Zubiri joins Senate minority; Ejercito declines majority offer

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri (Senate of the Philippines/facebook)

MANILA – Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday joined the Senate minority, while Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito declined an offer to become majority leader.

In a manifestation on the floor, Zubiri said he wanted to be associated with the minority bloc following the leadership change that installed Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.

“I would like to be associated with the minority bloc, Mr. President, if I may,” Zubiri said.

Zubiri addressed criticisms that he had been “fence-sitting” after he abstained during the Senate reorganization.

“Binatikos nga ako nila, sabi nila na ako nag fence-sitting at nag-abstain. Nag-abstain lang ako para (They criticized me, saying I was fence-sitting and abstained. I abstained only so) I have a free hand to vote on which issue that I think is important for the Filipino people,” he said.

Ejercito, meanwhile, thanked Cayetano for offering him the majority leader post but said he preferred to maintain his independence at this time.

“I’d like to thank Mr. President for the trust and honor that I was offered to become the majority leader,” Ejercito said.

He described the majority leader post as one of the most powerful positions in the Senate but said he believed he could better perform his duties and pursue his priority programs independently.

“As of this time, I would rather maintain my independence,” he said.

Cayetano said he understood Ejercito’s position and would respect the decision of any senator, regardless of political alignment.

“We will continue to be good friends despite the political divisions or the nomenclature of who is in the majority or the minority,” Cayetano said.

Asked by Cayetano whether he would be independent or with the minority “for the purposes of today” and unless a change is made, Ejercito replied: “For now, Mr. President, I’ll be with the minority.”

Ejercito again thanked Cayetano for respecting his decision, saying senators would “still be friends no matter what.”