BBM won't bar execs from attending Imee probe

President Marcos is not stopping any of his officials from attending the second Senate probe on the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte, a Palace official said yesterday.

- — With Janvic Mateo, AFP

The President's sister, Sen. Imee Marcos, has set a second public hearing for this Thursday.

"No, as we said the other day, the President will not stop Cabinet members or secretaries if they are summoned. And they should answer any questions that are asked of them, provided that it does not violate executive privilege, that's all," Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said at a press briefing when asked whether the same set of Cabinet officials would attend the hearing or if the President has made "special instructions" regarding the Senate probe.

The Senate committee on foreign affairs, chaired by Senator Marcos, has yet to name the personalities to be invited to the second hearing.

She earlier said her committee noted the "lack of due process" in the government's turnover of Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague where he is now awaiting trial for crimes against humanity.

The senator said her committee noted "glaring violations" of the rights of Duterte as well as the Philippines' having "no legal obligation" to arrest and turn him over to the ICC.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin earlier wrote to Senate President Francis Escudero to remind him that Cabinet members could invoke executive privilege during a public inquiry.

Castro earlier said it is the right of the President and the administration to invoke executive privilege if asked about matters deemed confidential in nature.