Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero has revealed that he played a key role in the recent coup in the Senate, aiming to take over the presidency of the chamber amid doubts about Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri’s leadership.
Speaking to Senate reporters, Escudero confirmed that he initiated calls to his fellow senators to support the ousting of Zubiri, although he did not disclose his specific reasons for doing so.
Escudero stated that he began reaching out to colleagues because there were “many at the time who had doubts.” He clarified that the decision to change the Senate leadership was not influenced by Malacañang or the House of Representatives.
Despite initially claiming that 15 out of the 24 senators signed a resolution calling for a leadership change, Escudero refused to provide a copy of the resolution. He also did not reveal the names of the senators who signed the resolution, but Sen. Bato dela Rosa later admitted to being the 15th signatory.
Sen. Zubiri expressed shock and disappointment upon learning that Dela Rosa had voted to remove him from his position as Senate president. This revelation came as a surprise, as Zubiri had previously thanked Dela Rosa in his valedictory speech.
Following the leadership change, there has been speculation about the alignment of certain senators. Zubiri, along with Senators Villanueva, Legarda, Binay, Ejercito, Angara, and Gatchalian, who did not support Escudero as Senate president, have expressed their intention to remain independent.
As the Senate moves forward under new leadership, there are discussions about potential committee assignments and the future direction of the chamber. Escudero has assured a smooth transition, emphasizing the importance of maintaining order and stability in the Senate.
