Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero Questions Sara Duterte’s Remark over AFP
CHIZ ESCUDERO – The Senate President raised questions over the remark of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte on the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Last March 11, the Filipino populace was shocked by the unexpected arrest of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte upon his arrival from Hong Kong. The Philippine National Police (PNP) implemented the arrest of the former President reportedly after the International Criminal Court (ICC) released an arrest warrant against him.
The ICC welcomed the arrest of former Pres. Duterte who is under their custody for over a week now. Duterte appeared before the pre-trial chamber of the ICC last March 15 and the confirmation of the charges against him is set on September 23.
The arrest of former Pres. Duterte is controversial. Presidential sister and Senator Imee Marcos led the Senate investigation on the arrest of the former President. Sen. Imee Marcos believes that there seems to be no due process in Duterte’s arrest.
During the Senate committee hearing, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte also gave a message remotely. According to the Vice President, she’s wondering why the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was silent amid the arrest of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte who is their former chief. Duterte was detained for several hours at Villamor Air Base before he was flown to The Hague, Netherlands via Dubai.
Recently, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero reacted to the remark of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte about the alleged silence of the AFP during the arrest of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the Senate Chief claimed that he can’t understand the concern of the Vice President for her remark.
“Alam mo, hindi ko rin ma-intindihan yung concern na yun ng ating Vice President. Maliban sa ito’y patuloy, pagpapatuloy ng tila mensahe na common sa kanila, na umaapila palagi sa sandatahang lakas, sa anumang level, anumang issue, anumang kaganapan,” Escudero said.
Based on the report, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero also raised questions on what Vice Pres. Sara Duterte wants to show when she pointed out the silence of the AFP during the arrest of former Pres. Duterte. He stressed that it was clearly a law enforcement move and the AFP only had to assist in the situation.
“Pero anong gusto niyang palabasin? Magbabangayan ang sundalo at ang pulis? Claro, law enforcement operation yun na nag-assist lamang ang AFP. At hindi pwedeng palagan (at) lumaban ang AFP sa kapulisan kaugnay sa law enforcement operation. Bakit ba natin pilit na pinag-aaway yung dalawa?” Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero said.
Escudero previously expressed that the arrest of Duterte followed the legal process. Amid the questions, Duterte’s staunch ally Senator Bato dela Rosa also conceded that there’s no question on the validity of the arrest warrant against former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte.