Bato: 'Artista' group 'rekindled' ouster move vs. Zubiri

An earlier plan to oust Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri from the Senate presidency was "fended off" before it was "rekindled" by senators in show business, Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said on Wednesday.

In an interview on Unang Balita, Dela Rosa said the ouster move was revived after Zubiri turned down Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla's request that he be allowed to attend sessions "online" due to a foot injury.

"Wala pa 'yung PDEA leaks investigation nandyan na 'yun, panahon ni Senator Jinggoy (Estrada). Si Senator Jinggoy ang gustong i-kudeta si Senator Migz. But we were successful in fending off that coup d'etat," Dela Rosa said, referring to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

(Before the PDEA leaks investigation, the coup plot was already there during the time of Senator Jinggoy. Senator Jinggoy was the one who wants to coup Senator Migz. But we were successful in fending that off.)

Dela Rosa's Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs had been conducting hearings into the alleged leak of PDEA papers, which linked President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and other personalities.

"Ngayon, na-rekindle na lang itong another effort particularly sa grupo ng mga artista (Now, it was rekindled through another effort particularly from the group of senators with links to show business)," he added.

Dela Rosa made the remarks after Zubiri said that his defense of the senator's inquiry cost him his position as Senate president.

"I'm not trying to fend off itong mga pagsisisi, sa akin sinisisi, pero gusto ko lang mag-share sa inyo ng information na nag retrigger itong pag-alis kay Senator Migz nung nagalit 'yung mga artista," he said.

(I'm not trying to fend off those blaming me for what happened but I just want to share to you the information that the ouster of Senator Migz was retriggered when he earned the ire of the senators who came from show business.)

He said Senator Francis Tolentino and now Senate President Francis Escudero moved that they allow Revilla to join the session online, but Zubiri rejected it.

"Nag-attend siya (Revilla) physically, lumala ang condition niya, namaga ang kanyang paa so nakiusap sina Sen. Tolentino at Sen. Chiz na kung pwedeng pagbigyan si Sen. Bong Revilla. Dinecline, ang ruling ni Sen. Migz e ayaw niya. D'un natrigger 'yung mga artista, Sumama ang loob, si Robin Padilla, si Jinggoy. D'un nag start," he said

(Revilla attended the session physically but his condition worsened so Sen. Tolentino and Sen. Chiz moved that the former be allowed to attend the session online. It was declined by Sen. Migz. That triggered Sens. Robin Padilla, Jinggoy. That's where it started.)

On Monday, Zubiri resigned from his post as Senate president, two days before the end of the second regular session of the 19th Congress.

He was replaced by Escudero.

Toe the party line

Meanwhile, Padilla has defended Dela Rosa for supporting Escudero's Senate presidency bid, saying he only followed the decision of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) bloc.

"Kawawa naman si Bato kasi wala namang kasalanan si Bato. Si Bato ay sumunod lang sa partido. Sana maintindihan natin na meron pa dito sa Pilipinas na mga totoong partido politikal na talagang sama-sama," Padilla said in an interview.

(I pity Bato because he is not at fault. He only followed the party line. I hope we understand that there still are true political parties in the Philippines that are really united.)

Like Dela Rosa, Padilla explained that the PDP party members in the Senate agreed to vote on all matters as one.

"Kami ay isang partido kaya ang boto namin ay isa lang. Naiintindihan ko si Senator Bato kung bakit naging emosyonal siya sa pangyayari... Sa aming bloc kasi hindi pwedeng maghiwa-hiwalay," Padilla, the acting president of the party, said.

(We are one party that's why we vote as one. I understand why Senator Bato became emotional with what happened... In our bloc, we cannot act separately.)

"Nu'ng kinausap namin si Bato, wala na s'yang nagawa kasi kailangan mamili siya—partido o 'yung kanyang matatawag natin na pakikisama kay Migz [Zubiri]. Siyempre nanaig 'yung pagiging party man niya kasi 'yun ang adhikain ng PDP. Kailangan sumunod ka sa sinasabi ng partido," he added.

(When we spoke with Bato, he couldn't do anything because he had to choose—party or his good relations with Migz [Zubiri]. Of course, he was party man first because that was aligned with the PDP's advocacy. You have to follow what the party says.)

Apart from the two, Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino and Senator Bong Go are part of the PDP bloc.

Dela Rosa was the 15th or the last senator who signed the resolution seeking to install Escudero as the new Senate chief.

The 'covenant'

Dela Rosa explained that he was hesitant to sign the resolution and was "really contemplating seriously" to join the minority bloc because he wanted to support Zubiri.

However, he was convinced by Escudero and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano to stay with the majority bloc.

Dela Rosa's decision to finally sign the resolution was not because of Escudero and Cayetano's persuasion, but the "covenant" that he forged with his PDP partymates Tolentino and Go.

Dela Rosa was among the senators seen weeping during the resignation speech of Zubiri last Monday. He was also seen crying in front of Zubiri's wife Audrey.

Zubiri in his speech also thanked Dela Rosa, a fellow Mindanaoan, whom he believed to have "stuck it out" with him to the very end.

"I salute you, sir," Zubiri said on Monday, not knowing at that time that Dela Rosa had sided with those that sought his ouster.

Zubiri said he was "dumbfounded" after learning that Dela Rosa had sided with Escudero.

GMA News Online has requested comment from other concerned senators regarding the matter. — AOL/NB/VDV, GMA Integrated News