If Senator Migz Zubiri’s interview is to be the gauge, then, my friends, it seems that our country is in deep sh…t. And if this administration sputters and fails, all Mr. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Junior must blame is himself. He fell into a trap set for him by his enemies. Later, we will explain why.
A few minutes after his ouster as Senate president, Zubiri told reporters that his ouster resulted from his decision not “to follow instructions from the powers that be.” See link: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/05/20/2356594/zubiri-steps-down-senate-president-says-he-disobeyed-powers-be.
What were those instructions, by the way, Senator Zubiri? And who are those whom he referred to as the “powers-that-be”?
Zubiri says he tried but failed to protect the Senate’s independence and shield it from external intervention. As one of the pillars of democracy in the Philippines, the Senate is supposed to be independent of the other pillars, namely the Executive and the Judiciary. They are co-equal branches of government, and they are supposed to exercise what we call “independence” and always check upon each other’s conduct.
So, to say that his ouster came after Zubiri “ruffled some feathers” and “angered” the “Big Boys”, before we go deeper, we need first to know who are these so-called “big boys” who engineered his ouster?
For us to know who these big boys are, let’s contextualize first what happened. Zubiri’s ouster came a few days after the Senate went to Baguio to conduct the first of several regional consultations on charter change.
Whoa? Yes, cha-cha. Despite several polls showing that the majority of Filipinos hate and detest charter change, several people seem to be making efforts to push hard for cha-cha.
These “people” want us to dance with them, and if we are to believe former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the dastardly push for cha-cha is more personal than anything near patriotic. Duterte, in one of his speeches, said that this administration is pushing for a charter change to extend the president’s term.
Who is pushing hard for Charter change? Well, our President Ferdinand Marcos Junior is one see link: https://www.rappler.com/philippines/marcos-jr-asserts-charter-change-limited-economic-reforms-nothing-more/#:~:text=MANILA%2C%20Philippines%20–%20President%20Ferdinand%20Marcos,eventually%20touch%20on%20political%20provisions. The President wants the so-called “restrictive economic provisions” changed, just like what his cousin, the Speaker Martin Romualdez also desires see link: https://www.congress.gov.ph/press/details.php?pressid=13001#.
And who among the men of this administration pushes not just amending the economic provisions of the 1987 constitution but even its political provisions? No less than Presidential adviser on poverty, former lawyer Larry Gadon see link: https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/inside-track/marcos-adviser-larry-gadon-political-charter-change-april-2024/
Everyone knows that Gadon is very close not just to the president but to the First Lady, Liza Araneta-Marcos see link: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=366535029535689. Gadon protects the first lady particularly when she had this tiff with Vice president Sara Duterte see link: https://qa.philstar.com/pilipino-star-ngayon/bansa/2024/04/21/2349283/gadon-sumaklolo-kay-first-lady-liza-vs-vice-president-sara.
Okey, so are these people the ones Zubiri says he ruffled their feathers with?
Aside from cha-cha, what else is occupying the Senate today, especially the Committee chaired by a Zubiri ally, Senator Bato dela Rosa? Yes, you guessed right, the infamous PDEA leaks.
In his interview, Zubiri admitted that this is one of the issues thrown at him several days before his ouster see link: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1942516/zubiri-quits-as-senate-president-i-leave-with-my-head-held-high?utm_source=(direct)&utm_medium=gallery.
The fact is, Senator Imee Marcos, his colleague, warned him about the consequences of letting this investigation continue. During the proceedings, it was a lawyer, Senator Chiz Escudero, who essentially stopped the investigation into the alleged drug use by the president with a popular actress some time ago.
Ironically, Escudero replaced Zubiri as the new Senate president see link: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1942443/chiz-escudero-is-new-senate-president
Senator Escudero’s ascension to the Senate leadership is a significant moment in our nation’s political landscape. Like his father before him, Escudero has demonstrated his competence and earned his place as one of the country’s most trusted legislators. His leadership promises potential, but it also brings with it a wave of intense scrutiny, suspicion, and even malice.
The crux of the matter lies in the perception that Escudero is merely a pawn of the powers that be, specifically Malacañang. Detractors argue that his primary missions are to derail the PDEA investigation and push through with constitutional amendments that serve the administration’s interests. Such accusations cast a long shadow over his leadership.
This situation is deeply troubling. Speaker Martin Romualdez’s previous attempts to advance charter change were seen as political self-flagellation. Now, it appears that President Marcos Jr. himself is stepping into the fray, wielding a metaphorical hammer against his own administration’s credibility. This comes at a time when the president is already battling to maintain his administration’s stability against political adversaries.
Critics, especially the ever-watchful “Marites,” are quick to question why Malacañang would go to such lengths to suppress the PDEA probe. Public interest in the issue had waned, yet the recent political maneuvers have reignited suspicions and curiosity. The dramatic ousting of former Senate President Zubiri, allegedly for failing to contain the PDEA probe and the push for charter change, has only added fuel to the fire.
This political drama begs the question: why now? The administration had managed to shift public focus away from the PDEA leaks. Yet, this latest upheaval has brought the controversy back into the spotlight, raising more questions about President Marcos Jr.’s alleged involvement in drug use.
If those within the bureaucracy with malevolent intentions seize this opportunity, the chances of their success have significantly increased. Former President Duterte’s warning that the Marcoses might be their own worst enemies is hauntingly relevant. History teaches us that power must be wielded with humility, for it is never absolute.
Senator Escudero’s leadership is now a crucible, testing not only his mettle but the integrity of the entire administration. As citizens, we must remain vigilant, demanding transparency and accountability. Only then can we hope for a government that truly serves the people rather than its own interests.
