MANILA – Resigned senator Juan Miguel ‘Migz’ Zubiri said he does not harbor any ill feelings toward Senator Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III, who dropped out of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) senatorial ticket because of him.

Zubiri said they should instead focus on helping each other if they both win a seat in the Senate.

“No rancor, no anger in my heart. Alam ko hindi ako masyado gusto ni Senator Koko pero ako lagi ko sinasabi ito, pareho kaming taga-Mindanao. Dapat magtulungan kami,” he said during ANC’s “Harapan 2013” on Tuesday.

Zubiri has admitted he benefited from cheating in the 2007 polls, but that he didn’t have any knowledge about the poll rigging operations.

He said that like Pimentel, he too was a victim.

“Ako hindi nakatapos ng aking termino, si Senator Koko hindi nasimulan ang kanyang termino. That’s why ang attitude ko sa kanya is one of shared passion for clean elections, shared passion for public service,” said Zubiri.

In the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) pre-election survey, Zubiri ranked 11-12 while Pimentel ranked 5-6.

Unfinished business

Zubiri said if he is elected as senator in the midterm elections, he will continue to push for his advocacies, including the National Land Use Act.

“One that I feel bad about is the National Land Use Act, hindi natin nailusot [sa Congress]. I was chairman of the Committee on Environment nu’ng tinackle po natin ‘yan at nagkaroon kami ng committee report, but because of these allegations that happened in 2007, I made a decision to resign out of delicadeza and to keep my dignity intact,” he said.

He said he will also push for socialized medicare and food for school programs.

Zubiri resigned in 2011, allowing  Pimentel, who was ranked 13th in the final senatorial count, to take his place in the Senate.

The former senator said this time around, he wants a clean slate and is counting on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to ensure a fair and honest election.

“Let’s stick to automated elections, let’s find the best system with the best safeguards para ‘yung resulta doon ay resulta ng taong bayan,” he said.

He added that his experience in the last senatorial elections leading up to his resignation has made him closer to God and to his family.

“Ang daming trials and tribulations na dinaan ko and I became closer to my family, closer to God, closer to my wife and the belief that there is hope for the Philippines. It’s a country worth dying for,” he said.