Senator Imee Marcos fired back at Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Tuesday, April 15, calling him “ambisyoso” (ambitious) in response to his remarks urging her not to use the Senate for her own political objectives.

"Yung ginagamit para sa pulitika, nakakatuwa naman, kasi alam naman natin na siya yung ambisosyo ("The one saying not to use things for politics, that's amusing, because we all know he's the one who's ambitious)," Marcos told reporters in an interview.

"Ako nga yung nakalimutan mangampanya na (I'm the one who even forgot to campaign)," she added.

While she didn’t elaborate, the comment appeared to be hinting at perceived aspirations on Escudero’s part.

Asked if she thinks Escudero has plans for 2028 she said: "Hindi ko alam pero alam ko mataas ang iniisip nun e (I’m not sure, but I know he’s aiming high)."

"At siyempre bagong Kongreso, siyempre bago na naman ang Senate President siguro baka natetense. Hindi ko alam pero alam ko parating may plano yun, marunong yun e ("And of course, with a new Congress coming in, there’ll probably be a new Senate President too—maybe that’s why he’s getting tense. I don’t know, but I do know he always has a plan—he’s clever like that)," she added.

Escudero last week told Marcos not to use the Senate as a platform for her political objectives and instead urge her to use her name, title, and influence as a bridge toward unity, not a wedge for division.

He said this after Marcos expressed her disappointment over his supposed refusal to sign a contempt order against Special Envoy on Transnational Crimes Ambassador Markus Lacanilao during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, which examined the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte on March 11.

After several hours of Lacanilao’s "unauthorized" detention, Escudero said that he directed his release, both as a matter of regularity and out of humanitarian consideration as his grandfather was to be laid to rest Friday. A show cause order was then issued to Lacanilao.

According to Marcos, the "show cause" cannot be seen anywhere in the Senate's rules.