PBBM, alam na may hakbang para palitan ang Senate President

INAMIN ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na alam niya na may mga pagkilos na palitan si dating Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

“‘When did I know? The minute they started… actually, it was Senator Chiz (Escudero), the minute he started thinking about it, he brought it up, I think I’m going to try to lead the SP (Senate President)…” ayon kay Pangulong Marcos.

”And… I did not speak to any parties at any point simply because I was out of town, if you remember on that day, noong umaga, I was asked if I would issue a statement on the change of leadership and I said bakit nagchange na ba?,” ang sinabi ni Pangulong Marcos sabay sabing “Well, mayroong gumagalaw… and when I landed back in Manila at three or four in the afternoon, saka lang, tapos na…”

“‘Nag-change na, nagstep down na si Senator Migz. so that’s the extent, that’s how… I was basically informed every step of the way but it moves so quickly as well. But of course, we knew the state of the voting when that was still being collected by Senator Chiz. Alam na namin ‘yung lalabas na numero,” lahad nito.

Giit at bilang paglilinaw ni Pangulong Marcos, wala siyang kamay sa pagbabago sa liderato ng Senado dahil ”That was made by the Senate.”

May mga lumabas kasi na ulat na may ‘kamay’ ang Malakanyang sa pagpapatalsik kay Zubiri bilang Senate President matapos na mabigyan-diin sa resignation speech ni Zubiri ang independensiya o kalayaan ng Senado bilang institusyon.

Sa kabilang dako, tinuran naman ni Zubiri na ang kanyang pagkabigo na sumunod sa ‘instructions’ mula sa mga may kapangyarihan ang maaaring dahilan kung bigla siya naharap sa ganitong problema.

“I have never dictated my position to any of you, and I always supported your independence—which is probably why I face my demise today. I failed to follow instructions from the powers that be,” ayon kay Zubiri sa kanyang valedictory speech bago pa siya palitan ni Escudero.

Samantala, wala namang ideya si Pangulong Marcos kung ano ang ibig sabihin ni Zubiri.

”I guess if you are Senate President the only power that be is the President. So, I am not sure what he is referring to, if there is a specific instance or just as a general principle. I don’t know, I have not spoken to him about it,” ayon kay Pangulong Marcos.

”So, it’s hard for me to answer simply because I am not sure what he’s referring to because what instructions could that be that hindi niya natapos. Yes, that’s still unclear to me what he’s referring to,” aniya pa rin.

Samantala, humingi naman ng paumanhin si Escudero sa mga taong nasaktan niya at nga kanyang mga kaalyado, sa proseso ng paghahangad na makuha ang top post sa Senado.

“Hinihiling ko po ang inyong paumanhin kung may naabala man kami, kung may nasaktan man po kami, kung meron man po kaming naapakan na mga paa, sana tanggapin niyo ang aking buong pagpapakumbabang paghingi ng tawad,” ayon kay Escudero. (Daris Jose)