Senator Migz Zubiri shares a light moment with Senator Bato Dela Rosa at the Senate on August 15, 2019. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File 

MANILA — Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Tuesday admitted that he voted in favor of installing Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero as the new Senate President after his predecessor Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri hinted at possible "betrayal."

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During Zubiri's resignation speech Monday, he gave a shoutout to Dela Rosa for supposedly sticking with him until the end, prompting the senator to shed tears.

But on Tuesday, newly-installed Majority Leader Francis Tolentino revealed that Dela Rosa was among the majority senators who voted for the change in leadership.

Dela Rosa said that he felt embarrassed for failing to ensure the support of his PDP-Laban bloc colleagues Tolentino and Sen. Christopher Lawrence Go for Zubiri.

Dela Rosa explained that all 3 of them had an agreement to vote together on issues and that if there are differences, the one who is outnumbered would go with the others.

That, according to Dela Rosa, was why he eventually signed the resolution supporting Escudero.

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"Among us 3 magka-batch na PDP senators, we forged a covenant na majority wins in every voting situation... In this case, silang 2 talaga ay nag-decide na sumuporta kay Sen. Chiz Escudero, ako ay naiwan. I want to stay, ayoko sana, pero yun ang usapan," he said.

Dela Rosa said his vote was "immaterial" to the resignation of Zubiri since Escudero had already secured the numbers to clinch the top post even before he signed the resolution.

"My signature was already insignificant... Lumapit sila sa akin after the battle has been won. Meron na silang 14 na pirma," Dela Rosa said.

The senator said the majority urged him to vote in favor of Escudero after they learned that he was considering to join the minority bloc.

"I was persuaded by Sen. Chiz and Sen. Alan Cayetano na please stay with the majority wag ka pumunta sa minority," Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa then apologized to Zubiri.

"Gusto ko sabihin kay Migz doon is sorry boss, I failed to win the war for you because I am one of his trusted lieutenants," Dela Rosa said.

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Dela Rosa also admitted feeling guilty as many suspected it was his "PDEA leaks" probe that ultimately cost Zubiri his post.

Despite this, Dela Rosa said he would continue the investigation when businessman Manjin James Kumar is healthy enough to face the hearing.

Dela Rosa said that just like Zubiri, he was also heartbroken after what transpired at the Senate on Monday

"If he is heartbroken, I am also heartbroken, my heart is really broken...He is a very good leader. Sen Zubiri. I love him very much. I respect him very much."