Did non-Senator Migz “Kadiri” Zubiri lie about not vacationing for 15 years?

 

Because his vacation pics show otherwise

By Raïssa Robles

Migz Zubiri claims he didn’t cheat newly-seated Senator Koko Pimentel.

“Zubiri looked relaxed and happy after withdrawing his poll counter-protest against rival Koko Pimentel and resigning from the Senate,” Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Neal Cruz wrote recently.

The very picture of an innocent man, Mig Zubiri was.

Ok.

Then Neal Cruz went on to quote Migz Zubiri as telling reporters –

He said he has not had a vacation for the last 15 years that he was a member of Congress. Now he will bond with his family. They will go on a vacation abroad, perhaps in the United States, adding that his wife Audrey cried in happiness when he told her of his decision to resign.

The very picture of a hard-working public servant, Migz Zubiri was. No vacation since 1996.

Not so, according to one commenter who goes by the handle Pucci Popple, who wrote to me on this website:

Dear Ms. Robles,

Thanks for re-confirming our worst suspicions about Migz Z. I did not vote for him then and will not vote for him in 2013. I did not buy his resignation spiel. I believe that he knowingly cheated Koko Pimentel. I swear that if in the past I would somehow cross paths with him, I will show my disapproval by calling out “Zubiri Kadiri”.

He said in Kapihan at Diamond Hotel last Monday (Aug 8th) that he had not had a holiday in 15 years. Well, his wife Audrey said a few years ago that she and Migz had just enjoyed a South African holiday. She said he loves visiting places that he has not been before.

Then Pucci Popple burst out:

So when he travels to these places, it’s on business for the Philippine government? How convenient! What a liar!

I just had to check out Pucci Popple’s  claim.

And he was right!

Before and when he became a non-Senator, Migz Zubiri traveled a long distance away.

First he went to Africa in 2006, according to this blog.

Ah, but this wasn’t a vacation. It was a honeymoon. Work, work, work for Migz Zubiri.

In 2007, shortly after becoming a newly-minted non-Senator, Migz Zubiri traveled with wife Audrey to Athens to meet with my very good ex-friend and ex-fellow reporter, the one and only Ambassador Rigoberto Tiglao.

Proudly, Bobi Tiglao posted this photo of them basking in the Hellenic sun:

Again, this must have been work. Never mind if they were enjoying.

Because to think otherwise would mean that non-Senator Migz Zubiri has quite a different definition of vacation.

Just as he has a different definition of cheating in election.

If one were to make a TV episode of his stint at the Senate you could call it – The many adventures of a non-Senator enjoying non-vacations with non-accountability.

Thanks, Pucci Popple.

_______________________________

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