Juan Miguel "Migz" Fernandez Zubiri (Tagalog: [hwɐn miˈɡɛl pɛɾˈnɐndɛs sʊˈbɪɾi]; born April 13, 1969)[2] is a Filipino politician serving as a Senator of the Philippines.

[11] Juan Miguel Fernandez Zubiri was born 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 the province of Bukidnon in Northern Mindanao.

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.

After serving as a congressman for three terms, he was drafted by Lakas CMD to be one of their candidates in the pro-Gloria Macapagal Arroyo administration TEAM Unity ticket for the 2007 mid-term elections.

In the final tally for the 2007 senatorial race by the Philippine Commission on Elections (Comelec), Rep. Zubiri narrowly defeated opposition candidate Koko Pimentel for the 12th and last slot in the Senate.

After oral arguments, however, the High Tribunal again voted to uphold the COMELEC's decision to proclaim Zubiri, consequently failing to grant Pimentel's petition.

On March 14, 2008, the Supreme Court, in a 40-page decision penned by Associate Justice Minita Chico-Nazario, dismissed Koko Pimentel petition to stop the Commission on Elections from canvassing votes from the province of Maguindanao,[17] a definite morale booster for Senator Zubiri.

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".

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.

[22][23][24] 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.

[27] In his farewell address, Zubiri emphasized his support for the independence of his colleagues and attributed his departure to not following higher authorities' instructions, stating his commitment to the Senate's integrity.

[28] Describing himself as a conservative lawyer, Zubiri opposed the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill believing its comprehensive sex education would encourage early sexual exploration among children.