Escudero stands firm on Iglesia Ni Cristo statement amid backlash

Sen. Francis Escudero INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Despite criticisms, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero is standing by his statement that members of the influential Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) have the right to peaceably assemble and express their grievances against Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

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“Ipinagtatanggol ko lang naman ang kalayaan patungkol sa freedom of expression gayundin sa freedom of speech and to peaceably assemble and petition government for a redress of grievances,” Escudero told reporters on Tuesday.

(I’m just defending the freedom of expression as well as the freedom of speech and to peaceably assemble and petition government for address of grievances.)

“Yan ay nakasaad sa Saligang Batas. Ginawa yan ng Simbahang Katoliko noon kaugnay halimbawa sa RH Bill, sa Edsa dos, Esda 1. Bahagi yan ng karapatan ng sinuman na ihayag ang kanilang nasasaloob.”

(That’s provided for under the Constitution. The Catholic Church also did that for example on RH bill, Edsa 2, Edsa 1. That’s part of any person to express his opinion.)

“Ika nga (As they say), I may not agree with what you’re saying but I will defend to death your right to say it,” he further said.

Asked if he was not concerned by the backlash of his position on his possible vice presidential run in 2016, Escudero said he was just doing his job as a lawmaker, which is to defend the rights of every person or an organization.

“I’ve always fought for the things I firmly believe in. If I will be receiving a backlash in so far as fighting for freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and the right to peaceably assemble and petition government for a redress of grievances, trabaho ko yan at bahagi ng trabaho ko yun bilang mambabatas, pangalagaan ang mga karapatang pantao at karapatan ng organisayon,” said the senator.

(I’ve always fought for the things I firmly believe in. If I will be receiving a backlash in so far as fighting for freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and the right to peaceably assemble and petition government for address of grievances, it’s my job and part of my job as a lawmaker—to protect the rights of the people and the rights of an organization.)

Escudero acknowledged though that any help from any person or group like the INC was an addition for someone who’s running for office.

“Syempre malaking bagay na yan pero hindi naman naging konsiderasyon yan sa ginagawa o ginawa ko bilang miyembro ng Senado kaya nga may mga halalan na natulungan at nadala ako, may mga halalalan din naman na hindi ako nadala ng INC,” he said.

(Of course, that’s a great thing but that wasn’t a consideration in the things I’m doing or I’ve done as a member of the Senate that’s why there were elections that they’ve helped me, there were elections that they have not helped me.)

But Escudero said the conflict could have been avoided if the Department of Justice (DOJ) had simply followed the “first in, first out” basis in handling the cases lodged before it.

While the DOJ has jurisdiction over any complaint lodged before it, its rules on when or where a case should commence were also unclear, he said.

The senator noted that there were cases that started at the prosecutors’ office but there are some, like the controversial pork barrel scandal scam, that were investigated directly by the DOJ itself. Maila Ager/RAM