Better for Sen. Imee to invite foreign law experts in Senate's Duterte hearing for clarity—Palace

It would be better if Senator Imee Marcos invites international law experts to gain clarity on the legality of the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte, Malacañang said.

Perhaps if foreign law experts attend the Senate panel hearing on Duterte's arrest, she will no longer need the opinion of Cabinet officials, Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said.

The Palace official said it would also allow the presidential sister to get more views from other experts on the arrest of Duterte.

"Mas maganda po talaga na hindi lamang po iisang view ang madinig ni Senator Imee Marcos (It would be better if Senator Imee Marcos hears not just one view)," Castro said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, April 8.

"Mag-imbita po siya ng mga eksperto pa, yung mga madalas na nai-interview na nagbibigay rin ng kakaibang opinion na kakaiba kay Atty. Alex Medina para po mas maliwanagan siya kasi sabi nga po natin kung isang tao lang, isang eksperto lang ang ating madidinig, hindi po natin nababalanse ang pang unawa dito at lalo siyang maguguguluhan katulad ng sinasabi niya siya ay nagugulumihanan sa ngayon (She should consider inviting more experts—especially those who are often interviewed and who provide different opinions from that of Atty. Alex Medina—so that she can gain more clarity. As we often say, if we only listen to one person or one expert, our understanding becomes unbalanced, and it might confuse her even more, especially since she mentioned that she is currently perplexed)," Castro added.

The Presidential Communications Office undersecretary clarified that it was only a suggestion, not an order.

"So mabuti po, ito naman ay suggestion lang tutal naitanong naman po, hindi naman po tayo nag-uutos (So, this would be better, this is just a suggestion—since the question was raised—it's not like we're giving orders)," Castro said.

She added that perhaps the senator would not be needing the opinion of Marcos Cabinet if she can invite more international experts.  

"Mas maganda po na makapagkuha pa siya o makapag-imbita pa siya ng iba pang international law experts para po mas maliwanagan siya, baka nga po sa pamamagitan ng ibang mga international law experrts, ibang abogada, may mga iba't ibang opinyon ay di na nga niya kailanganin ang ibang mga Cabinet members para siya ay makapagbalangkas ng batas (It would be better if she could invite more international law experts, so she can be further enlightened. Who knows, through hearing from different international law experts and lawyers with various perspectives, she might not even need input from other Cabinet members to be able to draft legislation)" Castro pointed out.

On Monday, the Palace reconsidered its stance on the Senate's hearing on Duterte's arrest after invoking executive privilege in the past hearings.