Gatchalian says senators ‘satisfied’ with Zubiri’s leadership

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday said there's no truth to rumors of supposed plans to change leadership at the Senate, as he emphasized that senators are satisfied with the performance of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

"Walang ganyan na pag-uusap. Walang ganyan na intensyon. Kahit na haka-haka, wala," Gatchalian said in an interview on Unang Balita.

(There is no such conversation, intention, nor suspicion.)

Gatchalian joined the number of senators who dismissed coup rumors against Zubiri and said they were happy about the performance of the chamber’s top leader.

“Ako, personally, wala akong naririnig na pagaplit ng liderato dahil sa mga kausap ko sa kasamahan natin, happy sila at satisfied sa liderato ng ating Senate President lalong lalo na napakadaming natapos na mga komplikadong batas,” he added. 

(Personally, I don't hear any change in the leadership because according to my colleagues, they are happy and satisfied with the leadership of our Senate President, especially since there were many complicated laws that have been finished.)

Gatchalian said he had no idea where the rumors came from and only heard it from the media.

Asked to react to these intrigues, Zubiri earlier said he “serve[s] at the pleasure of [his] colleagues.”

On Monday, Senator Jinggoy Estrada also refuted rumors that there was a plot to oust Zubiri and he was the one who will allegedly replace him.

“I don’t know where that came from pati nga ako nadadamay d’yan. Walang ganon na usapan na magkakaroon ng coup d'etat dito sa Senado. (There's no talk about a coup d'etat in the Senate.) The supermajority, the members of the majority, are fully supportive of Senator Migz Zubiri,” Estrada said.

Meanwhile, Senator Robin Padilla said he doesn’t see the need to change the current Senate leadership.

“Wala. Bagama’t ako ay bago lang na senador, di ko naman nakitaan si Senator Migz Zubiri na may kakulangan siya. Wala akong nakikitang dapat baguhin ang leadership. Siguro ang mga beterano meron silang nakita pero ako kuntento sa kanila,” he said.

(None. While I'm a new senator, I don't find any shortcomings in Sen. Migz Zubiri. I don't see any reason to change leadership. Maybe the veteran senators, but me, I am satisfied.)

Last week, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda expressed confidence that there would be no leadership change in the chamber.

Senator Imee Marcos and Senator Nancy Binay, meanwhile, said these intrigues should be dismissed immediately.

This was backed by Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, while Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III refused to comment on the issue. —Giselle Ombay/ VAL, GMA Integrated News