Zubiri, allies form bloc amid shakeup

(UPDATE) OUSTED Senate president Juan Miguel Zubiri and his allies formed the «Magic 7» bloc «to support one another» Tuesday amid a shakeup in the upper chamber arising from a leadership change.

Sen. Francis Escudero on Monday staged a coup against Zubiri as he secured the signatures of 14 fellow senators to unseat the latter.

Zubiri managed to retain the support of his «seatmates» group, Sens. Juan Edgardo Angara, Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Loren Legarda and Joel Villanueva.

«We have the full support of one another. For better or for worse, the seatmates will be together,» Zubiri said in a chance interview. But he clarified that their group is «independent.»

Zubiri also said he was heartbroken when he learned that Sen. Ronald de la Rosa admitted to having signed the petition to remove him as Senate chief. On Monday, Zubiri had originally included de la Rosa in his camp.

Zubiri believes that de la Rosa's continued inquiry into the so-called PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) leaks led to his removal. The controversial document allegedly identified high-profile personalities using drugs, including then-senator now President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and actress Maricel Soriano.

«I'm dumbfounded. At least he (de la Rosa) knew that I defended him as chairman of the Committee [on Public Order tasked to probe the controversy]. And because of that, I was sacrificed. I was removed from the position [of Senate chief],» Zubiri said.

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«Let's move on. It's just that I am in shock. That's politics. I mean, there are no permanent friends, only permanent interests. It's very surreal. It seems [I am] in a twilight zone,» Zubiri added.

Senator Francis Escudero takes his oath as Senate President after Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri stepped down on Monday, May 20, 2024. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN Senator Francis Escudero takes his oath as Senate President after Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri stepped down on Monday, May 20, 2024. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN Senator Francis Escudero takes his oath as Senate President after Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri stepped down on Monday, May 20, 2024. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN Senator Francis Escudero takes his oath as Senate President