📷 ABS CBN
THE viral photo of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa shedding tears in view of the supposed resignation of erstwhile Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri is just for a show, after all.
This comes as newly-installed Majority Leader Francis Tolentino admitted that dela Rosa was among those who agreed to unseat Zubiri as Senate President and vote for Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero as his replacement.
Notably, Zubiri even halted his emotion-packed privilege speech to mention Dela Rosa who appeared to be crying from his seat while delivering his parting message.
Zubiri himself admitted that he was ousted for “not following instructions.” Without even going into details, many are inclined to believe that Zubiri was ousted over his failure to stop Dela Rosa’s probe into the so-called “PDEA leaks,” which dragged the name of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. into drugs.
However, Escudero insisted that it was he who initiated the move to replace Zubiri as Senate President.
“Thursday lang ako nagtanong at nagpasya…sinimulan kong makipag-usap dahil marami naman na at that time na may agam-agam” Escudero told newsmen in an interview.
Asked if he talked with House Speaker Martin Romualdez, First Lady Liza Araneta or the President, Escuedero answered affirmatively.
He however clarified that they never discussed changing Senate leadership.
“Nagkita kami last week Wednesday, birthday ng ilang congressman kasama yung kapatid ko but that was open public gathering.”
The senators behind the change in the Senate leadership include Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Ronald dela Rosa, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Go, Lito Lapid, Imee Marcos, Bong Revilla Jr., Francis Tolentino, Raffy Tulfo, Robin Padilla, Grace Poe, Cynthia Villar and Mark Villar.
Those who voted for Zubiri were Senators Loren Legarda, Joel Villanueva, Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, Sherwin Gatchalian, and JV Ejercito.
Senators Aquilino Pimentel and Risa Hontiveros stood neutral. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
