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Marcoses host senators, spouses after Senate leadership change
A day after the change in Senate leadership, President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise ''Liza'' Araneta-Marcos met with senators and their spouses Tuesday.
The First Lady posted a photo on Instagram with a caption, ''Had a nice time breaking bread with the Senators & their spouses.'' She posted the same photo on Facebook with a caption, "Casual dinner with the Senators & their spouses, Bahay Pangulo, Manila."
Present were newly elected Senate President Francis ''Chiz'' Escudero, Senators Robin Padilla, Alan Peter Cayetano, Francis Tolentino, Raffy Tulfo, Sherwin Gatchalian, Mark Villar, Jinggoy Estrada, Grace Poe, Cynthia Villar, Loren Legarda, and Pia Cayetano.
Of those present, only Gatchalian and Legarda did not support the ouster of then Senate president Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Senator Imee Marcos was also in attendance, but she was not in the picture because she arrived at the latter part of the dinner, according to Escudero.
Also present in the social gathering were the senators' spouses, Heart Evangelista, former Senate President Manny Villar, Mayor Lani Cayetano, Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla, Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, Jocelyn Tulfo and Kathryna Yu-Pimentel.
The Presidential Communications Office has yet to provide information regarding the meeting.
Escudero earlier told reporters that all the senators were invited to the gathering even before the leadership change.
In an interview with GMA News Online, Majority Leader Francis Tolentino said the gathering was planned as early as three weeks ago.
"Three weeks ago pa 'yun plinano so that has nothing to do with the change of leadership in the Senate," he said.
Senator Jinggoy Estrada told GMA News Online in a message that the dinner was simply a ''kwentuhan.''
Asked if the President had a directive for them, he said, ''Wala naman.'' He also said the change of leadership in the Senate was discussed briefly.
In an interview, Escudero said there were no talks about the leadership change.
"Quite frankly it was not talked about. I was not asked. All he said was he was in Dumaguete and Bacolod and by the time he landed, he was informed. He never knew about it because he was in Dumaguete in Bacolod and by the time he landed, he found out that there was already a change and it was finished. That’s what he told me," Escudero said.
There were also no talks about Charter change, the Senate president said.
Senator Robin Padilla, in a separate interview, also said that the dinner was "casual" and there were no talks about Cha-cha.
"Yung dinner ay may kinalaman sa kwentuhan. Wala pong pinag-usapan na patungkol sa Senado," Padilla said.
Escudero took over the Senate's highest post following the resignation of Zubiri, who said he would be an independent member of the chamber.
In his speech during the plenary session on Monday to announce his resignation, Zubiri said he has always supported the Senate's independence, ''which is probably why I face my demise today. I failed to follow instructions from the powers that be.''
Escudero earlier admitted that he initiated the move to replace Zubiri. The senators who voted for him denied in separate interviews that Malacañang had a hand in the ouster move.
Marcos already extended his support to Escudero and his track record as public servant.—Hana Bordey/AOL, GMA Integrated News
