MANILA -- Fourteen senators reaffirmed their support for Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri amid persistent talks that a certain group in the chamber is discreetly moving to change the leadership.

Senate sources said the idea of writing a “Statement of Support for the Leadership of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri” last week was due to rumors that "outsiders" are still wooing a group of senators to dislodge Zubiri.

Senators started signing the statement of support last Friday, according to sources.

A copy of the statement was obtained by ABS-CBN News.

 The senators who have signed the expression of support are:

1. Loren Legarda

2. Sherwin Gatchalian

3. Sonny Angara

4. Grace Poe

5. Nancy Binay

6. Lito Lapid

7. Mark Villar

8. Francis Tolentino

9. JV Ejercito

10. Joel Villanueva

11. Raffy Tulfo

12. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa

13. Christopher “Bong” Go

Zubiri also signed the statement of support. 

“We stand firm behind the leadership of Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri under whose guiding hand the Senate has maintained its digniy and independence as one of our nation’s greatest bulwarks of democracy,” part of the statement said.

“Our confidence in the Senate President has only grown stronger in the wake of his decisive handling. Of the divisive issue of the People’s Initiative. Throughout the complex challenges he has had to navigate, Senate President Zubiri has remained ever the statesman-steadfast in defending the Constitution, but circumspect in ensuring. That the stability of the nation and its elected government are never compromised,” it added.

The supposed coup plot against Zubiri, according to Senate sources, stemmed from the discontentment of a number of senators on the way Zubiri is leading the chamber.

This was worsened by the tension brought by the People’s Initiative issue to the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The one-page statement meanwhile underlined his supporters’ recognition of Zubiri as their chamber leader.

“Senate President Zubiri discharges his funcions with utmost restraint and respect for the mandate that each member of this chamber has received from the electorate. The integrity of Senate President Zubiri is beyond question. With. Him at the helm, the Senate is certain that in pushing legislative agenda, the interest of the country and our people are his only considerations, never his own,” the statement said.

“Now more than ever, the chamber needs to rally behind a leader who is untainted by corruption or conflict-of-interest, as attempts to discredit the Senate are being used to anchor proposals that would render the institution irrelevant,” it added.

 “We reiterate our resolute and unqualified support for the leadership of Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri as the President of the Senate,” the Statement ended.

Other senators who did not sign the Statement of Support are:

1. Cynthia Villar

2. Imee Marcos

3. Pia Cayetano

4. Alan Peter Cayetano

5. Jinggoy Estrada

6. Robin Padilla

7. Chiz Escudero

8. Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr

 Senate Minority Leader Aquilino”Koko” Pimentel III and Senator Risa Hontiveros, who represent the minority bloc, did not sign it because they are not part of the super majority bloc.