Zubiri, Ejercito declare independence amid Senate leadership change

MANILA, Philippines — Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and JV Ejercito abstained from voting for a new Senate President on Monday, and instead declared instead their independence in the upper house. After all Senate leadership positions were left vacant in a 13-10-2 vote, Sens. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Alan Peter Cayetano were nominated for Senate