Escudero admits instigating Zubiri ouster

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero admitted instigating the coup in the Senate by calling other senators to support his efforts to take over the presidency of the chamber, amid doubts about the leadership of Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri.

In an interview with Senate reporters, Escudero admitted that he started calling his senator colleagues on the move to oust Zubiri, but refused to divulge his reasons.

He said that he started talking with his colleagues because “there were many at the time who had doubts.”

While Zubiri earlier said he heard about the attempt to oust him on Wednesday last week, Escudero claimed he started making calls to fellow senators on Thursday.

Escudero clarified that neither Malacañang nor the House of Representatives had anything to do with changing the Senate leadership.

He, however, claimed that he met with House Speaker Martin Romualdez at a birthday party of a congressman last Wednesday. He noted the issue of Senate leadership was not discussed.

Escudero said that out of 24 senators, 15 signed a resolution calling for the leadership change. He, however, refused to provide a copy of the resolution that would allow the Senate to move forward.

Escudero said he gathered the support of 15 of the 24 senators.

And while Escudero did not name those who signed the resolution, Zubiri thanked seven in his valedictory speech – Senators Nancy Binay, Sonny Angara, Sherwin Gatchalian, JV Ejercito, Joel Villanueva, Loren Legarda and Bato dela Rosa.

Dela Rosa, however, admitted being the 15th senator to sign the Senate resolution to oust Zubiri, who claimed he was dumbfounded about Dela Rosa’s revelation.

Zubiri did not thank Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Francis Tolentino, siblings Allan Peter and Pia Cayetano, Bong Go, Lito Lapid, Imee Marcos, Robinhood Padilla, Grace Poe, Ramon Revilla Jr., Raffy Tulfo, Cynthia Villar and son Mark Villar.

Meanwhile, Senate pro-tempore Jinggoy Estrada admitted that after he and Escudero talked about the change in the Senate leadership, he also called another senator colleague to join the call for Zubiri’s ouster.

Estrada, however, did not name the senator.

Like Escudero, Estrada maintained