<\/p>\n
SENATE President Francis \u201cChiz\u201d Escudero on Friday told Senator Imee Marcos not to use the Senate as a platform for her personal political objectives.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Senate leader urged the female senator to instead use her name, title, and influence as a bridge toward unity, not a wedge for division.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOur people and our country expect and deserve no less,\u201d he said.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Escudero issued the statement after Marcos <\/strong> expressed her disappointment over his supposed refusal to sign a contempt order against Special Envoy on Transnational Crimes Ambassador Markus Lacanilao during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The committee, which is <\/strong>investigating the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte on March 11, <\/strong>is chaired by Marcos.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n During the hearing, Lacanilao was cited in contempt and ordered detained by the panel for allegedly lying.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The motion to cite Lacanilao in contempt was made by Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa after he and Marcos questioned him about the International Criminal Court (ICC) Transfer of Custody document filled out by the envoy for Duterte’s arrest as the Philippine government’s representative. <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n According to Escudero, 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.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n This safeguard exists to ensure that the powers of the Senate are exercised prudently with due regard for the rights of all and not wielded for personal or political ends.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Escudero said that for reasons unknown, Marcos appears to have disregarded the longstanding rule or conveniently forgotten it that the approval of the Senate President is not automatic nor ministerial simply because she desires it.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFor 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,\u201d the Senate leader said.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Escudero said Lacanilao was ordered detained without the requisite approval and due process, stating that 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 \u201cgiving false or evasive testimony\u201d must be accorded stricter due process requirements, none of which was apparently accorded to Lacanilao before he was ordered detained.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n After several hours of Lacanilao\u2019s unauthorized detention, Escudero said that he directed the envoy\u2019s release, both as a matter of regularity and out of humanitarian consideration as the ambassador\u2019s grandfather is to be laid to rest today.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIn order to comply with the requisites of due process, I am issuing a \u201cshow cause order\u201d today for Ambassador Lacanilao to explain within 5 days why he should not be cited in contempt as requested by Sen. Imee Marcos,\u201d Escudero said.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI shall decide on whether or not to sign his arrest\/detention only thereafter,\u201d he added.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Escudero assured the public that he will review the committee proceedings and will exercise his duty and discretion in accordance with the law to determine their propriety devoid of political agenda or motivation, and with the best interest of the people, the country, and the Senate as an institution in mind.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI 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,\u201d Escudero stressed.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n He said the Senate is an institution of reason and rule and not a tool to be leveraged for propaganda or self-promotion.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSenator Marcos says that this episode sets a terrible precedent, and I concur, but for different reasons,\u201d said the Senate head.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI believe it is a dangerous precedent to allow senators to flout the Senate\u2019s own rules for personal gain,\u201d he explained.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFor when procedures meant to safeguard due process and institutional integrity are ignored for media mileage or political ambition, that is when the credibility of the Senate is threatened, Escudero warned.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" SENATE President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Friday told Senator Imee Marcos not to use the Senate as a platform for her personal political objectives. 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