Zubiri urges colleagues to pick new Senate chief, even if Escudero has the numbers

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri during a press conference in Pasay City on September 26, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA -- Former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has appealed to his colleagues for a new Senate President. as he expressed dissatisfaction with incumbent Francis Escudero, who he also said may already have enough votes to keep the chamber's helm in the 20th Congress. 

"We'll find out sa July 28  if you ask me, I'm for a leader of the Senate who will keep protecting the integrity, the traditions of the Senate. Hindi ko yan gusto na ang leader sa Senate would be a dictatorial type," Zubiri said.

"I don't want us to be similar to other chambers where it is only one emperor who dictates all the instructions to the members of the body. And if you ask me if I'm satisfied with the leadership of the Senate, I'm not satisfied with the leadership of the Senate. So, I'm open to supporting other candidates for Senate presidency," he added.

READ: Escudero open to retaining Senate presidency

Zubiri pointed out that when he was Senate President, he did not allow contentious debates during the plenary sessions, as he preferred to forge a consensus first. 

"During my time, I led with, through a consultative leadership. I led through consensus building. I always had caucuses every week to discuss the issues for the day. I do not let all the discussions be on the floor because making it come out on the floor and fighting it out there shows a very chaotic Senate. And so I am praying that we have a new leadership in the Senate," he said. 

Escudero previously defended the debates that marred the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, stressing the importance of transparency. 

Zubiri also called out Escudero for his purported feud with Speaker Martin Romualdez, saying that is not the role of the Senate chief. 

"Gossip have been coming out stating that Senate President Escudero has 13 votes, 13 signatures. He may have the 13 signatures, but I'm hoping and praying that at the end of the day we all decide to have a Senate President that will continue its independence as a last bastion of democracy," said Zubiri.

"But not just being independent from the House. Kasi may nagasabi, gusto namin itong kandidato kasi inaaway niya si Speaker Martin. That's not the role of the Senate President," he stressed. "The role of the Senate President is to steer the Senate as a ship... No matter how rough the waters are, to show the people that the Senate is our ship of state that will never, you know, never break down. It will never surrender its principles, its traditions."

As Senate President, Zubri had also feuded with the House of Representatives over the the latter's bid to launch a People's Initiative to amend the Constitution and possibly abolish the Senate back in early 2024. 

"Ako, I'm very proud. As a Senate President, I was the one who defeated the people's initiative, the fake people's initiative. The fake people's initiative was to render us inutile and if we did not fight back, probably we would be in a parliamentary system right now," he said.

Zubiri belongs to the so-called veterans' bloc supporting Senator Vicente Sotto III's bid to reclaim the Senate Presidency, which also includes Senators Panfilo Lacson and Loren Legarda. 

"Well, I am supportive of our group kasi we have a bloc. Our bloc is the veterans' bloc. And that is Senator Loren Legarda, Senator Tito Soto, Senator Ping Lacson and myself. So that's the four, the veteran bloc right now," he said.

"We're, of course, initially we were pushing for Senator Sotto. As the Senate President because I was his majority leader I'm a loyal majority leader of the Senate President he was Senate President for almost 4 and a half years."

"And he was already in his 70s at that time. So it goes to show his dedication, his leadership that he lead by example. " 

Zubiri succeeded Sotto as Senate President in 2022, only to be ousted by Escudero last May 2024.

READ: Escudero winning SP race 'if elections held today' -- Cayetano

READ: Gatchalian mum on his pick for Senate presidency

BARANGAY, SK ELECTIONS

Meantime, he urged President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr to allow the rescheduling of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan to push through as scheduled in December this year. 

"Let the law pass because it will now fix the term of all barangay officials to four years. There's only a short extension because the elections, we have to extend to 2026. Ang lapit naman ng 2026, it's only six months away," he said.

"I'm asking him na kung pwede pass the law. If he doesn't want to sign it, let the law lapse on its own or sign the law. Because I think this law will be able to fix finally the dates of elections for all our barangay officials. No need for extension, no need for... As soon as 2026 comes, 4 years thereafter."