Former Senate Pres. Migz Zubiri Votes for Incoming Sen. Tito Sotto
MIGZ ZUBIRI – The former Senate President hopes for a new leader in the chamber even if Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero allegedly has 13 votes.
Currently, there are speculations if Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero will be able to keep his position as the chief of the upper chamber or another senator will take the place. With the opening of the 20th Congress, there are several talks on who might be the next Senate president.
Several senators have also aired their side on the Senate presidency. According to former Senate Pres. Tito Sotto, if he has the numbers, he is open to becoming the Senate president again. He was the chief of the chamber during the 18th Congress.
Presidential sister and reelected Sen. Imee Marcos also previously claimed that some senators allegedly want her to be the Senate president in the 20th Congress. She wants to join the ‘Duterte bloc’ in the Senate which is seen as composed of senators Bong Go, Bato dela Rosa, and Robin Padilla among others.
Recently, Sen. Migz Zubiri, a former Senate President during the 19th Congress, aired his side on the Senate presidency. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the Senator claimed that he is not satisfied with the leadership of Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero.
“And if you ask me if I am satisfied with the leadership of the Senate, I’m not satisfied with the leadership of the Senate, so I am open to supporting other candidates,” the former Senate President claimed.
Sen. Migz Zubiri recalled that during his time, he led through a “consultative leadership”. According to him, he usually holds weekly caucuses to discuss the issues. He stressed that he did not allow all the discussions be on the floor as it will lead to a chaotic Senate if all the fighting will be on the floor. He admitted that he is hoping for a new Senate president even if SP Chiz Escudero has 13 votes — as what Sen. Joel Villanueva claimed.
“He [Escudero] 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,” Zubiri said.
Based on the report, Sen. Migz Zubiri revealed that the ‘veteran bloc’ will support incoming Sen. Tito Sotto for the Senate presidency. According to him, the bloc is composed of him, Sen. Loren Legarda, Sotto, and incoming Sen. Ping Lacson.
Zubiri stressed that he was the majority leader of Sotto when he was the Senate President and he is loyal to Sotto. He cited that the incoming senator has led the Senate for almost four (4) and a half years. He also cited the age of the former Senate President when he was the chief of the chamber.
According to Zubiri, Sotto was already in his 70s when he became the Senate President. He stressed that it showed Sotto’s dedication as well as “his leadership that he lead by example”. He succeeded Sotto as the Senate president after he finished his 3rd term as senator but he resigned and was replaced by Escudero.
Sen. Joel Villanueva previously claimed he will vote for Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero because of the accomplishments of the chamber under his lead. Incoming senator Erwin Tulfo also revealed he and his brother Sen. Raffy Tulfo’s vote for the Senate presidency.