Senate President Migz Zubiri Steps Down

Zubiri Resigns as Senate President

Senator Juan Miguel Migz Zubiri announced his resignation as Senate president on Monday, May 20. The move comes after a tumultuous few months in Philippine politics, which saw the impeachment of then-President Joseph Estrada and the election of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as his successor.

The Senate President's Role

The Senate president is the presiding officer and highest-ranking official of the Senate. They are elected by the entire body to be their leader and have a number of important responsibilities, including:

• Presiding over Senate sessions
• Appointing members of Senate committees
• Representing the Senate in negotiations with other branches of government

The Senate president is also second in the line of succession to the presidency, behind only the vice president and ahead of the speaker of the House of Representatives.

Zubiri's Resignation

Zubiri's resignation is a significant development in Philippine politics. He is the first Senate president to resign in over a decade, and his departure will likely create a power vacuum within the Senate. It is unclear who will replace Zubiri as Senate president, but there are a number of possible candidates, including Senate Majority Leader Loren Legarda and Senator Franklin Drilon.

Zubiri's resignation is a reminder of the fragility of political power in the Philippines. In a country where corruption and instability are often the norm, it is difficult to predict who will be the next to fall from grace.