Imee on Chiz' 'self-promotion' remarks: Siya ang ambisyoso

Senator Imee Marcos on Tuesday clapped back at Senate President Chiz Escudero after he said that she should "refrain from using the Senate as a platform for her own personal political objectives."

"‘Yung ginagamit para sa pulitika, nakakatuwa naman kasi alam naman natin na siya 'yung ambisyosyo," Marcos told reporters in a virtual press conference.

This, as Imee floated the idea of a possible Senate leadership taking place after Eleksyon 2025.

"Alam ko mataas ang iniisip nu'n. At siyempre bagong Kongreso [after elections], siyempre bago na nman ang Senate president, baka na-te-tense. 'Di ko alam, pero alam ko parating may plano 'yun eh. Marunong 'yun eh," she added.

Escudero previously said that he will "not allow the Senate nor the Office of the Senate President to be used to further petty partisan interests, especially by those actively seeking reelection in coming May midterm polls... It is not a tool to be leveraged for propaganda or self-promotion."

The Senate President made the remark against Marcos as they disagreed over the detention of Special Envoy on Transnational Crimes Ambassador Markus Lacanilao last week after he was cited in contempt during the Senate foreign relations commitee hearing into former President Rodrigo Duterte's arrest.

Escudero said that Lacanilao was "not given due process," but he issued a show cause order against the ambassador.

But Marcos insisted that there is no need for a show cause order.

"Balikan natin ang tunay na rules ng Senado kung saan walang mahahanap kahit ni minsan ang binabanggit na show cause [order]," Marcos said during the virtual press conference.

GMA News Online has sought comment from Escudero on Marcos' latest comments but he has yet to reply as of posting time.

Lacanilao was cited in contempt after he repeatedly denied knowing whether or not Duterte was brought to a competent national judicial authority. —VAL, GMA Integrated News