DAVAO CITY — Senator Chiz Escudero is the new Senate President after Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri Monday afternoon stepped down during the Monday session on May 20.
After Zubiri stepped down, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano nominated Escudero who was elected by the 24 senators during the Monday session.
Senator Mark Villar administered the oath of Escudero while his wife actress and fashion icon Heart Evangelista stood beside him.
During the opening of the 75th session in a seemingly tense situation Zubiri committed a blunder twice when he forgot that the Senate needed to sing the “Piliin mo ang Pilipinas Song”, he immediately called for the roll call of the attendance and later thanked the choir as the University of the Philippines instead of the University of Sto. Tomas apologized twice.
“I’ve never dictated on any of you, I’ve always supported your independence, which is probably why I face my demise today. I failed to follow instructions from the powers that be, simple as that. I’ve listened to all my colleagues throughout my presidency and again I listen to them today as we head to the new period of the Senate. I fought the good fight. If I’ve ruffled from feathers in doing so, then so be it. Hindi ko tinanggap ang pagiging pangulo ng Senado para lang hayaan na bumagsak ito. Today, I offer my resignation as the President of the Republic of the Philippines,” Zubiri said in an emotional privilege speech.
“My hats off to you, Senate President Zubiri. I salute you and I hope I will make you proud. You especially among all our other colleagues and hopefully, you will not leave my side whenever I ask for guidance, whenever I ask for help, and whenever I ask for your wisdom,” Escudero said of Zubiri in his speech.
Before the senate started the 75th session, Senator Jinggoy Estrada told reporters that Escudero had the numbers as rumors of an impending reorganization loomed but with the resignation of Zubiri, everything went smoothly.
It can be recalled that on Saturday night, the National People’s Coalition (NPC) allied with the Federal Party of the Philippines, the party of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s Lakas-CMD first allied with the PFP.
With the coalition of NPC, PFP, and Lakas-CMD, they have been called a superpower for the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.
