ILOILO – “I am not surprised.”
Former Senate President Franklin Drilon said the abrupt change in the Senate leadership on Monday did not come as a shock to him.
Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri quit as Senate President.
Drilon, a seasoned politician who hds held the Senate presidency four times, drew parallels between his own experiences and the recent events.
“I went through it. I can claim some authority because I was there,” he said during a media interview on Tuesday morning, May 21.
He added that he saw his own removal in the past as a part of the system and thus was not surprised by the recent developments.
The ousting of Zubiri, according to Drilon, highlights the :weakness of the political party system” where decisions are often made based on personal agendas rather than political party platforms.
“In mature democracies abroad, negotiations are made on the basis of the political party’s decision. Here, there’s nothing like that,” Drilon explained.
Sen.r Chiz Escudero has since taken over the role of Senate President.
Drilon praised Escudero as “an experienced legislator, very knowledgeable, and a very intelligent guy,” affirming his qualifications for the position.
On his part, Senator Zubiri expressed his disappointment and noted that his commitment to maintaining the Senate’s independence was met with resistance, ultimately leading to his removal.
“Of course, I’m heartbroken. I was not following instructions, that’s why I got hit,” Zubiri said.
“It’s sad because I did everything to protect the independence of the Senate. But that’s politics. We can’t do anything about it,” he lamented.
The new Senate President, Escudero, acknowledged his predecessor’s contributions and pledged to honor Zubiri’s legacy.
“My hats off to you. I salute you and I hope I will make you proud,” Escudero said during his speech, appreciating Zubiri for his role in passing significant legislation such as the controversial Maharlika Investment Fund Act.
Zubiri, during his valedictory address, became emotional as he recounted the challenges he faced in defending the Senate and opposing initiatives such as the Charter change through a people’s initiative.
“God knows what I had to do to defend the Senate,” Zubiri said. “I fought the good fight. If I have ruffled some feathers in doing so, if I have upset the powers that be, then so be it.”/PN
