Why Did Migz Zubiri Resign as Senate President?
On Monday (May 20), the screenshot of a text message shared by Senator Joel Villanueva began making the rounds on social media. The text message from the Senate Majority Floor Leader said, “Agenda for Today: CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP. Thank you guys for your trust and confidence. God bless our beloved Senate. Signing off as your Majority Leader.”
The text message confirmed earlier reports that a leadership change was in the offing at the Upper House. Rumors floated over the weekend about a planned coup against Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri by at least 15 of his colleagues.
At least 13 senators need to vote to replace the sitting Senate President.
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By Monday afternoon, at the start of the Senate session, Zubiri delivered a speech confirming his resignation as Senate President. He also said he would become an independent member of the legislative body.
“I have given this job my all,” Zubiri said in a speech that was broadcast live and streamed online. “Hindi ko tinanggap ang pagiging pangulo ng senado para lang hayaan bumagsak ito. Today, I offer my resignation as Senate President of the Republic of the Philippines, and upon stepping down I vow to serve as an independent member of the Senate—my allegiance, as ever, belonging to no one but the people.
"I have never dictated my position to any of you, and I always supported your independence—which is probably why I face my demise today,” he added. “I failed to follow instructions from the powers that be.”
Replacing Zubiri as Senate President is Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero. In a news report on GMA News Online, Senator Sonny Angara said Escudero has the commitment of at least 15 senators.
Why did Zubiri resign as Senate President?
This is not the first time that there has been talk of replacing Zubiri, who has been Senate President for the last two years. In March 2023, there were rumors that he was on his way out for supposedly dragging his feet on priority measures of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Reports at the time alleged that Zubiri’s “lack of productivity” and slow pace in approving bills that were on the priority list of Malacañang put him on the chopping block. Zubiri denied the reports and insisted there was no talk of a leadership change.
This time, however, the cause for Zubiri’s resignation seems to have stemmed from his supposed failure to stop the Senate investigation of the so-called “PDEA leaks” issue. That issue involved an ex-agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) who supposedly provided evidence in the form of an intelligence report that linked President Marcos Jr. and actress Maricel Soriano to illegal drug use. But the said agent, Jonathan Morales, eventually admitted that the documents were fabricated and that the evidence had been planted.
Still there have been several hearings on the matter presided over by Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, which reportedly earned the ire of Malacañang.
Although a clear-cut reason for Zubiri’s ouster has not surfaced, Zubiri himself speculated that it was probably because "powerful forces" were dissatisfied with his actions.
"I failed to follow instructions from the powers that be, simple as that,” he said, visibly emotional, during his privilege speech on Monday. “I fought the good fight. If I've ruffled some feathers in doing so, then so be it.”
The 54-year-old Zubiri openly campaigned for President Marcos during the last presidential race. He was Majority Leader at the 17th Congress and was elected Senate President in July 2022 at the beginning of the 19th Congress after having served as acting Senate President.
Zubiri resigned as Senator in 2011 after political enemies accused him of cheating in the previous elections. He subsequently ran in the 2013 elections and lost. He ran again in 2016 and won and was re-elected in 2022.
