Says cheating allegation has taken toll on family, nation
Zubiri speech Honor and Integrity
Malaya
Amid allegations he benefited from the supposed cheating in the 2007 elections, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri yesterday announced his resignation, a move seen by colleagues and even his opponents as an act of statesmanship.
“Without admitting any fault and with my vehement denial of the alleged electoral fraud hurled against me, I am submitting my resignation as a duly elected senator of the Republic of the Philippines in the election for which I am falsely accused without mercy and compassion,” Zubiri said in an emotional privilege speech.
Aquilino “Koko “ Pimentel III I: I commend him for the rare act of resigning but na-disappoint lang ako na parang may denial pa siya na nagkaroon ng dayaan sa Maguindanao which was the reason why he got proclaimed in the first place. Hindi po baseless and unfounded ang charges of election fraud in Maguindanao. Proven na po iyon.”
“I am resigning, not because I am exhausted from the demands of my calling as a legislator. . I am resigning, not because I wish to evade the decision of the Senate Electoral Tribunal. Handa kong tanggapin ang anumang hatol mula sa nasabing hukuman,” he said.
“Rather, I am resigning because of these unfounded accusations against me and these issues have systematically divided our nation and has cast doubts on our electoral system which has affected not only myself, this institution but the public as well,” he added.
Zubiri was proclaimed senator in 2007 elections when he made it to the “Magic 12” with 11,005,866 votes for the 12th slot. He beat Aquilino “Koko Pimentel III who has a pending protest before the Senate Electoral Tribunal.
Last month, suspended ARMM Gov. Zaldy Amaptuan, a suspect in the Maguindanao massacre case, claimed that during the 2007 elections, the camp of then President Arroyo ordered that votes in Mindanao for three senatorial candidates from the then opposition be transferred to Zubiri. Ampatuan’s claim was corroborated by Lintang Bedol, a former election supervisor in Maguindanao.
Zubiri’s resignation does not mean that Pimentel will be automatically declared as replacement for Zubiri as the SET has yet to decide on the election protest.
Zubiri said he would still wait for the SET decision.
“I have directed my lawyers to make proper and immediate representation before the Senate Electoral Tribunal and convey my actuations today, with the end in view of expediting the proceedings with the prayer that the tribunal come up with a decision at the soonest possible time,” he said.
However, last night, in a huddle with reporters, he said he is withdrawing his counter-protest.
Elections chair Sixto Brillantes said Zubiri’s resignation definitely helped Pimentel in his protest since it would help speed up the resolution of the case.
Asked what could happen if the SET ultimately rules that Zubiri indeed won the 12th and final slot in the 2007 senatorial race, Brillantes said that is the only time that there would be a declared vacancy in the Senate.
“Since Zubiri cannot return anymore and Pimentel cannot sit, therefore, there would be special elections to fill the vacancy,” he said.
Brillantes said that with Zubiri resigning, there is a possibility the latter would be invited to participate in the joint investigation to be conducted by the Comelec and the justice department into alleged fraud in the 2004 and 2007 elections.
With Zubiri’s resignation, the Senate is left with only 22 senators.
Zubiri, after his speech, submitted his resignation letter to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.
It is the first time in the history of the Senate that a senator resigned because of allegations of cheating.
Enrile said other senators who resigned did so after they were appointed to an executive position, like in the case of Teofisto Guingona who became vice president.
Enrile said he would consult other members of the chamber and study the resignation.
“We cannot stop you for what you did because it’s a matter of honor and as head of this chamber, I will tell you I will study your resignation and make a decision in due time…We are witnessing the happening of a historical event for this is the first time within the reach of my memory, of my 87 years in this planet,” he said.
Enrile said he never expected Zubiri’s decision which he said is a “very rare show of moral courage.”
“I could very well feel what he’s feeling today because at one-time in my career as a senator, I was also vilified in this chamber,” Enrile said.
Zubiri was majority leader when Enrile was first elected as Senate president in the past Congress. At 39, he is the youngest majority leader in the history of the Senate.
Zubiri said he decided to step down ahead of the decision of the SET decision because he and his family are already hurt by personal attacks being waged by his political adversaries.
“In my family’s almost 30 years of public service in Bukidnon, not once, not once has our name been dragged in any election controversy, not once has an election protest ever been filed against us. This you can ask the people of Bukidnon.”
Zubiri repeatedly said the pressure of the election controversy on his family and his desire to save the Senate as an institution prompted him to step down.
“I have seen and felt the suffering of my family, and from the burrows of my conscience, I could not allow this to happen, let alone to be tolerated.
“After all, I am husband first before a senator, and I am father before a legislator,” he said.
Senate President pro tempore Jinggoy Estrada said, “That is a very, very painful decision for him to make. It is also a supreme sacrifice on his part to resign as senator of the Republic.”
Sen. Francis Escudero said, “I admire him for this courageous and difficult decision. It must be a tough time for him and his family and I wish them well as they go through.”
Sen. Ferdinand Marcos: “Here is one senator who has just given us an example of statesmanship, willing to sacrifice official title and position to allow the truth to be made known to the public without doubt being cast upon him as using his position to obstruct justice.”
Pimentel said Zubiri’s resignation is an act of true statesmanship.
However, Pimentel said he was disappointed when Zubiri claimed he resigned because of baseless accusations of cheating hurled against him.
Zubiri defeated Pimentel by just 18,372 votes in the official Comelec tally of the 2007 senatorial elections.
However, SET’s probe into Pimentel’s election protest revealed that Zubiri’s rival regained 257,401 votes in 2,658 polling precincts in Maguindanao, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Shariff Kabunsuan, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, and Basilan.
The figure erased Zubiri’s slim lead.
In a counter-protest filed by Zubiri, Pimentel lost more than 53,000 votes in around 44,000 precincts. The SET has yet to review the results in around 8,000 remaining precincts.
– With Gerard Naval, Jocelyn Montemayor, and Evangeline de Vera
Malinis daw ang konsensiya. Naku ah..
Puwede bang wala siyang alam sa dayaan. Kung hindi siya nandaya at hindi niya iiwan ang puwesto niya ngayon. Lahat ng nag lilingkod sa gobyerno ay kapit tuko sa puwesto eh. Inunahan lang niya para gumaan ng kaunti ang konsensiya niya.
Di daw siya nandaya ah or wala siyang alam sa dayaan. Hanggang ngayon ay nag mamalinis pa rin.
Pero hanga rin ako dahil nag resign siya.
does he even feel remorse for what happened? judging from his announcement to run in 2013 after just resigning, seems like he doesn’t feel sorry at all.
Mas oks sana kung inamin nitong si Zubiri na talagang may nangyaring kababalaghan noong 2007 eleksiyon at sabihin kung sino sino ang mga utak nito …. di baaaaa ….
>>>>>Zubiri claimed he resigned because of baseless accusations of cheating hurled against him.
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For his delicadeza (?????), I respect Migs Zubiri. But to aver “baseless accusations” of cheating (or somebody cheating for him)is as hopeless as an empty claim. Gina-gagio na naman tayo !! Everybody………..and I mean everybody who were identified with Gloria Arroyo and her regime are as guilty as hell. If they want to prove their innocence, they should all be as bold as to face their accusers just like they were as bold as to assume their lofty government positions with “baseless mandates”.
If Zubiri resigned at the very beginning of his term when he was perceived to have won because of cheating, I would have hailed him. The resignation came in a little bit too late. He enjoyed his senatorial seat for FOUR years! Mahigit na lang isang taon ang termino ni Koko Pimentel. Mag run na lang si Koko ulit sa 2013 baka sakali maiboto siya ulit.
pano ka nga naman mkakapagtrabaho sa senado at hindi magreresign kung ang iisipin mo na iniisip ng mga kasama mo sa senado ay “kapal ng mukha naman nito ni Migs, alam na ng buong pilipinas ang dayaang nangyari.. kapit tuko pa din”
isa pa, ang mga padrino nya dati sa malacanan, isa-isa ng nagkakasakit para lang makaiwas sa asunto… wala na talga syang paglalagyan…
ok, who;s next?
pwde bang magtabas ng masamang damo sa supreme court?
Senator DAYA…
http://www.ellentordesillas.com/?p=1294
Napaka tanga naman ni Zubiri kung hindi nya alam na ng daya para kanya. No. 1 si Singson sa Maguindanao. Nang nangailangan si Zubiri ng boto, bigla sya nanging no.1. Dapat noon pa, nag resign na sya dahil sa pangyayari na yun. Hindi nga sya nang daya, pero alam nya na may dayaan para sa kanya.
A, kaya nagresayn si Zubiri e para meron matira sa pangalan kasi tatakbo ule sa next election! Kung makalkal nga naman ng todo ang kadayaan ay wala na syang kinabukasan. Umaasa sya na mananalo dahil mas marami ang unenlightened pinoy voters na kanyang base. Garapal!
Salamat baycas! Parang ngayon lang sinulat ni Ellen, tiempong-tiempo pa rin. Ang lakas ng dagok kay Gabby Claudio!
#10, magresign sya o hindi, makakalkal talga ang dayaan… baka isa sa dahilan kung bakit sya nagresign e para magkaron ng simpatya sa knya ang taong bayan, lumamig ang issue at masalba ang mga nasa likod na mas mataaas sa kanya… dyan sya nagkakamali..
bakit naman magreresign si zubiri 4yrs ago? kaya nga nandaya eh.. para makaupo. tapos magreresign… nagresign sya ngayon kasi wala ng pagpipilian… damage control na lang…
Nakakalimutan natin ang isang issue na posibleng konektado sa pagri-resign ni JM Zubiri. Hindi nga ba’t mahal ang bentahan ng “Gecko” or tuko? Kapag nanatiling kumapit sa pwesto si Zubiri, hindi malayong bibitaw din siya kahit anong higpit ang kanyang kapit. Walang tukong makapit sa taong nagigigipit. Payo ko sa kanya, umiwas sa mga nanghuhuli ng tuko. Baka mamaya may makita na lang tayo na “For Sale: Gecko from Senate” sa internet.
Lets give it to Migs, for whatever reason behind his decision was. He did resign and even said that he wanted Koko to become senator. Unlike other politicians who would cling to their post even if they’re not suposed to be there. Makikipagpatayan at handang pumatay para lang huwag matanggal sa pwesto. Ex. Gloria and hubby.
“It is never too late to do the right thing. Whatever your motivations are.”
– Karen Davilla
“When Lintang Bedol and Ampatuan came out two or three weeks ago, we decided that this is the evidence we were seeking to really show proof that there was no election that happened in Maguindanao in 2007. For someone like Mr. Ampatuan and Mr. Bedol to say that there was no election that happened and they manipulated everything is for me and my family the last straw,” Zubiri said on ANC’s “Headstart.”
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/08/04/11/zubiri-mulled-resignation-past-3-weeks
winnie monsod praises zubiri for not being kapit tuko
http://www.politicaljunkie.blogspot.com/2011/08/winnie-monsod-praises-zubiri-for-not.html
Sa wakas, dinaga na din ng dibdib ni Zubiri…lekat na Zubiro yan e magmamalinis pa, hayon at nagdoremi na ang mga tirador na silang nagpanalo sa kanila.
See, Folks…KARMA? Isa-isa na silang bumabagsak…dapat nga e magharikiri ang yan para mabawasan ang mga sinungaling at gahaman sa tawag ng paglilingkod-bulsa.
Hehehe, magbabangong-puri pa e bokya na sila…dapat sa kanila e bigyan ng leksyon para di pamarisan.
I don’t think Zubiri resigned because of honor, principles and “bayan muna bago sarili” as Enrile put it with such profuse praise.
I believe Zubiri resigned because he could no longer stand the heat coming his way.. with all these witnesses coming out and more probably.
I don’t believe that he did not know that Gloria’s electoral “engineers” cheated for him and his partymates. Tell that to the Marines.
And he resigned because it is also a smart political thing to do. Take one step backward now and take two or three steps forward come next elections which is not too far away anyway.
Then he makes friends with Koko Pimentel. Pimentel accepts half-heartedly. He has been had. P10M spent for his electoral protest.. and only about two years left for him if he gets to sit as senator.
And why would people spend tons of money on an electoral protest? or on an election campaign? How are they going to get that back? Silly of me to ask such a stupid question.
Eto ang sinabi ni Zubiri in 2007, during the canvassing:
“May chance pa tayo. Malaki pa ang chance. Pero iyong sa akin lang naman huwag sana i-exclude ang boto sa Maguindanao dahil sila po ay Filipino. Sila po ay may boses. Sila po ay may karapatan maghalal ng senador. ’Yan ang pinakaimportante.”
Ngayon papapel siyang walang kamalay-malay at sasabihin niya ito?
“When Lintang Bedol and Ampatuan came out two or three weeks ago, we decided that this is the evidence we were seeking to really show proof that there was no election that happened in Maguindanao in 2007. For someone like Mr. Ampatuan and Mr. Bedol to say that there was no election that happened and they manipulated everything is for me and my family the last straw,” Zubiri said on ANC’s “Headstart.”
Sana ginaya niya yun kapartido niyang si Mike Defensor na hindi na nagpilit pa sa maguindanao votes at nag concede kesa sa magkadayaan. Eto sinabi ni defensor sa dalawang occasion:
“I concede to ease the tension on the ground and to dismiss a notion that there may be illegal acts committed to attain my victory.”
“I concede so as to enjoin my allies and friends who may want, in their desire to have me win, commit acts inimical to the essence of democracy and fair play in an election battle.”
Nagmamalinis pa yan Zubiri na yan. Kung talagang maayos siya eh bakit siya nagfile bg napakalabong counter protest nung lumabas na ang tunay na lamang ni Koko sa kanya ay halos dalawan daang libong boto?
mb,
Pati si Recto na kasunod lang ni Koko, nag-concede na rin noon, although yung quintessential kapalmuks na siga na si Swabit, asa pa rin. Paano ba naman, sa buong ARMM, #1 siya at 0 ang opposition sa Top 12.
Laki ng ginastos niya doon, pati na yung “production number” nila ni Bong Revilla at yung hostage taker na si Ducat na nagtapos eksaktong oras na magsisimula ang primetime news sa TV.
Ang nakakatawa diyan e, yung Muslim na si Kiram na taga-Mindanao mismo, hindi man lang lumarga ang bilang sa Muslim areas, LOL!
Lalo tuloy nakakagulat na nung special elections sa Maguindanao, nawala yung mga ERs kay Bedol pero topnotcher na si DAYAna Zubiri, hindi na si Swabit! Dinampot malapit sa kulelat si Swabit kasama ni Oliver Lozano, Victor Wood, at yung doppelganger na si Peter Cayetano.
Namfootang pinag-gagawa tayong gago.
(Naalala ko na naman tuloy yung comedy skit ko dito sa blog…)
i thunk nag-resign yan not out of delicadeza but rather as a shrewd political maneuver.
malamang alam na niya na talo siya sa kanyang counter protest sa SET. mas maganda nga namang pakinggan na nag-resign siya out of “conscience” keysa lumabas sa SET decision na tinalo talaga siya ni Koko Pimental nung senatorial elections.
sabi niya he could prolong the case since he has 200 working days to present more evidence. that is true, pero if he wants to serve more than just one term as a senator, wala siyang chance na mare-elect sa susunod na elections kung magkakapit-tuko pa siya ngayon na lumabas na nga ang mga witnesses na nagsasabing nagkadayaan talaga nung 2007 senatorial elections.
I agree with Enrile though when he said that sayang they would lose Zubiri in the Senate because he is such a talented individual. Yes, so young and so talented..at political maneuverings..and so much like another spice boy gone sour Mike Defensor.
These guys thinks all Pinoys are idiots.
Dapat lang talaga siya na mag resign kasi hindi naman talaga siya ang nanalo. Alam niya na talo siya. Kung panalo talaga siya ipaglalaban niya ang protesta. Pero dahil may mali sa pagkakapanalo niya ay nagpaubaya na lang siya. Pero dapat noon pa sana niya ginawa.