Bacolod City officials yesterday lauded Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri’s statesmanship, although they were saddened that his resignation will leave Bacolod and Negros with no voice in the Senate.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said he had mixed feelings when he first heard about Zubiri’s resignation. He said he was surprised and amazed but it was statesmanship in the highest form.

“Wherever this may lead to, we have to give him credit for his moral courage which I hope will become our standard and model in public service,” Leonardia said.

And for all the good things he has done for the country while in the Senate, “we salute and thank him. May his tribe increase,” he said.

Councilor Caesar Distrito said Zubiri’s resignation will leave Bacolod and Negros with no voice in the Senate.

Zubiri is a true blooded Ilonggo who fought and championed the concerns of the sugar industry and his act is truly unprecedented and the highest form of statesmanship, he said.

“Learning about his humbling act of choosing honor and dignity over power, makes me so proud and honored to know such a great man like him,” Distrito said.

“I know that because of what he did, people will surely vote him back to the Senate,” Distrito added.

Councilor Em Legaspi-Ang said Zubiri’s resignation is a great show of statesmanship and moral courage.

This is the first time that an elected official of his stature has resigned on mere allegations of elect*oral fraud, she said. It must have been a difficult and painful decision to make but he was willing to sacrifice his own personal interest for the greater interest of the nation, she added.

“The Senator being a Bacolodnon has made us proud for standing up with honor and dignity for what he believes is the right thing to do,” Ang said.

Being among the more dynamic, articulate and hardworking members of the Senate, his resignation is a big loss not only for the Negrenses but for the entire country, she said.

Ang said “I hope we will have a whole new generation of leaders like him. I salute Zubiri and wish him well as he ‘advances in another direction’.” *CGS

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