Chiz to Imee: Don't use Senate for personal political objectives

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero told Senator Imee Marcos on Friday, April 11, not to use the Senate as a platform for her political objectives and instead urge her to use her name, title, and influence as a bridge toward unity, not a wedge for division.

- DHEL NAZARIO

He said the people and the country expect and deserve no less than this.

Escudero said this after Marcos 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, which examined the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte on March 11.

“As expected, 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,” the presidential sister said.

“When the Senate’s authority is ignored openly, what’s the point of investigations? What’s the point of truth?” she asked.

Escudero clarified that he did not refuse to sign the contempt order against Lacanilao. What happened was that Sen. 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.