Zubiri backs Tito Sotto's return as Senate president

Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri has expressed support for the possible comeback of Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III as the head of the upper chamber in the 20th Congress. 

Zubiri, a former Senate president himself, said he was not satisfied with the leadership of incumbent Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero, while expressing hope that the latter would be replaced in the next Congress. 

"If you ask me, I'm for a leader of the Senate who keeps protecting the integrity, the traditions of the Senate. Hindi ko gusto na ang leader sa Senate will be dictatorial type (I don't want the Senate's leader to be a dictatorial type). I don't want us to be similar to other chambers where it is only one emperor who dictates all the instructions to the members of the body," Zubiri said in an interview shared by his office to reporters on Wednesday night. 

"And if you ask me if I am satisfied with the leadership of the Senate, I'm not satisfied with the leadership of the Senate, so I am open to supporting other candidates for Senate presidency," he added. 

According to Zubiri, a "veteran bloc" will be formed in the 20th Congress, which will be composed of himself, Sotto, and Senators Loren Legarda, and Panfilo "Ping" Lacson. 

"Of course, initially, we're pushing for Senator Sotto as the Senate President because I was his majority leader. I'm a loyal majority leader of the Senate President," he said. 

He also expressed hope that the senators of the 20th Congress will all decide to elect a new Senate president who will continue the upper chamber's independence as the last bastion of democracy, and not just from the House of Representatives.

"Kasi may nagsasabi, gusto namin itong kandidato kasi inaaway niya si Speaker Martin (Romualdez)—that's not the role of the Senate President. (Some are saying they want a certain candidate because he or she is adversarial to Speaker Martin Romualdez). The role of the Senate President is to steer the Senate as a ship no matter how rough the waters are—to show the people that the Senate is our ship of state that will never break down, it will never surrender its principles, its traditions," Zubiri said. 

Recalling his stint as Senate president, Zubiri said he led with consultative type of leadership, wherein he initiated weekly caucuses among senators to discuss issues themselves. 

He said he did not let all the discussions be held in the plenary "because making it come out on the floor and fighting it out there shows a very chaotic Senate."

Escudero has stood pat that all matters regarding the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte should be discussed and debated on in the plenary session so as to not hide anything from the public. 

GMA News Online sought comment from Escudero regarding Zubiri's statement but the Senate president has yet to respond as of posting time.

Escudero assumed the helm of the Senate in May 2024 after Zubiri resigned from the post. 

A day later, Escudero said he initiated the move to replace Zubiri. — VDV, GMA Integrated News