Senate President Chiz Escudero called out Senator Imee Marcos on Friday, urging the presidential sister to stop using the chamber as a platform for her “personal political objectives.”
Shortly after the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing on the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday, Marcos criticized Escudero for blocking the contempt order against Special Envoy on Transnational Crimes, Ambassador Markus Lacanilao.
Escudero denied Marcos’ claim that he had refused to sign the contempt order for Lacanilao, who was cited in contempt and ordered detained for allegedly lying under oath during the hearing.
“For the record, I did not refuse to sign the contempt order of Ambassador Markus Lacanilao. Senator Marcos released her statement and flaunted to the media her signed arrest and detention order even before I could see, much less receive, a copy of it,” he noted.
Escudero lamented that Ambassador Lacanilao was ordered detained “without the requisite approval and due process.”
“No less than Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo has succinctly pointed out in his concurring opinion in the Ong case that witnesses accused by Congress of ‘giving false or evasive testimony’ must be accorded stricter due process requirements, none of which was apparently accorded to Ambassador Lacanilao before he was ordered detained,” he added.
Escudero admitted that he ordered Lacanilao’s release “after several hours of unauthorized detention.”
He cited this as both a matter of regularity and humanitarian consideration, as Lacanilao’s grandfather was to be laid to rest Friday.
“To comply with the requisites of due process, I am issuing a ‘show cause order’ today for Ambassador Lacanilao to explain within five days why he should not be cited in contempt as requested by Sen. Imee Marcos. I shall decide whether or not to sign his arrest/detention order only thereafter,” Escudero stressed.
The Senate President assured the public that he would review the committee proceedings.
“And that I will exercise my duty and discretion in accordance with the law to determine their propriety, devoid of political agenda or motivation, and with the best interest of our people, country, and the Senate as an institution in mind,” he added.
Escudero emphasized that “all members of the Senate are fully aware that under the Rules of the Senate, the power of a committee chairperson to order the arrest or detention of any resource person cited in contempt is subject to the approval of the Senate President.”
He noted that this safeguard exists to ensure that the Senate’s powers are exercised prudently, with due regard for the rights of all, and not wielded for personal or political ends.
“For reasons unknown, Senator Marcos appears to have disregarded this long-standing rule or conveniently forgotten it — that the approval of the Senate President is not automatic nor ministerial simply because she desires it,” he emphasized.
Escudero urged Marcos to refrain from using the Senate as a platform for her political agenda and from creating divisions.
“I urge Senator Marcos to refrain from using the Senate as a platform for her own personal political objectives and to instead use her name, title, and influence as a bridge toward unity, not a wedge for division. Our people and our country expect and deserve no less,” he said.
“I will not allow the Senate nor the Office of the Senate President to be used to further petty partisan interests, especially by those actively seeking reelection in the coming May midterm polls,” he added.
Escudero also underscored that the “Senate is an institution of reason and rule; it is not a tool to be leveraged for propaganda or self-promotion.”
“Senator Marcos says that this episode sets a terrible precedent, and I concur — but for different reasons. I believe it is a dangerous precedent to allow senators to flout the Senate’s own rules for personal gain,” he said.
Escudero lamented that the credibility of the Senate is threatened when procedures designed to protect due process and uphold institutional integrity are overlooked or ignored for media attention or political gain.