Senate probe on Duterte's arrest should hinder further political divide—Escudero

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero said that the Senate's scheduled investigation into the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte should prevent the nation's further political division.

He stated this after Senator Imee Marcos pushed for an "urgent" Senate investigation into Duterte's arrest, which, according to her, is an issue that has "deeply divide the nation

"Kung ang concern ni Senator Imee ay grabe na yung divisiveness at pagkakawatak-watak natin, eh di sana ang maging dulo ng kanyang pagdinig ay maghilom tayo at magkaroon ng pagkakaisang muli at hindi pa lalong dagdagan yung divisiveness o pagkakaaway-away natin (If Senator Imee's concern is that our divisiveness and fragmentation have become severe, then the outcome of her hearing should be to heal and bring us back together, rather than further increasing our divisions or conflicts)," Escudero said in a press conference.

"Sana di makadagdag yung pagdinig na yan kaugnay sa lalong paglalim pa ng sugat at hidwaan pagitan ng ating mga kababayan (I hope that this hearing won't contribute anything to further deepening the wounds and divisions among our fellow citizens)," he added.

The Senate leader stated that if this is Marcos' intention, he agrees with that goal. According to him, this is also to clarify some questions that many of our fellow citizens may have, as well as their doubts and concerns regarding this matter.

Duterte was arrested on Tuesday, March 11, after Interpol received an arrest warrant from the ICC.

The plane carrying the former president took off from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at 11:03 p.m. headed to The Hague in the Netherlands, where he will be facing charges of crimes against humanity in relation to his bloody war on drugs during his administration.

Escudero said, however, that this investigation of the Upper Chamber is not for him to support or not, yet explained that a pendency of a case should not prevent the Senate from conducting an investigation.

The SC was asked to compel the government to bring Duterte back to the Philippines in two separate habeas corpus petitions filed by Duterte’s children – Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte and Veronica “Kitty” Duterte.

The High Court has ordered the government, led by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, to explain in 24 hours why a writ of habeas corpus should not be issued in the case of the arrest, detention, and turnover of Duterte to the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands.

"I support every undertaking of every senator and the pendency of a case should not prevent that. Klaro sa mga naging desisyon ng Korte Suprema na ang pagkakaroon ng kaso sa korte ay hindi pwedeng maging hadlang para magsagawa ng hearing ang Kongreso dahil magkaiba ng pakay nun (It is clear from the decisions of the Supreme Court that having a case in court cannot be an obstacle for Congress to conduct hearings, as their purposes are different)," Escudero said.

"At hindi naman pwede porket may na-file na kaso ay hindi na pwede tingnan o imbestigahan ng Senado. So sinusuportahan ko ang kapangyarihan ng Senado na magsagawa ng pagdinig bagama't may kasong pending sa korte ngayon (It is not acceptable to think that just because a case has been filed, the Senate can no longer review or investigate it. Therefore, I support the Senate's authority to conduct hearings even if there is a pending case in court)," he added.

Based on the Senate's committee schedule, the Senate investigation on Duterte's arrest is set for Thursday, March 20, at 10 a.m.