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"Sorry Migz"- Bato
By Nidz Godino
"Being good soldier, I wanted to tell him, 'my commander, sorry, boss, I failed to win war for you,'" Sen. Ronald dela Rosa said at press briefing drug probe by panel headed by himself was cited as key reason for ouster of Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri as Senate president.
It was revealed that Dela Rosa was one of 15 senators who supported Zubiri's replacement with Francis "Chiz" Escudero.
Dela Rosa apologized to Zubiri, saying he failed to defend the latter from plot to unseat him.
Dela Rosa admitted signing document endorsed Escudero's Senate presidency, correcting reports that he was among seven senators who stood by Zubiri.
Dela Rosa had no choice but to join his three other Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) colleagues Senators Francis Tolentino, Bong Go and Robin Padilla in voting Zubiri out, saying that it is party deal to abide with majority decision.
Tolentino was elected as Escudero's majority leader, replacing Zubiri's ally Joel Villanueva.
Dela Rosa was also flattered he was approached by Escudero's camp to convince him to join them in the majority.
"I was close to joining minority, but I was persuaded otherwise into joining majority," Dela Rosa said.
"Senate president Chiz is magnanimous victor…even though he did not need my vote anymore because battle was won, he still convinced me to join majority," Dela Rosa said.
Dela Rosa was perceived as backing Zubiri because the former PNP chief was among seven senators Zubiri thanked in his valedictory speech during Monday session.
Dela Rosa cried at the mention in Zubiri's tearful farewell speech and saluted him.
Asked about his breakdown, Dela Rosa was just overwhelmed by emotion when Zubiri thanked him for standing by him. Zubiri thanked Dela Rosa in his speech because he had thought Dela Rosa was with him.
"When Senator Migz saluted me in his speech, I could not help but cry… I felt ashamed…if he is heartbroken, I am also heartbroken…he is good leader," Dela Rosa said.
He also denied crying for feeling guilty that he had contributed to Zubiri's downfall because of his motu proprio inquiry into alleged leaked 2012 Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) pre-operation report targeting then senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
"I was told that that was not reason he was replaced," Dela Rosa said, adding that he would continue with his "PDEA leaks" investigation.
Dela Rosa was also assured by Escudero that he would not be stripped of his post as public order and dangerous drugs committee chair.
Zubiri had hinted that Dela Rosa's investigation Zubiri allowed in deference to independent committee chairmanship "ruffled feathers" of "powers that be" and led to his demotion.
"I failed to follow instructions from powers that be…I fought good fight…if I have ruffled some feathers in doing so, if I have upset powers that be, then so be it," Zubiri said in his speech before stepping down.
Those who backed Zubiri were Senators Loren Legarda, Joel Villanueva, Sonny Angara, JV Ejercito, Nancy Binay and Sherwin Gatchalian.
Two-member minority of Aquilino Pimentel III and Risa Hontiveros abstained.
Remaining 14 others voted to replace Zubiri with Escudero Dela Rosa, Tolentino, Go, Padilla, Jinggoy Estrada, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid, Imee Marcos, Grace Poe, Bong Revilla, Raffy Tulfo, Cynthia Villar and Mark Villar.
Estrada was elected Senate president pro tempore, replacing Legarda.
Newly elected Senate majority leader Francis Tolentino respected feelings of former Senate president Zubiri, who said he was victim of growing Marcos-Duterte rift.
"Let's respect his feelings…let's just leave it at that…we want everyone to be in reconciliatory mode, and we don't want to add to heat from what happened, I cannot comment on that, but we respect opinions of the former Senate president and we still consider him in high esteem," Tolentino said.
In television interviews on Monday, Zubiri had to give way to the new Senate president Francis Escudero because of pressure from factions of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.and of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.
He drew Marcos camp's ire for allowing Dela Rosa's motu proprio inquiry into an alleged leaked anti-drug operation report that implicated then senator Marcos in illegal drugs.
Zubiri also angered Duterte camp when he signed arrest order against Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy, after Hontiveros cited fugitive pastor in contempt for snubbing her hearings on alleged sexual abuses in his church.
"I was caught in middle of Duterte and Marcos factions… I'm caught in between, but I just did my job, and did it well… consequences of my action, why did it have to happen, I'm loyalist… I am one of those who felt bad about rift in UniTeam… I was caught in middle of growing fight between Duterte and Marcos factions…but we move on…we're politicians… I am not crybaby," Zubiri said .
At separate press briefing new Senate president pro tempore Jinggoy Estrada would rather not fan speculation that Malacañang had hand in removing Zubiri as Senate president.
"I don't need to tell the whole story… already water under bridge…they have nothing to do with change of leadership here in Senate," Estrada said.
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