By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
ALLOW me to be a little bit sentimental in this piece.
My heart is aching after what happened in the Senate on Monday, May 20.
More so seeing and hearing ex-Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri saying: “My heart is broken.”
Such a catchphrase really moved me to tears not because I am Migz’s “loyalist” but because I sensed he really meant what he said.
All the more when he said these two powerful lines:
* “I failed to follow orders from the powers that be.”
* “I was replaced because I was not following instruction.”
Such statements are indeed fathomabble and comprehensible. Ordinary Pinoys can understand what the ex-Senate prexy meant.
Politics played so badly in his removal.
PI, ILLEGAL DRUGS
In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol on Monday, Migz attributed his “sudden fall” to the controversial People’s Initiative (PI) leading to Charter Change (Cha-Cha) and the latest Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) leak that dragged President Bongbong Marcos and Diamond Star Maricel Soriano.
He said he voted against PI or Cha-Cha and allowed Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, chair of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, to conduct a probe on the controversial PDEA leak.
In sum, the two controversies cost Migz’s position as top Senate honcho and third highest official of the land.
There were “unseen hands” that did “magic” on the Senate leadership.
God bless the Senate!
BETRAYAL
Another point that compelled me to shout “bullsh*t” was Migz’s revelation that prior to the actual brouhaha on Monday, majority of his fellow senators called him up on Saturday, May 18, and assured him of their support.
On Sunday, May 19, Migz said they became unreachable.
Then, on May 20, at the Senate Hall, wala nang kibu-an. They’re like actors and actresses in a shooting venue waiting for the director’s cue.
Later on he was betrayed by the “Magic 15”.
Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero was reportedly endorsed by President Bongbong thus won as Migz’s instant successor.
Classic political drama.
INDEPENDENCE
But the brouhaha didn’t stop there. The Senate’s independence is now at stake.
The Filipino people won’t just sit down and relax; rather. They’ll continue to watch the Senate and the senators on how they dribble issues .
Chiz’s bright. An eloquent speaker. But there’s more to monitor in him, more so his independence.
More than his wife (actress Heart Evangelista), Chiz’s “political heart” will be monitored by the public.
Can Chiz say “cheese” now?
Depende! Abangan!
But one thing is sure: the Philippines lost Migz, a “good soul” in the Senate that Filipinos could really be proud of./PN
