Marcos unaware of Senate leadership change until after it happened

President Bongbong Marcos Jr. had no prior knowledge about the change in Senate leadership until after it was completed, newly-instated Senate President Francis 'Chiz' Escudero said.

Escudero informed reporters that during a dinner hosted by Marcos on Tuesday evening, the President only learned of the transition when he returned from events in Dumaguete and Bacolod City.

Former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri stepped down on Monday, and Escudero was elected as the new leader immediately after, taking his oath as the 25th Senate President of the Philippines on the same day.

Zubiri's resignation speech highlighted the independence of the Senate but suggested that he had 'failed to follow instructions from the powers that be,' which may have led to his ouster.

Dela Rosa's inquiry into leaked Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency documents was cited as a possible reason for Zubiri's removal, though Escudero and Estrada denied any involvement by Malacañang in the leadership change.