Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri is thinking of retiring in 2028 when he ends his second consecutive six-year term in the Senate, saying he is not eyeing a higher position.
Zubiri said he will spend the next five years doing his best to serve the public as he assured his colleagues he does not have any political ambitions anymore.
In the past two weeks, Zubiri has been faced with swirling rumors that he will be replaced as Senate President.
“I really can’t run anymore because I’m on my second consecutive term.
I’m not looking for a higher office,” he said in a television interview.
“We have yet to elect a president or vice president that is mestizo like me. At this point in time, I have no political ambitions. I’m looking forward to my retirement in 2028,” Zubiri said.
By 2028, Zubiri said he would have already served 25 years in public office.
“Having run in so many elections, I am also tired,” Zubiri said.
“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 these next five years for our people. I think that is what is important because I tell my colleagues, I don’t have political ambitions,” he added.
Zubiri said in an earlier interview that has no illusions of being irreplaceable even as he rejected the idea of conducting a loyalty check among his colleagues amid rumors of a leadership coup in the Upper Chamber.
On Monday, he said 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 in our country. We need the Senate, and we need a strong Senate,” Zubiri said.
Last week, at least six senators denied rumors of a leadership change in their chamber during the opening of the 2nd Regular Session of the 19th Congress on July 24.
Rumors said Zubiri will be replaced by Senator Jinggoy Estrada or Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda.
But both Legarda and Estrada denied the rumors, calling them mere gossip.
Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito also denied the rumor, saying the senators are very satisfied with Zubiri’s leadership.
Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, chairman of the finance committee, also denied any move to oust Zubiri, who he said was “well-liked.”
Senator Robinhood Padilla said nothing is lacking in the leadership of Zubiri. In fact, he sees him as strict with his fellow senators, especially if laws need to be discussed and passed.
Senator Nancy Binay said intrigues such as these should not be entertained because they won’t help the Senate. Macon Ramos-Araneta
