Nilinaw ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na wala siyang kinalaman sa pagbabago ng liderato sa Senado.

''That was made by the Senate," sinabi ni Pangulong Marcos.

May mga ulat na may kinalaman ang Malacañang sa pagpapatalsik kay dating Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Gayunman, inamin ni Pangulong Marcos na batid niyang may mga pagkilos na papalitan si Zubiri sa Senado.

"'When did I know? The minute they started... actually, it was Senator Chiz (Escudero), the minute he started thinking about it, he brought it up, I think I'm going to try to lead the SP (Senate President)...'' pag-amin ni Marcos.

''And... I did not speak to any parties at any point simply because I was out of town, if you remember on that day, noong umaga, I was asked if I would issue a statement on the change of leadership and I said bakit nag change na ba? Well, mayroong gumagalaw... and when I landed back in Manila at three or four in the afternoon, saka lang, tapos na...'' paglalahad ng Pangulo.

"'Nag-change na, nag-step down na si Senator Migz. so that's the extent, that's how... I was basically informed every step of the way but it moves so quickly as well. But of course, we knew the state of the voting when that was still being collected by Senator Chiz. Alam na namin 'yung lalabas na numero,'' dagdag nito.

Una rito, sinabi ni Zubiri na ang kanyang pagkabigo na sumunod sa mga 'instructions' mula sa mga may kapangyarihan ang maaaring dahilan ng kanyang pagkakatanggal.

"I have never dictated my position to any of you, and I always supported your independence—which is probably why I face my demise today. I failed to follow instructions from the powers that be," sinabi ni Zubiri sa kanyang valedictory speech bago siya pinalitan ni Escudero.

Wala naman ideya si Pangulong Marcos kung ano ang ibig sabihin ni Zubiri.

''I guess if you are Senate President the only power that be is the President. So, I am not sure what he is referring to, if there is a specific instance or just as a general principle. I don’t know, I have not spoken to him about it,'' ayon kay Marcos.

''So, it’s hard for me to answer simply because I am not sure what he’s referring to because what instructions could that be that hindi niya natapos. Yes, that’s still unclear to me what he's referring to,'' dagdag na pahayag ng Pangulo.

Humingi naman ng paumanhin si Escudero sa mga taong nasaktan niya at ng kanyang mga kaalyado sa proseso ng paghahangad na makuha ang top post sa Senado.

"Hinihiling ko po ang inyong paumanhin kung may naabala man kami, kung may nasaktan man po kami, kung meron man po kaming naapakan na mga paa, sana tanggapin ninyo ang aking buong pagpapakumbaba na paghingi ng tawad," pahayag ni Escudero.