“IS there a Senate change of leadership?”

This was the question raised after Senator Jose Jinggoy Estrada denied that he will be the one to replace Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri as the new senate president as he divulged that it was all rumor that has been spreading since last year.

“There is no truth to it. I have not receive any copy of the resolution. But that rumor has been circulating since last year and my name is being floated as the replacement for SP Zubiri. I have high respect for Zubiri. But I heard tatanggalan daw ako ng committee chairmanship. I don’t know why. That is their decision. But I will ask them also why because I am not an instigator of this coup.” Estrada explained in an interview.

Senator Imee Marcos said majority of the senators still rallied behind Zubiri but she confirmed that there is really an attempt to change the leadership in the Senate which she said is being instigated outside and not inside.

“There’s a lot of pressure to oust Senate President Zubiri and there is a lot of attempt too. But there is no number to replace him,” Marcos told reporters.

Senator Ramon Bong Revilla said it is not true that Senator Estrada will be replacing Zubiri as the new leader of the Upper Chamber.

“Sa totoo lang, he is not interested. Nakakalungkot kasi kami ay nag aaway away na dito. Nagkakasagutan na. Pati na rin Senado at Kongreso hindi na rin nagkakaisa. At sino sa tingin ninyo ang talo kundi ang taong bayan. It’s not good for the country.” Revilla said.

Senator Cynthia Villar admitted that she heard talks that Sen. Estrada is being eyed to replace Zubiri but maintained that there is no movement.

“Nabalitaan ko na rin yan pero wala naman sa akin pinapa sign. Ang nagpapa sign ng supporta ay mismong si Zubiri para sa kanya. Sa akin wala naman pina pa sign. So I can not answer.”Sen. Villar said.

Even for her own son, the lady senator from Las Pinas said he is not aware if his son signed any of the so-called resolution to change the present leadership.

“Tanong niyo na lang sa kanya mismo. Basta ako i protect lamang ang Senado, okay na sa akin.” Villar clarified that refused to elaborate.

Earlier, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda affirmed that Zubiri still enjoys the trust of his colleagues in the upper chamber.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva likewise said members of the supermajority are still supporting Zubiri, who has been leading the 24-member chamber since July 2022.

Villanueva, a close ally of Zubiri noted that no one in the senate is more deserving to lead them than Senator Zubiri whom he described as a very hard working Senate president.