Sen. Imee Marcos and Senate President Francis Escudero. Jonathan Cellona/Maria Tan, ABS-CBN news

MANILA — Reelectionist Sen. Imee Marcos branded Senate President Francis Escudero as “ambitious” after the latter urged her not to use the Senate for politics.

Marcos, who led Senate hearings into former president Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest, said Tuesday: "Yung ginagamit para sa politika, nakakatuwa naman kasi alam naman natin na siya yung ambisyoso. Ako yung nakalimutan nga mangampanya na."

"Hindi ko alam, pero alam ko, mataas ang iniisip nun eh," Marcos said when asked if she was referring to Escudero's 2028 plans.

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Marcos said Escudero could be tense about retaining the Senate presidency in the 20th Congress.

"Siyempre, bagong kongreso, siyempre, bago na naman ang Senate President. Siguro, baka nati-tense. Hindi ko alam, hindi ko alam. Pero alam ko, parating may plano yun eh, marunong yun eh," Marcos said.

"Hindi ko alam, miski Senate presidency, kasi maraming papasok na datihan. Hindi natin alam."

The two clashed after Escudero refused to sign the contempt order Marcos issued against Special Envoy Markus Lacanilao for allegedly lying during the Duterte arrest probe.  

“Senator Marcos says that this episode sets a terrible precedent, and I concur, but for different reasons. I believe it is a dangerous precedent to allow senators to flout the Senate’s own rules for personal gain," Escudero had said. 

"For when procedures meant to safeguard due process and institutional integrity are ignored for media mileage or political ambition, that is when the credibility of the Senate is threatened," he added.

Escudero then urged Marcos “to refrain from using the Senate as a platform for her own personal political objectives and to  instead use her name, title, and influence as a bridge toward unity, not a wedge for division.” 

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He also issued a show cause order for Lacanilao to explain why he should not be detained by the Senate. 

Marcos pointed out that it was Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa who had moved for Lacanilao to be held in contempt. She maintained that the issuance of a show cause order appears nowhere in the Senate rules.

"Hindi natiis ni Senator Bato, eh talagang nag-move siya for contempt. Wala namang magawa kasi harap-harapan naman nagsisinungaling. Ang nakakalungkot lang, sinuwag naman ng desisyon ng komite ng ating Senate President. Kaya nabigla naman kami, never heard naman yung may show cause show cause. Wala sa buong rules ng Senado yung  show cause na yan," Marcos said.

"Nakakatuwa naman talaga yung mga pinagsasabi. Ang akin na lamang, balikan natin ang tunay na rules ng Senado kung saan walang mahahanap kahit minsan ang binabanggit na show cause," she said. 

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