Imee exhorts Cabinet execs: Tell the truth

Senator Imee Marcos on Monday called on Cabinet and other executive branch officials to tell the truth as the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations prepares to hold its third hearing on the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“It is good that the administration has had second thoughts, but I hope the announcement of their desire to reveal the truth is a sign that, finally, the public will be enlightened about the real events,” Marcos said.

“We are giving them a third opportunity to explain themselves on 10 April, but let us hope this does not turn into a mere concealment or a show for the public,” she added.

She continued: “Be honest now, please.”

Her remarks came after Malacañang affirmed its commitment to the investigation by allowing Cabinet officials to attend the Senate hearing scheduled on Thursday, 10 April.

Before this, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said that members of the executive branch had committed to attending the next Senate hearing after they skipped the second hearing last week.

Escudero said the commitment from the executive officials came after he facilitated a communication between the two branches of government to avoid further issues, such as a constitutional crisis.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and National Security Council Director General Eduardo Año were among those absent from the proceedings.

Other officials who skipped the hearing included Philippine Center on Transnational Crime executive director Anthony Alcantara, Philippine National Police chief Rommel Marbil and PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director Nicolas Torre III.

The only government representatives present were lawyers RJ Bernal, and Ferdino Logie Santiago, both from the Securities and Exchange Commission. Alexis Medina, a legal scholar, also attended the inquiry.

During the hearing, Senator Marcos accused the government of contradicting itself, citing previous pronouncements by both President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., her brother, and executive branch officials about not cooperating with the International Criminal Court.

“As early as May, there was already a briefer about President Duterte’s arrest. It is not true that the Philippine government had nothing to do with this,” she said.