Legarda says no talks of leadership change in Senate

Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda has expressed confidence that there will be no leadership change in the chamber.

“Why would you fix something that’s not broken?” Legarda said when asked if there will be changes in the Senate leadership.

“There are no talks. There will be no change. We are in full support of Senate President Migz,” she added.

Legarda expressed contentment with the leadership style of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, calling him "amiable, approachable, hardworking, and consensual."

“Si Senator Migz napaka-amiable. Palaging nakangiti maski pagod na pagod and I think talagang bagay sa kanya ang trabaho ng Senado,” she said.

“You should see how he works talagang meron pa kaming Viber thread, small group. Ang sipag sipag. Madaling lapitan ng lahat ng mga senators and I don’t know how can you take all the stress. I’ve not seen in him na hindi nakangiti. Bagay sa kanya ang slogan na ‘Trabahador ng Senado’ and very approachable,” she added.

She also mentioned Zubiri’s good relations not only with the majority bloc but also with the two-man minority.

“He has good working relations [with] the majority and the minority as well, and we give value to the minority leader hindi madali maski dalawa lang sila,” she said.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III declined to comment on Legarda's statements. 

Meanwhile, Majority Leader Joel Villanueva agreed with Legarda’s statements on Zubiri’s leadership.

“Definitely. We have consistently described Senate President Migz Zubiri as a consensus builder. What makes him an effective leader is that he is able is able to find a compromise by taking into consideration each senator’s suggestions, ideas or comments,” Villanueva told GMA News Online.

“This is why we have a harmonious relationship with all the members of the Senate. A good leader knows how to listen to his peers and this makes SP Migz the most fit to lead the Senate. He really is Zubiri-good. Its not just a play on his name, but an apt description of how he is as a Senate president,” he added.

In March, Zubiri had faced coup threats, reportedly due to his strong stand against Charter change.

When asked if Zubiri’s friendly relations with his colleagues were also a downside, Legarda said every leader has a different style of leadership.

“Kanya-kanyang style 'yan. We cannot impose our leadership style but I think it’s effective,” she  said. — RSJ/VBL, GMA Integrated News