Escudero says sorry for any ‘wounds’ after Senate leadership change

Newly installed Senate President Chiz Escudero answers queries from media members on Monday, May 20, 2024. (Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net)

MANILA,  Philippines — Newly installed Senate President Francis ”Chiz” Escudero has apologized for any “wounds” that the chamber’s leadership change may have caused.

Escudero took the Senate helm on Monday, shortly after Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri vacated the post.

Speaking to reporters after the session, the new Senate chief explained that any leadership change in the Senate always depends on the confidence of the majority of its members.

He was mum on how the change in leadership was orchestrated.

“Ulitin ko, sa dulo kung sino ang may kumpiyansa ng labing tatlo hindi na para sa akin na i-kwento yung proseso sa puntong ito dahil gusto na naming umabante mula dito at hindi pa para pag-usapan, diskusyunan, debatihan, at buhusan pa ika nga ng asin,” Escudero sai

(In the end, it is whoever has the confidence of 13. It’s not for me  to recount the process at this point because we want  to move forward from here and not  discuss, debate or put salt into the wounds)

“Anumang sugat na nilikha nito, na ako’y humihingi ng paumanhin na maaaring nailikha nito o may nasaktan kaugnay nito. Kaya ayaw kong magkomentaryo kaugnay sa bagay na ‘yan,”  he added.

(I apologize for whatever wounds it may have caused or if it has offended anyone. That’s why I no longer want  to comment on this issue)

While Escudero’s election was unanimously approved on the Senate floor, Zubiri later indicated in a press briefing that 14 of 24 senators supported his successor.

Zubiri counted only seven allies and they are Senators Loren Legarda, Joel Villanueva, JV Ejercito, Sonny Angara,  Nancy Binay, Sherwin Gatchalian, and Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.

The remaining two — Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel and Senator Risa  Hontiveros— are in the opposition bloc.

Escudero assured the public that no one, not even the highest official of the land, could influence his leadership in the Senate.

He said this was proof of his close friendship with the late President Benigno Aquino III.

“Malapit ako kay Pangulong Noynoy Aquino. Hindi kami nagkasundo sa maraming bagay dahil alam niyang may trabaho ako bilang senador noong panahong iyon. Nagtatrabaho din siya bilang Pangulo,” he said.

(I was close with President Noynoy Aquino. We disagreed on many things because I had a job to do as a senator during that time. He was also working as president.

“At sa tingin ko ay may proweba at ika nga may pwede na akong pakita at patunayan na kahit siya na ang pinakamalapit kong kaibigan, hindi niya ako naimpluwensyahan sa mga pasya ko noong panahong iyon at nandito kayo bilang saksi n’on” Escudero  further said.

(And I think I have proof that even if he was my closest friend, he did not influence my decisions during that time, and you were there to witness it.)