In a sharp and unexpected rebuke, former Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri has thrown his weight behind a possible return of Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III as Senate President in the 20th Congress—openly challenging the current leadership of Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
In a pointed interview released by his office Wednesday night, Zubiri did not mince words: “If you ask me, I’m for a leader of the Senate who keeps protecting the integrity, the traditions of the Senate. Hindi ko gusto na ang leader sa Senate will be dictatorial type. I don’t want us to be similar to other chambers where it is only one emperor who dictates all the instructions.”
The remarks mark a rare internal revolt from one of the chamber’s elder statesmen and suggest a growing rift within the Senate’s ranks. Zubiri, who stepped down from the Senate presidency in May 2024, made clear he’s deeply discontented with Escudero’s style of governance.
“And if you ask me if I am satisfied with the leadership of the Senate—I’m not,” Zubiri declared bluntly. “I am open to supporting other candidates for Senate presidency.”
At the center of this emerging power play is a proposed “veteran bloc”—a formidable alliance of seasoned lawmakers led by Zubiri, Sotto, Senators Loren Legarda, and Panfilo “Ping” Lacson. Their goal: to restore what Zubiri calls the Senate’s fading identity as an institution anchored on principle, tradition, and independence.
Zubiri’s critique wasn’t just about internal procedure—it was a veiled warning. “There are those who say they support a candidate because he fights with Speaker Martin Romualdez—that’s not the role of a Senate President,” he said. “The Senate President should not be defined by confrontation with the House. The Senate is a ship of state, and no matter how rough the waters, it must not capsize.”
Zubiri also took the opportunity to contrast his own leadership style with Escudero’s, portraying himself as a consensus-builder who preferred behind-the-scenes caucuses over public theatrics.
“I did not let all the discussions be held in the plenary,” he recalled. “Making it come out on the floor and fighting it out there shows a very chaotic Senate.”
Escudero, who replaced Zubiri in May after a swift and strategic leadership transition, has not yet issued a formal response. However, he has consistently defended his approach, particularly in controversial matters such as the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte. Escudero has insisted that full plenary transparency is essential—even if it means exposing the Senate’s fractures to the public eye.
Now, with Zubiri’s public endorsement of Sotto and murmurs of a seasoned power bloc forming in the shadows, the stage appears set for a potential leadership showdown in the next Congress. Will Escudero hold the gavel—or is a comeback for Tito Sotto already quietly in motion?
One thing is certain: the Senate’s political tides are beginning to shift, and the battle for its helm is far from over.