Lacanilao placed in Senate custody over answers in Duterte arrest hearing

Ambassador Markus Lacanilao has been detained at the Senate after his explanation on why his answers at a Senate hearing were not evasive proved unsatisfactory.

In a statement, Senate spokesperson Atty. Arnel Jose Bañas said the special envoy on transnational crimes turned himself in to the Senate on Monday to comply with the order issued by Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero.

“Ambassador Lacanilao voluntarily presented himself before the Senate to personally receive and comply with the order... He shall remain in the custody of the Senate for a period not exceeding two (2) days,” Bañas said.

Lacanilao was cited in contempt during the April 10 hearing for his “very misleading” answers. He had repeatedly denied knowledge of whether former President Rodrigo Duterte was brought to a competent national judicial authority.

Escudero ordered the special envoy’s release hours later, but issued a show-cause order telling Lacanilao to explain why he should not be cited in contempt

Lacanilao replied to the show cause order on April 15.

“After careful evaluation, the Senate President ordered Ambassador Lacanilao placed under Senate custody, after having failed to satisfactorily explain, through a clear statement of facts, why his answers during the hearing were not evasive,” Bañas said.

Lacanilao is expected “to appear in future hearings and to provide truthful answers to all questions posed during such proceedings.” –NB, GMA Integrated News