MANILA — Senators on Monday elected Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero as its new Senate President in a surprise leadership change on the heels of several controversial investigations being conducted by the chamber.
Escudero replaced Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, who had led the Senate since 2022.
In an emotional speech, Zubiri said he was quitting as Senate president and announced his move to being an “independent” senator.
“I failed to follow instructions from the powers that be. As simple as that,” Zubiri said of his political “demise.”
During Monday’s plenary session, senators confirmed that Escudero would be the new Senate President and wished him luck as their new leader.
“To the new leadership, Senate President Chiz Escudero, I wish you and your team the best,” Sen. Sonny Angara said.
Rumors of Senate “coup” had been recurring since last year, supposedly stemming from the “discontentment” on the way Zubiri was leading the chamber.
This was worsened by the tension brought by the People’s Initiative, with the House of Representatives criticizing the Senate’s hardline stance against changing the Charter.
Originally published on https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/20/escudero-takes-helm-of-senate-after-zubiri-resignation-1535
