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

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.

Zubiri bloc balks at joining minority after his ouster as Senate president | ABS-CBN

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

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

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 01, 2024 01:43 PM PHT

Read More:

Juan Miguel Zubiri

UniTeam

Senate of the Philippines

Francis Escudero

Ferdinand Marcos Jr

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