Escudero: Marcos only knew about Senate leadership change afterwards

MANILA, Philippines — President Bongbong Marcos Jr. had no prior knowledge about the change in Senate leadership, newly-instated Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference Wednesday, Escudero said Marcos was only made aware when the leadership change was already done.

On Tuesday evening, Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos hosted a dinner with senators and their spouses.

Escudero said discussions during the get-together were mostly just “socials.” When asked if they talked about the reason for the Senate shake-up, Escudero said no.

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“In fact, it was not talked about. I was not asked. All he said was [that] he was in Dumaguete and Bacolod and by the time he landed, he was informed — he never knew about it when he was in Dumaguete and Bacolod, and by the time he landed, he found out that there was already a change in the Senate,” said the Senate chief.

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In the same interview, Escudero was questioned whether or not Marcos expressed surprise about the leadership change during the Tuesday get-together, but he just said “no.”

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Then-Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri stepped down from his post on Monday. Minutes after Zubiri’s resignation, Escudero was elected as the new Senate leader.

On the same day, Escudero took his oath as the 25th Senate President of the Philippines.