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Zubiri bloc balks at joining minority after his ouster as Senate president

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RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

<p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">MANILA — Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri has rejected the prospect of joining the political opposition after his ouster as Senate president.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">The Senate minority has only two members — Sens. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Risa Hontiveros. </p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Zubiri told media he is actually saddened by the apparent dissolution of the so-called UniTeam of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Vice President Sara Duterte, the tandem that swept the 2022 elections.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">&quot;Bakit naman ako mag-opposition? I entered 2022 as part of the UniTeam. ‘Yun nga lang sabi ko ay nalulungkot po dahil parang nabubuwag na nga yung UniTeam but, as far as I&#x27;m concerned, I’ll still be assisting the president in legislation that needs to be done for our country,” he said.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">(Why would I join the opposition? I entered 2022 as part of the UniTeam. But I am saddened that it seems to have been dissolved but as far as I&#x27;m concerned, <span id="isPasted" style="caret-color:rgb(65, 65, 65);color:rgb(65, 65, 65)">I’ll still be assisting the president in legislation that needs to be done for our country.)</span></p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Vice President Duterte resigned from the Cabinet on June 19, almost a month after Zubiri was replaced by Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero after months of rumors of a leadership change.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><a href="http://VP Sara Duterte shuns ‘opposition leader’ role">RELATED: VP Sara Duterte shuns ‘opposition leader’ role</a></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Duterte&#x27;s resignation prompted talk of a new &quot;leader of the opposition&quot; as UniTeam splintered, but the vice president has rejected the label. </p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Zubiri, who is senator until 2028, says he would like to continue helping President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr in achieving his goals as he explained he and his allies — Sens. Joel Villanueva, JV Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay and Loren Legarda are inclined to take an independent stance instead of joining the Senate minority.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">&quot;Wala pa kami final decision pero parang we&#x27;re leaning towards more independent, an independent bloc,&quot;&quot; Zubiri said, adding Escudero has nothing to worry about.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">(We don&#x27;t have a final decision yet but we&#x27;re leaning towards a more independent, independent bloc)</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">&quot;Definitely ‘di naman kami magiging obstructionist. Ako mismo kilala niyo ako, trabahador ako ng Senado. Bakit ako magiging obstructionist? I want to be helpful to the administration,” he said.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">(We will definitely not be obstructionist. You know me, I&#x27;m the hard worker of the Senate. Why would I be obstructionist?)</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Zubiri also explained they do not want to complicate matters for Gatchalian and Angara.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/10/cost-of-new-senate-building-nearly-tripled-shocked-escudero-orders-review-1157">READ: Cost of new Senate building nearly tripled; &#x27;shocked&#x27; Escudero orders review</a></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Gatchalian&#x27;s brother Rex is secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development while Zubiri is among the senators backing Angara as Duterte&#x27;s replacement at the Department of Education.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Although department secretaries are appointed by the President, appointees will also need to go through confirmation hearings before the congressional Commission on Appointments.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Members of Congress have traditionally endorsed the appointments of incumbent and former legislators.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ai8AOlRdkhk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Zubiri, who is senator until 2028, says he would like to continue helping President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr in achieving his goals.</p>

Zubiri, who is senator until 2028, says he would like to continue helping President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr in achieving his goals.