President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. brushed off notions that he has something to do with the change of leadership in the Senate, saying he hasn’t spoken with former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on the issue.

President Marcos made the remark when asked for comment during a media interview in Brunei on Zubiri’s claim that he was removed from power due to his alleged failure to follow instructions from the higher ups.

“I guess if you’re Senate President, the only power that be is the President. So, I’m not sure what he is referring to. If that is a specific instance or just as a general principle. I don’t know. I haven’t spoken to him about it,” President Marcos said.

“The last time I spoke to him we talked about the procurement law. This didn’t come up. So, it’s hard for me to answer simply because I’m not quite sure what he’s referring to because what instructions could there be that hindi niya natapos. Yes, that’s still unclear to me what he was referring to,” he added.

The President said he only learned of the shakeup in the Senate when Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero brought it up by saying he’ll try to be the Senate President.

The President said he did not speak to any parties at endpoint because he was out of town. He pointed out that he received the news that Escudero had assumed the Senate leadership when he returned to Manila from the out-of-town trip.

“So, that’s the extent. That‘s how I was basically informed at every step of the way but it moves so quickly as well,” said President Marcos. “But of course, we knew the state of the voting. When that was still being collected, the votes were still being collected by Senator Chiz,” he further noted.

Asked if he still trusts Zubiri, the President responded affirmatively, stressing however that he did not decide on the change in the Senate leadership.

“It was made by the senators,” Marcos said. “So, that does not reflect on my view on Senator Migz and the trust and confidence that I have in him.” PND