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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Imee dismayed as Chiz shuns contempt order vs special envoy

Imee dismayed as Chiz shuns contempt order vs special envoy

Published Apr 10, 2025 03:54 pm

At A Glance

  • Senator Imee Marcos expressed her disappointment after Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero refused to sign a contempt order against one of the resource persons during a Senate panel inquiry that she led on Thursday, April 10.

Senator Imee Marcos expressed her disappointment after Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero refused to sign a contempt order against one of the resource persons during a Senate panel inquiry that she led on Thursday, April 10.

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Senator Imee Marcos presides over the Senate Committee on Foreign Relation's third hearing into the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, April 10. (Mark Balmores)

In a statement late Thursday night, Marcos stated that Escudero's refusal to sign the contempt order was not only disappointing but also dangerous.

Special Envoy on Transnational Crimes Ambassador Markus Lacanilao was cited for contempt during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, which tackled the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte last March 11.

The motion was made by Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa after he and Marcos quizzed Lacanilao about the International Criminal Court (ICC) Transfer of Custody document he filled out for Duterte's arrest as the Philippine government's representative.  

Marcos said that he was cited for contempt for lying and giving misleading statements on the arrest of Duterte.

As of 10 p.m., Marcos said that Lacanilao had been released by the Senate.

"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," the presidential sister said.

"When the Senate's authority is ignored this openly, what's the point of investigations? What's the point of truth?" she asked.

Escudero had earlier referred to the Senate legal department the foreign relations committee’s previous subpoenas for government officials.

Escudero cited the need to tread carefully on the matter, as he noted that there were already two Supreme Court (SC) decisions that upheld the executive department’s authority to invoke executive privilege.

Marcos said that refusal to sign the contempt order set a terrible precedent.

Related Tags

International Criminal Court (ICC) Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero Senator Imee Marcos Rodrigo Duterte
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