Chiz Escudero is new Senate President

Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero has taken over the post as the country's new Senate President after Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri resigned from the position.

Escudero was nominated to the helm of the Senate by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano. With no objection, Escudero was officially elected by the 24-person chamber as its new chief.

Minutes after his election, Escudero took his oath administered by Senator Mark Villar, the youngest senator.

Escudero's wife, actress and fashion icon Heart Evangelista ascended the rostrum to join the the oath-taking rites.

In his remarks, Escudero thanked Zubiri for his patience, diligence, and his love for the country and the Senate as an institution.

"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.

"Mas malayo po at mas marami kayong alam sa akin lalo na bilang taga-pangulo ng Senado," he added.

(You've gone farther than I have and you know more about being Senate President.)

Escudero said that there would be no division among the senators despite the leadership change.

"Walang my team, walang your team para sa akin. Walang SP Migz, wala ring Chiz para sa akin. Ang tingin ko sa bawat isa sa atin ay mga miyembro ng nag-iisang Senado," Escudero said.

(There will be no my team, your team for me. There's no SP Migz, no Chiz for me. I will look at each one of us as a member of one Senate.) 

"At kung may kulay man tayong dadalhin, para sa akin, ang mga kulay na 'yan ay dapat sumasagisag as bandila ng Pilipinas na nagkataon lamang na nasa likod at nasa harap natin ngayon," he added.

(Ang should we carry certain colors, I believe those colors should symbolize the Philippine flag which is now in front of us.) 

'Why I face my demise today'

Zubiri on Monday resigned as Senate President, two days before the end of the second regular session of the 19th Congress.

An emotional and "heartbroken" Zubiri delivered a valedictory speech as he is set to be replaced by Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero.

Zubiri said he will be an independent member of the Senate.

"I have given this job my all...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," Zubiri said in his speech.

"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. I failed to follow instructions from the powers that be," he added.

In an interview, Zubiri said he was "heartbroken." 

"Siyempre heartbroken. Alam mo naman hindi naman tayo kalaban ng the powers that lead. Pero siguro dahil not following instructions, kaya nadali tayo. But I will always continue to remain in support of the independence of the Senate and I will now give my valedictory speech... It is my distinct honor and pleasure to have served the Filipino people as Senate President," he said. 

(Of course I am heartbroken. I am not an enemy to the powers that lead. But perhaps for not following instructions I was hit.)

Senators follow suit

Following Zubiri’s resignation, some senators stepped down from their respective posts.

Senator Joel Villanueva resigned as majority leader, saying the “greater cost outweighs my personal interests”.

Senators Nancy Binay and Sonny Angara likewise tendered their resignations as chairpersons of their respective Senate committees. 

Binay led the Senate Committees on Accounts, Tourism, and Ethics before her resignation while Angara was at the helm of the Senate Committees on Finance, and Youth.

He also served as the chairperson of the sub-committee on Constitutional Amendments. 

Also, Senator JV Ejercito resigned as deputy majority leader. 

Meanwhile, senators shared a light moment during the Plenary session after Senator Loren Legarda said she also intends to step down as senate pro-tempore “unless you want to keep me here”. 

She later formalized her resignation. 

Senators Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel and Risa Hontiveros, for their part, would maintain the status quo as members of the minority.  —NB, GMA Integrated News