ON August 3, 2011, Senator Migz Zubiri ignominiously delivered a privilege speech on the floor of the Senate, which was covered by national TV, where he tendered his resignation from the Senate amidst the growing publicity about the alleged fraud and cheating committed in the 2007 senatorial election. Senatorial contender Koko Pimentel who lost by less than 20,000 votes lodged an electoral protest before the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) alleging that election operators manipulated the election results favoring Senator Migz who copped the 12th and last winning berth.
While Senator Migz strongly disputed it, he claimed that the ongoing Senate Electoral Tribunal’s (SET) investigation had taken its heavy toll on his family. He withdrew his participation in the SET proceedings, which eventually resulted to the proclamation of Senator Koko Pimentel as the winner, dislodging Senator Migz from the 12th position. Pimentel was leading after the revision and appreciation of the ballots and election documents in the contested areas although Zubiri’s counter-protest was still under process. In our political history, it’s the first time that an incumbent senator has resigned his post following an election protest, and many had heaped praise on Senator Migz for accepting the people’s verdict.
In 2013, Senator Migz tried to regain his Senate seat under the United Nationalist Alliance slate, but he only placed No. 14. In 2016, he ran again as an independent candidate and placed number 6, capturing some 16 million votes and he joined the Senate in the 17th Congress.
In the 14th Congress, Senator Migz served as the Senate Majority Leader, and a record 650 bills were passed during his stint. In the 17th Congress, he regained his Majority Leadership position after Senator Tito Sotto became the Senate President. His fellow senators recognized his worth as a lawmaker and as a consensus leader in the Upper Chamber.
In the recent election, he was re-elected although he ran as an independent candidate but with the support of the UnityTeam and the political party of Senator Manny Pacquiao. He was originally part of the Robredo ticket but he was dropped shortly before the election after he openly campaigned for President-elect Bongbong Marcos. He’s one of the most prolific senators having authored/co-authored many important laws, which have greatly contributed to our national development. Some of the landmark legislation he crafted were the Bangsamoro Organic Law, Renewable Energy Act of 2008, Biofuels Act of 2006, Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act, Philippine Disaster Risk Management Act, Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, The Rent Control Act of 2009, UP Charter Amendments, and many other significant legislation.
With the withdrawal of Senator Cynthia Villar from the Senate presidential race, Senator Migz has no opponent. He expressed gratitude to Senator Cynthia for her “support, graciousness and magnanimity,” which allowed him to form a supermajority. Senator Cynthia could have been a worthy adversary having topped the Senate race in the 2019 elections. Had she pursued and won the highest post in the Senate, she and former Senator Manny Villar would have held the distinct honor of being the only couple to occupy the Senate presidency. It’s a feat that would be hard to follow.
As he enters a new phase in his colorful political career as the head of our country’s highest legislative body, we can only wish Senator Migz to exercise his best judgment, his sound prudence and great wisdom to be able to discharge his duties successfully. May he be guided by the wise counsel of Manuel L. Quezon, our first Senate President, who declared in his Inaugural Address on October 16, 1916: “The merit of our work will not be measurable by the quantity of laws we pass, but their quality. Nothing breeds more confusion in society than a constant change in legislation. To suffer the evils of an existing law is in many cases preferable to endeavoring to remedy these evils by a law passed in a haphazard way, without proper and careful consideration, because laws of this nature are productive of greater and perhaps more irremediable harm. Our work will be to build up and not tear down, and we shall not destroy the old until we are sure that the new is better.” Senator Migz needs all the support he can muster to bear the full weight of the enormous task placed upon him by his peers in the Senate.
When the Senate reorganizes on July 23, 2022, Senator Migz will have his full vindication when he gets formally elected as our 24th Senate President. From ignominy to glory—Senator Migz’s political odyssey is a triumph of hard work, excellent performance and determination. He did not only survive but has redeemed the respect of his colleagues and the trust of his countrymen. The Senate President wields tremendous power and he can greatly influence the legislative agenda of the President, and help chart the destiny of our nation.
The Senate President is the third highest among the most powerful officials in our government. He is the second in line in the order of succession to the presidency. Among others, he presides over the powerful Commission on Appointments and sits in the National Security Council. He is the presiding officer in impeachment cases involving all impeachable officials other than the president. It is, however, our people’s hope that during his watch the Senate, which is regarded as the bulwark of free speech and democratic ideals, shall remain robust and independent.
Since it was established in 2016, illustrious men and women have passed through its portals and dignified its plenary hall with their patriotism and intellectual prowess. We had been enthralled by the eloquence and sagacity of Claro M. Recto, Jose P. Laurel, Camilo Osias, Arturo Tolentino, Jovito Salonga, Lorenzo Tañada, Ninoy Aquino, Jose W. Diokno and others. The Senate has bred future vice presidents and presidents of our country. In fact, 11 out of our 16 Philippine presidents served in the Senate, but only two former Senate Presidents had been catapulted to the presidency—Quezon and Marcos, Sr. Presidents Emilio Aguinaldo, Ramon Magsaysay, Cory Aquino, Diosdado Macapagal and Rodrigo Duterte are not products of the Upper Chamber.
Senator Migz’s resignation from the Senate in 2011 could have been the end of a promising political career, but Senator Migz is not your ordinary public servant. He was comfortably elected twice to the Senate after that debacle. Senator Migz is our local comeback kid, and he may be destined for a higher role. Good luck, Your Honor!