Marcos backs Escudero as Senate president

PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday expressed his support and confidence in the leadership of newly-elected Senate President Francis Escudero and said he is expecting the Senate to continue to prioritize transformative laws to achieve his shared vision for a “Bagong Pilipinas.”

The President took to his official X account his support for Escudero’s leadership.

“I extend my support to the new Senate President, Chiz Escudero. His legislative record and commitment to public service have distinguished him as a dedicated leader,” he said.

He added: “I am confident that under his leadership, the Senate will continue to prioritize transformative laws to achieve our shared vision for a Bagong Pilipinas.”

He likewise commended former Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri for leading the Senate for the past two years.

Zubiri resigned as Senate President on Monday after learning that 15 senators were plotting to oust him allegedly for rejecting the House of Representatives-backed People’s Initiative (PI) and timeline for the approval of Resolution of Both Houses No. 6, or the economic Charter Change bill, and for not stopping the Senate’s investigation on the “PDEA Leaks” linking the President to illegal drug use when he was still a senator in 2012.

“Senator Chiz steps into this role following the commendable tenure of Senator Migz Zubiri,” Marcos said.

After Zubiri’s resignation, several senators also quit their posts and committee chairmanships among them, Senators Joel Villanueva (majority leader), JV Ejercito (deputy majority leader) and Loren Legarda (Senate president pro tempore).

Sen. Nancy Binay also resigned from her post as chairperson of the chamber’s panel on ethics and tourism, while Senator Juan Edgardo Angara also quit his position as chairman of the Senate finance committee and subcommittee on constitutional amendments.

OUSTER PLOT

Escudero yesterday admitted that he initiated the move to remove Zubiri as Senate president but denied that neither Malacañang nor the House of Representatives had a hand on the change of leadership.

He said there were 15 senators who signed a resolution for the leadership change, including Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, who was the last signatory.

Escuder