Zubiri steps down

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, 42, remains a member of the Senate until his colleagues accept his resignation. But he told colleagues he would rather step down, than "work half-heartedly" and under a cloud of doubt.

If accepted, his resignation is likely to delay the passage of the National Land Use Bill and the Sustainable Forest Management Bill, his chief aide said.

The land use bill was already pending sponsorship on the floor, said Dave Torres, when the senator from Bukidnon announced his resignation Wednesday afternoon.

In a brief statement, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that Malacañang respects Zubiri’s decision and believes that it "represents a way forward to start healing the wounds of the past."

"We thank him for the service he has given our countrymen. We call on Mr. Zubiri to further demonstrate his willingness to help restore the dignity of our electoral process," Lacierda said. "Any contribution he makes can be vital in restoring the people’s mandate and in giving the Filipinos the meaningful electoral reforms they rightfully deserve."

Last month, two witnesses came out saying electoral fraud in Maguindanao in 2007 credited Zubiri with votes meant for other candidates. Votes were allegedly shaved from candidates Benigno Aquino III, Alan Peter Cayetano and Panfilo Lacson and given to Zubiri, then a member of the administration party.

'Orchestration'

Zubiri denied the allegations and said he, too, was a victim of cheating in Metro Manila.

"Armed merely with their vocal chords and without supporting documents, these alleged witnesses are now shouting out loud as if with full orchestration," he said.

He said the new allegations by "highly suspect personalities" signaled the start of the "trial by publicity" while the pending cases at the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) "have been practically set aside."

But the issue goes beyond a tug-of-war between Zubiri and the lawyer who placed 13th in the Senate elections of 2007, Aquilino Pimentel III, another official said.

"For the sake of democracy, we must identify and punish those who are responsible for the crime of robbing our people of their right to choose their leader," said Rey Trillana, former program director of the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy.

In a brief statement, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that Malacañang respects Zubiri’s decision and believes that it "represents a way forward to start healing the wounds of the past."

"We thank him for the service he has given our countrymen. We call on Mr. Zubiri to further demonstrate his willingness to help restore the dignity of our electoral process," Lacierda said. "Any contribution he makes can be vital in restoring the people’s mandate and in giving the Filipinos the meaningful electoral reforms they rightfully deserve."

Last month, two witnesses came out saying electoral fraud in Maguindanao in 2007 credited Zubiri with votes meant for other candidates. Votes were allegedly shaved from candidates Benigno Aquino III, Alan Peter Cayetano and Panfilo Lacson and given to Zubiri, then a member of the administration party.

'Orchestration'

Zubiri denied the allegations and said he, too, was a victim of cheating in Metro Manila.

"Armed merely with their vocal chords and without supporting documents, these alleged witnesses are now shouting out loud as if with full orchestration," he said.

He said the new allegations by "highly suspect personalities" signaled the start of the "trial by publicity" while the pending cases at the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) "have been practically set aside."

But the issue goes beyond a tug-of-war between Zubiri and the lawyer who placed 13th in the Senate elections of 2007, Aquilino Pimentel III, another official said.

"For the sake of democracy, we must identify and punish those who are responsible for the crime of robbing our people of their right to choose their leader," said Rey Trillana, former program director of the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy.

Bukidnon Vice Governor Jose Zubiri Jr., the senator’s father, said he was proud of his son.

"We're not guilty. We're not guilty," he told reporters as he denied talking to Lintang Bedol, elections supervisor for Maguindanao, to manipulate votes for his son.

Zubiri sat as chairman of the environment committee and the committee on cooperatives. He was also chairman of the joint congressional oversight committees on the Solid Waste Management Act, the Clean Air Act and the Cooperatives Act.

Meanwhile, the opposition at the House of Representatives urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to focus on investigating the May 2010 automated polls, instead of the 2004 and 2007 elections.

"Lately, much ado has been made on alleged cheating in the 2004 elections. This, despite all surveys, reports and exit polls during that time declaring no cheating substantially affected the poll results," the Lakas-Kampi-CMD group said in a press statement.

"Now, seven years after, in an era of automated elections, the Palace and its allies persist in conducting their investigations, when their real motive is only to besmirch the reputation of former President Gloria Arroyo, and cast doubts on the legitimacy of her administration once again," they said.

By Jonathan de Santos and Kathrina Alvarez