For the last time, former Senate president Juan Miguel Zubiri on Tuesday was allowed to bang the gavel during the Senate plenary session to approve the measures that were shepherded under his leadership.
During Tuesday’s plenary session, newly-installed Senate president Francis “Chiz” Escudero offered Zubiri to preside over the plenary session as the body approved the proposed New Government Procurement Act and ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the measure creating additional Shari’a courts.
“Prior to the approval [of the proposed New Government Procurement Act] on second reading, the chair would like to state that this measure was shepherded under the leadership of Senate President Zubiri and clearly, under the baton of Chairman Sonny Angara of the committee on finance,” Escudero manifested.
“So if the [former] Senate president would allow me to invite him to the rostrum to preside over the second and third reading approval of this measure. Given that he’s nodding, then I will invite him,” he added.
The Senate suspended the session for a while to allow Zubiri to ascend to the rostrum.
After banging the gavel to resume the session, Zubiri thanked Escudero for his “magnanimity.”
“I would like to thank our Senate president, Senate President Chiz Escudero, for the magnanimity of allowing me to preside on this very important measure,” Zubiri said.
“It means a lot to us because first of all, we started defending this measure several months ago and I had committed to the President that we will prioritize this and deliver this this week. So, thank you, sir for allowing me to make this final act of approving this measure which means a lot to us,’ he added.
Senate Bill 2593 was approved on second and third reading during Tuesday’s plenary session.
The proposed New Government Procurement Act was approved with 23 affirmative votes, zero negative votes, and no abstention.
The bill was approved in second and third reading on the same day as it was certified as urgent by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Apart from SB 2593, Zubiri also presided over the ratification of the bicameral conference committee report on the establishment of three new Shari’a Judicial District Courts and 12 new Shari’a Circuit Courts across the country.
Zubiri thanked Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino for leading the passage of the measure which he said is “close to my heart.”
After which, Zubiri descended from the rostrum and Escudero continued to preside over the Senate plenary session.
At the early part of the session, Zubiri was also elected as a member of the powerful Commission on Appointments, essentially replacing Escudero.
The Senate president is an automatic member of the CA as the chief of the upper chamber serves as the chairperson of the bicameral commission.
Meanwhile, Senator JV Ejercito resigned from his chairmanship of the committees on local government and urban planning, housing and resettlement.
On Monday, Escudero replaced Zubiri as Senate president after he secured the support of 14 other senators.
The senators who backed Escudero’s bid for Senate presidency were Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Ronald dela Rosa, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Go, Lito Lapid, Imee Marcos, Bong Revilla Jr., Francis Tolentino, Raffy Tulfo, Robin Padilla, Grace Poe, Cynthia Villar and Mark Villar.
Those who stuck with Zubiri were Senators Loren Legarda, Joel Villanueva, Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, Sherwin Gatchalian, and JV Ejercito.
Senators Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Senator Risa Hontiveros, who compose the minority bloc, maintained their status quo.
President Marcos on Tuesday expressed his support for Escudero, pointing out the lawmaker’s record as a public servant.—RF, GMA Integrated News
