Instability in the Senate leadership

The persistent rumor that the position of Senate president (SP) is going to be declared vacant anytime in the next few days indicates the leadership instability of the Upper Chamber. And this is nothing new or unprecedented.

- Atty. Josephus B. Jimenez

The sixth SP, Camilo Osias, who was elected as such after the tenures of Manuel Quezon, Manuel Roxas, Jose Avelino, and Cebu's Mariano Jesus Cuenco, respectively, stayed only in that position only from April 17, 1952 to April 30, 1952. A member of the Nacionalista Party, his position was declared vacant and he was replaced by his NP partymate, Eulogio "Amang" Rodriguez, who became the seventh SP. Osias made a comeback on April 17, 1953 and was elected eighth SP.

But Osias only stayed in that post for 23 days. He was ousted again by the Liberal Party who elected Jose Zulueta from Iloilo, as ninth SP on May 20, 1953. Zulueta occupied the position for only 190 days when he was replaced by Amang Rodriguez on November 30, 1953. But Zulueta's tenure was much longer than that of the fifth SP, Quintin Paredes, who occupied that post for only 42 days, from March 5, 1952 up to April 17, 1952. He was replaced by Osias.