The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on Thursday cited Special Envoy on Transnational Crime Ambassador Markus Lacanilao in contempt for allegedly lying under oath.

Senators expressed frustration over Lacanilao’s repeated assertions that he was unaware of whether former President Rodrigo Duterte had been presented before a local court prior to his supposed arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa moved to cite Lacanilao in contempt. Senator Imee Marcos promptly approved the motion.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Lacanilao was appointed the representative of Interpol since he also oversees the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC).

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano then questioned why Lacanilao signed the Transfer of Custody on behalf of the Philippine government if he was representing Interpol.

Lacanilao explained that emotions were running high at the time of Duterte’s arrest and the people involved were already tired, so he had to make a decision.

“It was getting quite intense, and we were also tired. Then, the ICC staff requested that the medical team take him. The medical assistance couldn’t be performed on the former president. That’s the reason,” he said.

Remulla asked the committee to reconsider the contempt order against the ambassador, but Marcos turned down the request.

Earlier at the hearing, the lawmakers interrogated Lacanilao over his alleged role in signing documents that facilitated the surrender and transfer of Duterte to the ICC.

Lacanilao repeatedly claimed that he was not aware if Duterte had been presented before a competent national judicial authority.

He was also questioned about the Transfer of Custody document, which indicated that he was representing the government of the Philippines, despite his earlier statement that he represented the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).

Marcos then showed copies of the Transfer of Custody and the Information on the Surrender and Transfer, both of which bore Lacanilao’s signature.

“I was there to oversee the smooth arrest of the former president,” Lacanilao explained.

He said he only “volunteered” to accompany Duterte to The Hague after members of the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC), who were supposed to join the flight, did not have their passports at the time.

Dela Rosa did not believe Lacanilao when he said he did not know Duterte was not brought before a competent court on the day of his arrest.

“You were there the whole time. From the tube until Villamor Air Base, you were there. You still didn’t know whether or not he was brought before a judicial authority?” Dela Rosa asked Lacanilao.

Lacanilao answered, “Yes, Mr. Senator.”

Duterte was arrested on the morning of 11 March and was flown to the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands, that night.