Senator Miguel Zubiri Resigns with Honor and Integrity

Senator Miguel Zubiri resigned with honor and integrity

Senator Miguel Zubiri resigned on wednesday, August 3. He delivered his privilege speech saying that he resigned because of the “unfounded” accusations against him. Zubiri wants to resign with “Honor and Integrity”. You can read the full script to his speech here.

This turning of events was due to the revelations of Maguindanao massacre suspect Zaldy Ampatuan and former Commission on Elections supervisor in Maguindanao Lintang Bidol of the massive poll fraud last 2007 senatorial elections.

ARMM Governor Datu Zaldy Puti Uy Ampatuan said that he had first-hand knowledge of the cheating in 2007 senatorial elections that resulted in a 12-0 on Arroyo’s senatorial candidates.

Zubiri’s rival, Aquilino Pimentel III said that “Decency demands they should withdraw from their membership in Senate Electoral Tribunal in the same manner that Migs Zubiri should resign because it looks like he is the personification of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in this country,” last July press conference.

Zubiri had already instructed his lawyers to take appropriate actions before the Senator Electoral Tribunal saying “with the end in view of expediting the proceedings and with the prayer that the Tribunal come up with a decision at the soonest possible time.”

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri denied the accusations against him and denied that he cheated in the 2007 senatorial elections. “Without admitting any fault and with my vehement denial of the alleged electoral fraud hurled against me, I am submitting my resignation as a duly elected Senator of the Republic of the Philippines in the election for which I am falsely accused without mercy and compassion,”

Miguel Zubiri also said that he did not ask anyone to help him win the election nor did he cheated in the 2007 senatorial race.

Further Zubiri’s name and family has also been dragged down into this political controversy. This is also one of his reasons why he decided to resign from his position. “I have seen and felt the suffering of my family, and from the burrows of my conscience, I could not allow this to happen, let alone be tolerated,”

Is this a graceful exit for Senator Miguel Zubiri? Did he resigned to evade the accusations against him? Or did he really mean what he said in his speech that resigned with honor and integrity?

Read Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri’s resignation speech here.

Related posts:

1. Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri’s resignation speech full script