By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD CITY—Negros Occidental Acting Governor Jeffrey Ferrer described the resignation of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri as Senate president as a “big loss” to Negrenses.
Ferrer told reporters on Tuesday that Senator Zubiri, whose father is a native Negrosanon, significantly helped Negros Occidental, especially the sugar industry.
He said Zubiri provided almost P100 million worth of projects in various cities and municipalities to support his advocacy.
Zubiri resigned from his post on Monday, ending his two-year term, due to what he implied was dissatisfaction with him for breaking ranks with the “powers that be.”
“I failed to follow instructions from the powers that be, simple as that,” Zubiri said during his privilege speech before stepping down from his post.
The former Senate president, whose two-year leadership was repeatedly marked by coup rumors, was visibly emotional while addressing his colleagues, saying that he had “fought the good fight.”
Fifteen senators reportedly voted for Zubiri’s ouster as Senate president. He was replaced by Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
“If you cannot get the majority, you can be unseated anytime,” Ferrer said.
Zubiri’s resignation followed a series of politically charged hearings in the Senate, the most recent being the Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee’s ongoing investigation of alleged leaked documents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) that link President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to illegal drug use.
