Chiz to Imee: 'Senate not a tool for self-promotion'

Senate President Francis Chiz Escudero on Friday issued a scathing remark against Senator Imee Marcos, saying she should "refrain from using the Senate as a platform for her own personal political objectives."

This, as Escudero maintained that Special Envoy on Transnational Crimes Ambassador Markus Lacanilao was "not given due process" after he was cited in contempt for supposedly lying during a probe on the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Marcos on Thursday slammed Escudero for ordering Lacanilao's release.

“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,” Marcos said.

However, Escudero replied by saying that "the approval of the Senate President is not automatic nor ministerial simply because she desires it."

"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," Escudero added.

Escudero also explained that he ordered Lacanilao's release "out of humanitarian consideration as his grandfather is to be laid to rest today."

The Senate President, however, said that he will issue a show cause order for Lacanilao within the day to ask him to explain within 5 days why he should not be cited in contempt. He added that only then will he decide whether to sign the detention order.

"The public we serve can rest assured that I will review the committee proceedings and that I will exercise my duty and discretion in accordance with the law to determine their propriety devoid of political agenda or motivation, and with the best interest of our people, country, and the Senate as an institution in mind," said Escudero.

"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... It is not a tool to be leveraged for propaganda or self-promotion," he added. 

An insult to the Senate

Marcos previously said that she didn't understand why Escudero “failed to see” Lacanilao's alleged lies.

The senator said that not signing the contempt order was an insult to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations as the ambassador was “free to walk, hours after he blatantly lied, under oath, over and over again to the Committee.”

“I am sure that I do not need to remind the Senate President that the contempt power of the Senate is premised on the institution’s very own self-preservation," Imee said.

"How can the Senate ensure its survival and effectiveness if people can lie under oath before the institution without any consequence? This decision by the Senate President is an insult to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and an affront to the integrity of the institution he leads,” she added.

Lacanilao was cited in contempt after he repeatedly denied knowing whether or not Duterte was brought to a competent national judicial authority.

The motion was made by Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and was approved by Marcos.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin ''Boying'' Remulla asked for reconsideration following the order but was turned down. —VAL, GMA Integrated News