The Senate on Wednesday adopted a resolution assigning outgoing Senate Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri as the Senate President Pro Tempore, which will essentially be an officer-in-charge post.
The resolution was introduced by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon during the final session of the 18th Congress. He said the appointment of Zubri will take effect on June 29, a day before Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto formally step down from office.
According to Drilon, the move was made to allow the institution to fully discharge its administrative functions without interruption until the organization of the 19th Congress on July 25.
Drilon also stressed that Zubiri, who is currently the Majority Leader, is the most qualified for the President Pro Tempore position as he has the "required experience and familiarity" with the workings of the Senate.
"So it is really an officer-in-charge post and we will subject ourselves again to an election once we come back on the last Monday of July," Zubiri said in a short speech shortly after the adoption of the resolution.
In an earlier media briefing, Zubiri said he wants senators-elect Loren Legarda to serve as the President Pro Tempore and Joel Villanueva as his successor for the Majority Leader post.
