Sen. Migz Zubiri “Loyal” to Former Senate Pres. Tito Sotto
MIGZ ZUBIRI – The Senator admitted that he is not satisfied by the leadership of Senate President Chiz Escudero.
With the opening of the 20th Congress in the Senate, there are several speculations on who might be the next leader of the chamber. There are talks if Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero will be able to retain his position as the chief of the Senate.
Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero previously claimed that he is open to becoming the Senate president again in the 20th Congress. Senator Joel Villanueva also claimed that 13 senators already are allegedly on the side of Escudero who is poised to lead the Senate if the numbers is true.
However, the “veteran bloc” recently confirmed that it is not supporting Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero but incoming senator Tito Sotto. The confirmation was made by former Senate Pres. Migz Zubiri who admitted that he is unsatisfied by the leadership of Escudero.
Based on a report on GMA News, Sen. Migz Zubiri minced no words when he stressed that he is open to supporting other candidates for the Senate presidency as he is “not satisfied with the leadership of the Senate”. He stressed that the role of the Senate chief is to steer the chamber as a ship “no matter how rough the waters are”.
According to Zubiri, when he was the Senate president, he led the Senate with a “consultative type of leadership”. He stressed that there were weekly caucuses to discuss the issues within the chamber itself and not let all the discussions take place in the plenary.
“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,” the former Senate President said.
Based on the report, Sen. Migz Zubiri also reacted to a claim that Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero allegedly already has 13 votes. He reiterated his hope that the Senate will have a new leadership despite the claim.
“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,” Zubiri said.
According to Sen. Migz Zubiri, the “veteran bloc” is composed of him, Sen. Loren Legarda, and incoming senators Tito Sotto and Ping Lacson. Based on the report, he stressed that he is a loyal majority leader of Sotto and they are voting for him for the Senate presidency.
Sotto has serve as a Senate President during the 18th Congress. Zubiri was Senate President of the 19th Congress but resigned from the post and was immediately replaced by Escudero.
Previously, senator-elect Tito Sotto confirmed that there are talks convincing him to vie for the Senate presidency assuring him of their support. The former Senate President was one of the winning senators under the Marcos-backed Alyansa Para Sa Pagbabago senatorial slate.