Senator Imee Marcos says Special Envoy on Transnational Crimes Markus Lacanilao has been released from the Senate after Senate President Francis Escudero refused to sign the latter’s contempt order.

“Ambassador Markus Lacanilao has now been released—despite being cited in contempt for lying and giving misleading statements on the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte,” Senator Marcos said in a statement.

“As expected, Senate President Chiz Escudero refused to sign the contempt order. Just like he refused to sign the subpoenas. This time, he went even further—he ordered Lacanilao’s release, in spite of the ambassador’s blatant and repeated lies before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations,” she added.

She continued: “This isn’t just disappointing. It’s dangerous. When the Senate’s authority is ignored this openly, what’s the point of investigations? What’s the point of truth? We’re setting a terrible precedent—and it won’t be the last.“

Lacanilao was earlier ordered to be contempt by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations upon the motion of Senator Ronald dela Rosa for supposedly lying.