Escudero tells Sen. Marcos: Don’t use Senate as partisan politics platform
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero (Photo from Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Chiz Escudero criticized Sen. Imee Marcos on Friday, boldly telling the presidential sister to refrain from using the Senate as a platform for her political objectives.
In a statement early Friday, Escudero refuted Marcos’ claim that he refused to sign the contempt order of Special Envoy on Transnational Crimes Ambassador Markus Lacanilao.
The envoy was cited in contempt and ordered detained by the Senate committee on foreign relations for allegedly lying.
The panel is chaired by Marcos.
According to Escudero, Marcos released her statement and flaunted to the media her signed arrest and detention order even before he could see, much less receive a copy of it.
“Ambassador Lacanilao was ordered detained without the requisite approval and due process,” said Escudero.
“After several hours of Ambassador Lacanilao’s unauthorized detention, I directed his release, both as a matter of regularity and out of humanitarian consideration, as his grandfather is to be laid to rest today,” he noted.
While Escudero debunked Marcos’ claims, he still said he’s willing to comply with the “requisites of due process.”
Therefore, he said he would issue a show cause order against Lacanilao within the day, directing him to explain within five days why he should not be cited for contempt by the Senate panel on foreign relations.
“I shall decide on whether or not to sign his arrest [or] detention only thereafter,” said the Senate chief.
Still, Escudero explained 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.
Escudero said 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.
“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.
Meanwhile, Escudero told 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.”
“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 coming May midterm polls,” said the Senate leader.
“The Senate is an institution of reason and rule; it is not a tool to be leveraged for propaganda or self-promotion,” he pointed out.
“Senator Marcos says that this episode sets a terrible precedent, and I concur, but for different reasons,” he told the media.
“I believe it is a dangerous precedent to allow senators to flout the Senate’s own rules for personal gain,” Escudero explained.
“For 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,” he warned.
