Disappointed with how his party, Lakas-Kampi-CMD ran the election campaign, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said he plans to take a more independent stance in the coming 15th Congress.

In an interview with reporters last Thursday, Zubiri cited his disappointment over the way his party, administration Lakas-Kampi- CMD ran its campaign during the recent election.

“I’m just not happy with my party. In this last election, it was very obvious that they had just decided to support congressional candidates but left the mayors to fend for themselves,” Zubiri said.

“Particularly in our province of Bukidnon where all our mayors are with Lakas and yet not one centavo was given to them,” he said.

“And I feel that even the complaint of Gibo that he has been betrayed, that’s very sad. I’m not happy,” said Zubiri referring to the administration’s presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro.

He, however, said he would prefer to be “kicked out” of the Lakas rather than leaving it on his own.

“Let’s put it this way, I’d rather be kicked out rather than leave because sasabihin pa nila balimbing ako (because I might be accused of being two-faced). I am hoping that they will just kick me out. But I am very excited to be an independent in the next Congress,” said Zubiri.

He added that he would like to be “more of a maverick in the party.”

“I am not happy especially with the leadership,” Zubiri said.

Lakas-Kampi CMD, in order for it to survive, has to have progressive leaders, a set of new leaders and infusion of young blood, according to Zubiri.

“How can we push for reforms when we don’t reform within ourselves in the party? Lakas, in order to survive has to have progressive leaders, a set of new leaders, and infusion of young blood. It should also be given a chance to be able to make independent decisions,” he said.

“You still have to seek approval from the old leaders so para lang sila mga pawns at mga actors and not actually players, then para que, ‘di ba? I would rather join a party, or a smaller party that would allow you to grow as an individual, allow you to be able to reform the organization at the same time come out with reform measures that will help the political problems of this country,” said Zubiri.

Zubiri claimed he was a member of Lakas since 1997 before he joined politics in 1998, and has never left the party since then.

“I have always been loyal to the party. (But) the problem I feel is that the party has stopped growing, that the idealism we once had, I feel is not there anymore,” he lamented.