MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Cynthia Villar said Wednesday she is no longer interested in running for the Senate presidency.
This means there will be no more term-sharing agreement with Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri, who is also vying for the top post.
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"Wala nang (There's no more) SP (Senate Presidency) race," Villar told reporters shortly after the Commission on Appointments (CA) hearing on Wednesday.
She confirmed that she is not interested anymore in running for the coveted position of Senate leader, who will serve in the 19th Congress. The lawmaker, whose term ends in 2025, added that she is now supporting Zubiri's bid.
Villar and reelectionist Zubiri are both allies of the incoming Marcos administration.
It was Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa who earlier revealed that Villar offered to share the Senate presidency with Zubiri through one-and-a-half-year terms, with her taking the first term.
On Monday, Zubiri said that he and some of his colleagues supporting his bid for the position, did not agree to the idea of term-sharing.
The Senate President is considered as the most powerful figure in the Upper House, and is in the third line of succession, after the President and Vice President. — Angelica Y. Yang with reports from Greg Gregorio and Paolo Romero