiri said he would perform “with the same work ethic as I had in the previous 14th congress were we passed a record number of Bills into law at over 600 Republic Acts,” as well as “keep the integrity of the Senate above and beyond reproach.” The Senate majority is expected to hold a caucus on Monday to discuss the chamber’s leadership, among other issues. /muf READ: 14 senators sign draft resolution electing Sotto as next Senate leader
