May 20, 2024, will live in Philippine politics history as Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri made the shocking announcement of his resignation. Zubiri’s sudden exit from the upper chamber following a two-year term basically put an end to rumors of impending coups. “I tender my resignation as Senate President today, and upon relinquishing this position, I pledge to serve as an independent member of the Senate—my allegiance, unwaveringly, lies with the people alone,” Zubiri said in a tearful privilege speech announcing his departure. He stressed that his choice resulted from a deep dedication to what he believed to be the greatest interests of the Senate and the country.
Exploring Leadership dynamics
When Zubiri was the Senate President, he passionately supported the Senate’s vital function in maintaining the integrity of the body and defending the democratic rights of the Filipino people. He vehemently claimed to have never imposed his will on other senators and to have always respected their independence. But Zubiri was open enough to admit that his leaving was probably due to his disobedience of orders from powerful people. Though he declined to say exactly what prompted his resignation, the continuing investigation into allegedly leaked material from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) might have played a role in his choice.
Analyzing the PDEA Probe
The Senate had started looking at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s purported involvement in illegal drug operations. It is said that Zubiri’s choice to look into this matter infuriated the Marcos faction. Senator Bato dela Rosa presided over multiple hearings during which no significant proof connecting Marcos to drug-related crimes was found. Senator Chiz Escudero reaffirmed, in line with his colleagues, that the charges were mostly false. To protect the credibility of the Senate, Zubiri warned against using the sessions for political grudges.
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Moving Forward Under Escudero’s Direction
Once Zubiri left, Senator Escudero took over as Senate President. His promotion to this position is supposedly the result of a joint effort between President Marcos Jr.’s Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) and Escudero’s Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) in advance of the elections in 2025. Experienced in politics, Escudero was governor of Sorsogon and the spokesperson for late action hero Fernando Poe Jr. His 2022 return to the Senate increased his political influence and led to his elevation to the presidency of the upper body.
Setting a New Course
Watching closely as Escudero leads the Philippine Senate into unknown territory is the whole country. The changing dynamics in the Senate will surely determine how Philippine politics develop in the next days and months. The choices and acts coming from the Senate will have an impact on the political scene and influence Philippine politics for many years to come because of the complex power structures and conflicting interests at work.
