Zubiri says joining Senate bloc to possibly form 'supermajority' (Sabong News)
Author
Martin Sadongdong
Date
MAY 18 2022
Newly-proclaimed Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri revealed Wednesday, May 18, that he joined a bloc in the Senate that will try to form a supermajority and help the next administration pass laws that are deemed necessary to move forward from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Zubiri arrived at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City around 3:30 p.m. where the proclamation of the 12 winning senators in the recently concluded national elections was held.
Zubiri, who ran as an independent candidate, ranked number eight among the 12 winning candidates and obtained 18,734,336 votes.
“I’d like to thank the almost 19 million people who voted for me. Maraming, maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat. Natutuwa po ako at ang buong pamilya ko na ako ay nakabalik sa Senado para ituloy po natin ang ating mga trabaho. Marami pa tayong kailangang gawin (Thank you very much. My family and I are very happy that I’ll be back in the Senate to resume our work. We have a lot more to do),” he told reporters.
“You know we’re coming out of the pandemic. Since it’s post-pandemic, we have to work on helping the poorest of the poor. Kailangan buhayin natin ang turismo, ang (We need to revive the tourism industry, and the) micro, small, and medium enterprises. We’re hoping that we can form a supermajority to be able to help the administration pass important bills that are necessary to move forward, and help our economy grow,” he added.
Further, the senator said he was among the lawmakers being pushed to run for the Senate presidency.
“We formed a bloc. It’s a very nice bloc who believe in the sanctity of the Senate in terms of traditions and rules, independence, the right of every senator to be able to speak their mind, to be able to air their voice and vote on particular issues without having to stall or stop their advocacies,” Zubiri said.
“Sa grupo na ‘yan, isa po ako sa mga itinutulak (In that group, I am one of those being considered [to be the leader]. I’m honored to be chosen as one of the leaders of that group. It is too early right now to talk about the [Senate] leadership issue. After the proclamation, we will meet again but eventually, all the members of the group will be part of a supermajority,” he stated.
Zubiri refused to name the senators that are included in the Senate bloc that he was referring to although he said they have “not yet reached 13 members.”
“Marami-rami na kami (We are getting numbers) and I think we are substantial enough but not yet more than 13,” he said.
Asked if he is ready for the Senate presidency, Zubiri answered in the affirmative.
“I’ve been a majority leader three times, with three different Senate presidents so when it comes to the mastery of rules, I can do it. When it comes to consensus-building, I can do it too,” said Zubiri, who served as a majority floor leader once under the Senate presidency of former senator Juan Ponce Enrile and twice under Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
Asked whether who among his colleagues also deserve to be the Senate president, Zubiri answered: “I think we’re all going to sit down and respect each other. The decision of the group is what’s important. It could be Senator Chiz [Escudero], it could be Sen. Sherwin [Gatchalian], it could be Senator Villar. They’re all capable, everyone is capable. Even Robin Padilla, why not?”
