Zubiri denies rumors of move to oust him
MANILA — Senate President Migz Zubiri has denied claims that he would be unseated from his position after Malacañang supposedly issued a warning against him on the slow pace of Senate approval of the Marcos Jr. administration’s priority measures.
“There has been no talk of leadership changes as well as any warnings from anyone on the low output of the Senate,” Zubiri said in a statement on Wednesday.
A Politiko story on March 7, citing unnamed sources, alleged that Zubiri’s “lack of productivity” and slow pace in approving bills prioritized by Malacañang prompted the executive to reportedly “hint” to Zubiri that “if he fails to be more productive this year, someone more capable will take his place.”
The article specifically stated that Zubiri was in hot waters with Malacañang “because only three bills were passed under the current administration last year.”
It also alleged that Zubiri prevented his supposed ouster “because of his sudden inclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) in the calendar, even though it was not included in the previous agendas.”
In a statement, Zubiri said that the article is “nothing but tabloid gossip rubbish”
and “a figment of someone’s boredom and in their between lucid intervals.”
“The Senate carefully studies each and every measure as we debate on this thoroughly to improve every draft legislation. With due respect, we are not a rubber stamp institution,” Zubiri said.
Addressing the claim that Malacañang was “frustrated” by his failure to prioritize the measure on the RCEP, Zubiri said that the delay in its passage stemmed from “the lack of
support it got from the main sponsor herself.”
“I took it upon myself to take over and sponsor the measure on the floor. That has never been done before where the Senate President himself will be subject to sponsorship and interpellation, after which we approved and ratified it in three days with the highest ever vote count .... Does that not show real leadership in this institution?” Zubiri said. —