Escudero denies being Palace lackey, refutes PDEA leaks as reason for Zubiri's ouster

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero has denounced insinuations that he was appointed to lead the Senate because he is a "Palace lackey," stating that senators choose their leader.

Escudero called the accusations unfair, noting that former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri was never called a Palace lackey.

Zubiri, in his resignation speech, alluded to his failure to follow instructions from "the powers that be."

Speculations arose that Zubiri's ouster was due to his failure to stop the ongoing hearings on the so-called "PDEA leaks" initiated by Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa.

However, Escudero denied that the "PDEA leaks" was the reason behind Zubiri's ouster.

Escudero also mentioned that he has concerns about the leadership's direction, particularly with respect to Charter change.