Chiz admits initiating Zubiri ouster

Newly-installed Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Tuesday admitted that he initiated the move to replace Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri as the head of the upper chamber.

In an ambush interview, Escudero narrated that he started talking to his colleagues last Thursday. Zubiri said he heard of the moves to replace him last Wednesday.

"Thursday lang ako nagtanong at nagpasya," Escudero told reporters in an ambush interview.

(It was only last Thursday that I began to make inquiries and made a decision.)

Asked if he personally campaigned for the leadership change, Escudero nodded his head and answered in the affirmative.

"When I say, sinimulan kong makipag-usap dahil marami naman na at that time na may agam-agam," Escudero said, but refused to divulge what are the concerns of his colleagues.

(When I say, I started talking to people because several had misgivings.)

Escudero was also asked if he had any conversation with the House Speaker Martin Romualdez, First Lady Liza Araneta- Marcos or President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., the Senate president said, "Nagkita kami last week Wednesday, birthday ng ilang congressman kasama yung kapatid ko but that was open public gathering."

(I met them last Wednesday, several members of congress were celebrating their birthdays, my sister included, but that was an open public gathering.)

There were no talks of leadership change, Escudero said as he explained that each chamber cannot interfere with the affairs of the other house as they are considered equal.

According to Escudero, he finalized the gathering of support of 13 senators on Sunday night.

In a separate interview, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada categorically stated that Malacañang has no hand in the leadership change in the upper chamber.

"They have nothing to do with the change of leadership here in the Senate as far as I'm concerned," Estrada said.

The new Senate president pro tempore likewise denied that he instigated the ouster of Zubiri.

"I am denying it outright. I had no hand. I did not, I never initiated or instigated the house for Senate president on his own," he said.

According to Estrada, he received a call from Escudero three days ago as the latter wanted to talk to him personally.

"He intimated to me that he was interested in the Senate presidency, and then of course I was asking a lot of questions and I agreed," Estrada said.

There are "several factors" behind the replacement of Zubiri, Estrada said, but he cannot divulge it to the public.  

"It's just a change of leadership. We will always be supportive of the legislative concerns of the palace as long as it'll benefit our people. We will always be supportive of it. But rest assured, that we will remain an independent Senate, as an institution," he said.  

On Monday, Escudero replaced Zubiri as Senate president after he secured the support of 14 other senators.

The senators who backed Escudero's bid for Senate presidency were Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Ronald dela Rosa, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Go, Lito Lapid, Imee Marcos, Bong Revilla Jr., Francis Tolentino, Raffy Tulfo, Robin Padilla, Grace Poe, Cynthia Villar and Mark Villar.

Those who stuck with Zubiri were Senators Loren Legarda, Joel Villanueva, Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, Sherwin Gatchalian, and JV Ejercito.

Senators Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III and Senator Risa Hontiveros, who compose the minority bloc, maintained their status quo.

President  Marcos on Tuesday expressed his support for  Escudero, pointing out the lawmaker's record as a public servant.—RF, GMA Integrated News