00:00 I've always said that I serve at the pleasure of my colleagues and I thank
00:04 them for entrusting me with a monumental responsibility of leading the Senate
00:09 over the past two years. It has been my greatest honor, greatest honor of my life
00:17 as a public servant and the greatest challenge. Never could I have imagined as
00:22 a neophyte senator learning the ropes from some of the best luminaries of the
00:26 Senate in Senate history such as Ed Angara, Joker Arroyo, Miriam Defensor
00:32 Santiago, Juan Ponce Enrile, Frank Drilon and many others that I would one day bear
00:38 the blessing and burden of the Senate presidency itself. I have given this job
00:44 my all. Not only have I maintained my untarnished record as a public servant
00:50 and my streak of perfect attendance since 1998, but I have also done my best
00:56 to rise to the occasion as a leader responsible for this entire institution
01:01 and everyone under its care. Today I look back on these two years with immense
01:08 pride on what the Senate has accomplished and stood for under my
01:13 leadership. To the others, my dear friends, my heart is broken. I am proud to have
01:24 led a Senate that's been resolute in protecting our institution, our democracy
01:29 and our people. Being an independent leader, I gave way for each member of the
01:36 Senate also to be independent and to come to decisions through collaboration
01:42 rather than direction. I have never dictated my position on any of you, you
01:47 know that. I've always supported your independence which is probably why I
01:52 faced my demise today. I failed to follow instructions from the powers that be.
01:58 Simple as that. I've listened to all my colleagues throughout my Senate
02:03 presidency and again I listen to them today. As we head into a new period for
02:08 the Senate, I fought the good fight. If I've ruffled some feathers in doing so,
02:15 then so be it. Hindi ko tinanggap ang pagiging pangulo ng Senado para lang hayaan na bumagsak ito.
02:25 Today I offer my resignation as Senate President of the Republic of the
02:32 Philippines and upon stepping down I vow to serve as an independent member of the
02:37 Senate. My allegiance as ever belonging only to the Filipino people. I leave with
02:45 my head held high knowing that I did what is right for the Senate and for the
02:51 nation. I wish our new leadership the very best and I pray that they will be
02:56 steadfast in upholding the independence of this beloved institution. I will
03:01 remain vigilant to make sure that the traditions and the rules the Senate will
03:07 remain steadfast. Once again, maraming maraming salamat po. Mabuhay ang Senado.
03:14 Mabuhay ang Republika ng Pilipinas.
03:18 May we ask the Senate President, Francis Cheese Escudero and his family to ascend
03:33 to the rostrum to take his oath and may we recognize the Benjamin of the House,
03:40 the youngest member, Senator Mark Villiard to administer the oath.
03:47 [Silence]
04:06 Please raise your right hand and repeat after me.
04:09 I, I, state your name, Francis Joseph G. Escudero, having been elected, having been
04:18 elected, President of the Senate, President of the Senate, do hereby
04:23 solemnly swear that I will well and faithfully discharge to the best of my
04:26 ability, do hereby solemnly swear that I will I will well and faithfully
04:32 discharge to the best of my ability, the duties of my present position and of all
04:36 others I may hereafter hold under the Republic of the Philippines, the duties
04:40 of my present position and of all others I may hereafter hold under the Republic
04:45 of the Philippines, that I will support and defend the Constitution of the
04:48 Philippines, that I will support and defend the Constitution of the
04:52 Philippines, that I will obey the laws and legal orders and decrees promulgated
04:57 by the duly consisted constituted authorities, that I will obey the laws,
05:02 the legal orders and decrees promulgated by the duly constituted authorities and
05:06 maintain true faith and allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines, and that
05:10 I impose this obligation upon myself voluntarily without mental reservation
05:14 or purpose of evasion, and that I impose this obligation upon myself voluntarily
05:19 without mental reservation or purpose of evasion. So help me God. So help me God.
05:29 [President Zubiri speaks in Tagalog]
05:36 [President Zubiri speaks in Tagalog]
05:43 [President Zubiri speaks in Tagalog]
05:50 [President Zubiri speaks in Tagalog]
05:57 [President Zubiri speaks in Tagalog]
06:04 [President Zubiri speaks in Tagalog]
06:09 [President Zubiri speaks in Tagalog]
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