Zubiri, Romualdez agree to work professionally | Inquirer News

Source: Inquirer.net
Author: Maila Ager

MANILA, Philippines -- Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez have agreed to "work professionally" and set aside their differences.

Zubiri himself confirmed his meeting with the Romualdez during the 100th birthday celebration of chief presidential legal adviser Juan Ponce Enrile on Wednesday.

"Good news, nag-usap kami ni Speaker kanina. Sabi po namin e let's work professionally. Tigil muna ang bangayan and let's continue to work for the benefit of the administration, para sa ating mga kababayan. Hindi na maganda kung palagi po kaming nagbabangayan, nag aaway," Zubiri said in an interview at the Senate.

(Good news. I spoke with the Speaker earlier. We agreed to work professionally. Let's halt the quarrels for now and continue working for the benefit of the administration, for our fellow countrymen. It's not good if we're always arguing, fighting.)

"So we committed to talk to each other hopefully next week for a secondary meeting kasi mabilis lang po yung pagkita namin kanina, nagkamayan po kami at yan po ang mensahe namin," he added.

(So we committed to talk to each other hopefully next week for a secondary meeting because our meeting earlier was brief. We shook hands, and that's our message)

Zubiri said their meeting was witnessed by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Most of his colleagues in the Senate were also willing to "let bygones be bygones," said the Senate leader.

"I know medyo nagkasakitan ang ibang mga senador at mga congressmen particularly my Majority Floor Leader but it doesn't mean we cant work professionally. Professional naman po tayo. That doesn't mean we cant work with our colleagues professionally," Zubiri said.

(I know there were hurtful words hurled among certain senators and congressmen, particularly with my Majority Floor Leader, but it doesn't mean we can't work professionally. We are all professionals. Just because there were disagreements doesn't mean we can't work with our colleagues in a professional manner

Zubiri was referring to Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva who recently traded barbs with some congressmen still over the new Charter change bid.

The Senate and the House have been in a verbal tussle over the Cha-cha move through a people's initiative.

The Senate, in particular, strongly opposed the proposed joint voting of Congress as senators perceived this would diminish the power of the upper chamber.

The upper chamber is composed of only 24 senators while the House is comprised of more than 300 members.