Juan Miguel Zubiri

Juan Miguel "Migz" Fernandez Zubiri (Tagalog: [hwɐn miˈɡɛl pɛɾˈnɐndɛs sʊˈbɪɾi]; born April 13, 1969) is a Filipino politician who has served as Senate majority leader since June 2026, a position he previously held from 2008 to 2010, 2018 to 2022, and 2025 to 2026. An independent, he is in his third nonconsecutive term as a Senator of the Philippines, having been elected in 2016 and previously serving from 2007 until his resignation in 2011. During his Senate tenure, he served as the 30th senate president of the Philippines from 2022 to 2024.^[1][2]

Early life

Juan Miguel Fernandez Zubiri was born on April 13, 1969, in Makati, Philippines, to a Negrense father of Spanish Basque heritage, Jose Maria Rubin Zubiri Jr. from Kabankalan in the province of Negros Occidental and a mother, Maria Victoria Ocampo Fernandez of Libon, Albay, who was raised in Bukidnon in Northern Mindanao. He speaks Cebuano, Tagalog, English, and his father's native Hiligaynon. His father, Jose Maria, is a former governor of Bukidnon.^[1]

Sports career

Zubiri is involved in Arnis as a former player and sports executive. Zubiri began training for Arnis, a martial art and the national sport of the Philippines, at the age of sixteen. He won the Arnis World Championship title in 1989, defeating Jeff Finder of the United States.^[1]

House of Representatives (1998–2007)

After serving as chief of staff of his father, Representative Jose Maria Zubiri, Jr., from 1995 to 1998, he ran for the seat representing the third district of Bukidnon to be vacated by his father, who was term-limited in the 1998 elections. Winning easily in that election, he served his first term in the 10th Congress. During his first term, he was one of the members of what the media dubbed as the "Spice Boys", a group of neophyte and two-term congressmen who were openly critical of President Joseph Estrada's administration.^[1]

Election

After serving as a representative for three terms, Lakas drafted him to be one of their candidates in the pro-Gloria Macapagal Arroyo administration TEAM Unity ticket for the 2007 mid-term elections.^[1]

Tenure

While serving his stint in the Senate, Zubiri began advocating a more in-depth study of biofuels in order to prevent food shortages, all the while allowing current production of alternative clean energy and biofuels so as to lessen dependence on imported oil and allow the Philippine economy a new avenue of economic success, "especially in this day and age of constant rising oil prices". In the 14th Congress, he became the Majority Leader, replacing Senator Kiko Pangilinan on November 17, 2008. During his Majority Leadership, the Senate passed a record 650 bills.^[1]

Resignation and aftermath

On August 3, 2011, however, during his privilege speech on the floor in the Philippine Senate, Zubiri suddenly announced his resignation from the body. In his speech, Zubiri expressed how his family was affected by the accusations against him. He also denied any wrongdoing and stating that he was falsely accused of electoral fraud.^[1]

Elections

In 2013, Zubiri ran for the Senate under the opposition United Nationalist Alliance ticket but lost, placing 14th out of the 12 seats with 11,821,134 votes.^[1]

Tenure

In the 17th Congress, he was once again elected as Senate Majority Leader on May 21, 2018, succeeding Tito Sotto, who was elected Senate President.^[1]

Senate President (2022–2024)

In late May 2022, he announced his candidacy for the position of President of the Senate, to succeed Tito Sotto, who was retiring. On June 1, Cynthia Villar, who was considered his main rival, withdrew from the race and endorsed him for the ballot scheduled to be held in late July. On the same day, he was elected President pro tempore, the second most senior position in the Senate, to fill out the remaining few weeks of the term of Ralph Recto, who had vacated the post to take up a seat in the House of Representatives.^[1]