Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has dismissed rumors of a coup d’etat to replace him at the Senate, saying that “no senator ever confirmed such rumors.”
Since Zubiri assumed the Senate leadership, there were rumors that he will soon be ousted.
Confronted on several occasions by reporters on the issue to unseat him, Zubiri has maintained that he is willing to step down and give up his position anytime “if they can show the numbers.”
He said he will gladly give up his Senate leadership to any senator who will obtain 13 votes in Senate.
According to Zubiri, all senators are being treated fairly whether they belong to the majority or minority bloc.
In a statement, Zubiri said that the rumor is “nothing but tabloid gossip rubbish” and “a figment of someone’s boredom and in their between lucid intervals.”
He emphasized that his style of consensus-building leadership involves all members of the Senate discussing issues and bills.
Zubiri said he feels this arrangement “is ideal for this institution.”
Zubiri’s colleagues have not confirmed the persistent rumors. Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda said “there were no talks.”
“There will be no change. We are in full support of Senate President Zubiri,” she said. “Why would you fix something that is not broken?”
Furthermore, she commended Zubiri calling him a “trabahador ng Senado (worker of the Senate).”
“You should see how he works. We even have a Viber thread. He’s so hardworking. Senators can easily approach him. And as I said, I don’t know how you can take all the stress. I’ve not seen him not smiling…He’s very approachable. Amiable, approachable, hardworking, and consensual,” she further said.