Migz takes oath in Bukidnon

MALAYBALAY CITY – Juan Miguel F. Zubiri took his oath of office yesterday as the 12th winning senator in the last May elections.

He will go down in history as the first senator from Bukidnon province.

Executive Judge Josefina Bacal of Malaybalay RTC administered the oath-taking ceremonies with local officials and Bukidnon elders headed by former vice governor Esmeraldo Cudal in attendance. 

Zubiri’s wife Audrey, who joined his campaign sorties, was at his side while lumad leaders of Bukidnon’s seven tribes headed by former congressman Lorenzo Dinglayan Sr. and Muslim ulama leaders were also present.

Bukidnon Gov. Jose Ma. Zubiri watched proudly as his son took his oath of office together with elder brother, newly elected Congressman Jose “Joey” Zubiri III.

Conspicuously absent at the oath-taking was Zubiri’s mother, Vicky, who together with his sisters is in the United States for a routine medical check up.

The Bukidnon governo  recalle  in jest that when his wife Vicky (Migz’s mother) visited a palm reader in a 1997 family visit in India, the seer told her that one day a member of the Zubiri family will become President.

In his usual comic mood, the elder Zubiri laughingly told the audience “in that case soon I will become Vice President while Migz will be the President.”

In his inaugural address, Zubiri called on the political opposition to set aside politics and work for the common good of the Filipino people who are wallowing in poverty.

Zubiri said he will move for a true Mindanao summit where all Mindanao leaders, Muslim ulamas, lumad leaders and interfaith groups gather together to discuss what is good for Mindanao and the solution of its woes.

“The development of Mindanao means the development of the whole country,” Zubiri said.

Meanwhile, sacked Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol is scheduled to appear before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc today to face the contempt charges filed against him by the agency.

Comelec Commissioner and Maguindanao Task Force head Nicodemo Ferrer said it would be damaging for Bedol and his lawyer Andrei Bon Tagum if he fails to show up at the 10 a.m. en banc hearing today at the Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila.

“Well if he does not show up… that means he has no evidence to contradict the charges against him. And we have no choice but to hold him in contempt,” he told reporters.

Bedol and his lawyer have committed to attend the hearing when they showed up during a hearing last July 3.

The contempt charges stemmed from Bedol’s failure to attend a series of hearings called by the Comelec in connection with the investigation of the alleged massive cheating in Maguindanao. – With Sheila Crisostomo