Zubiri eyes retirement from politics in 2028

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri is pondering retirement in 2028 - the year he finishes his second consecutive six-year term in the Senate.

“I really can't run anymore because I'm with my second consecutive term. I'm not looking at higher office,” Zubiri said in an ANC interview when asked if he would run for pulblic office in 2028.

“Walang nahahalal na vice president at president na mestizo na ganito, walang nahahalal na ganito. At this point in time, I have no political ambitions, I'm looking forward to my retirement in 2028. By 2028, I would have been 25 years in elected office. Having ran in so many elections, pagod na rin ako,” Zubiri added.

(Nobody elects a mestizo for president or vice president. Having ran in so many elections, I am also tired.)

Zubiri said he started being a public official at 28 years old, and five years from now, he just wants to be spend more time with his family.

“It's now time to look back and take care of my children who are going to be teenagers at that time. And [so I will] do my best in this next five years for our people. I think that is what is important because I tell my colleagues, wala akong ambisyon (I don’t have political ambitions),” said Zubiri.

He added that preserving the independence of the Senate would be his legacy.

“I'm here only to protect the institution because I believe in the Senate. I truly believe in the Senate as the last bastion of democracy of our country. We need the Senate, and we need a strong Senate,” Zubiri said.

Meanwhile, Zubiri admitted there were issues involving decorum at the Senate, such as a senator combing his mustache in the middle of a public hearing or kneeling before resource persons to compel them to tell the truth.

Former Senate President Franklin Drilon had earlier raised the issue on Senate decorum.

“There were leaders before in the Senate who will publicly bash you on the plenary floor if you make mistakes like that. I, personally, I call them out but in a nicer, friendlier and more consultative note. I suspend the session, I talk to them, 'That is not right, Senator.' Because at the end of the day, they are all elected officials,” Zubiri said.

”They were given a mandate by the Filipino people to serve in the Senate. We just have to work around it. I told him (Drilon), we acknowledge the mistakes, and will do better. Hopefully, the entry of this new second regular session, you'll see a more enlightened, more vigorous and very hardworking Senate,” Zubiri added.

Congress opens its second regular session on July 24. — DVM, GMA Integrated News