MANILA — Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri admits feeling the heat from supporters of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr and of former President Rodrigo Duterte over issues being investigated by the Senate.

The administration enjoys majority support at the Senate but recent hearings have highlighted tension within the coalition that swept the 2022 elections.

"Binabatikos ako ng iba't-ibang grupo, I'm neither here nor there. Galit sa akin yung Duterte group galit sa akin yung Marcos group," Zubiri, said at a hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs on Monday.

(I'm being criticized by different groups. The Duterte group is angry at me while the Marcos groups is also angry at me.)

RELATED: SC asks Senate to explain arrest warrant vs Quiboloy

"Galit sakin yung Duterte group dahil nagpalabas po tayo ng warrant of arrest against Pastor Quiboloy tapos galit din yung Marcos group din sakin yung mga loyalist dahil daw pinayagan kita mag-hearing ngayong araw na ito at yung nakaraang dalawang linggo," he said.

(The Duterte group is pissed at me for issuing an arrest warrant for Pastor Apollo Quiboloy's arrest while the Marcos group — the loyalists — are also against me for letting you hold a hearing today and in the past two weeks.)

On Monday, it also strayed into discussion of a drug test that Marcos took in 2021.

Marcos tested negative for drugs and submitted the test results to the PDEA and other law enforcement agencies.

'DON'T USE HEARINGS FOR PERSECUTION'

Zubiri on Monday reiterated his call for his colleagues to be cautious that Senate hearings are not used in political persecution. He noted that the ongoing inquiry by Dela Rosa's committee has so far only yielded hearsay.

"While certain claims were made, documentary evidence is yet to be presented. There were no pictures, no corroborating testimonies. In other words, this was solely based on the testimony of one person based on what appears to be hearsay evidence," he said, referring to claims made by former PDEA agent Jonathan Morales.

He said that while committees enjoy wide latitude in their inquiries, hearings should be focused on finding the truth based on evidence and facts.

READ: Senators condemn ex-PDEA agent over 'hearsay' testimony

"There have been instances where statements were made in legislative inquiries, only to be recanted before the courts later on. We do not want a repeat of that," he said.

He added he would not let the Senate be used for partisan politics.

"Kailangan ng ebidensiya, hindi pwedeng sabi-sabi lang, at pinapaalala natin ang halaga ng mapagkakatiwalaang mga resources. Walang tsismis, walang pulitika—katotohanan lang," Zubiri stressed. 

(We need proof, not hearsay and we remind them of the value of trustworthy resource persons. No rumors, no politics, facts only.)

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PROBE CAN CONTINUE

Dela Rosa acknowledged Zubiri's call for caution and said that he will likely cut the inquiry short if he sees he does not have the support of his colleagues.

"I hope my Senate president is not losing confidence [on] this chairman. How I wish I will still enjoy your support," he said. 

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, who attended the hearing, said Dela Rosa still has senators' support.

Zubiri maintained the Senate protects the committee system, as he clarified he is only urging caution but not an end to the inquiry.

"You have our full trust and confidence," Zubiri he told Dela Rosa.