Rumors of Senate coup to unseat Migz swirl; Jinggoy, Loren deny it

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

RUMORS continued to swirl Monday about an alleged leadership coup at the Senate, which came as Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri was still in Washington DC, on an official visit.

Marcos returns Galvez to peace adviser post

By Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. back to his former post as the chief of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU).

Galvez was the peace adviser in the Duterte administration, but Mr. Marcos tapped him as officer-in-charge of the Department of Defense until the President named Gilbert Teodoro

The persistent speculation in the upper chamber was that Zubiri would be ousted during the opening of the 2nd Regular Session of the 19th Congress on July 24 and that he would be replaced by Senator Jinggoy Estrada or Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda.

Zubiri, who has yet to return from the United States, said previously: “I serve at the pleasure of my colleagues.” Both Legarda and Estrada denied the rumors, calling them mere gossip. Estrada on Monday said there was no such thing as a coup against Zubiri.

PBBM appoints Gadon as poverty counselor

By Charles Dantes

CONTROVERSIAL lawyer Lor- enzo “Larry” Gadon has been named by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday as the Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation, Malacañang said. The Palace said Gadon’s appointment reflects the government’s commitment to addressing “one of the most pressing challenges” in the country.

In a media briefing, Estrada said he does not know where the rumor came from. He said the “supermajority” in the Senate is very supportive of Zubiri. He also described Zubiri’s leadership as “good.”