ES Lucas Bersamin Informs Sen. Imee Marcos Cabinet Officials To Skip Day 2 of Senate Hearing on Duterte Arrest
IMEE MARCOS – The Senator sent a letter to Malacañang asking the Palace to reconsider the absence of the cabinet officials in the Senate inquiry.
Countless Filipinos were undeniably shocked when Sen. Marcos showed an entirely different stand from the stance of her brother, President Bongbong Marcos, over the arrest of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. It sparked the questions whether the Senator will side on her brother or her friend, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.
Former Pres. Duterte is currently under a regular detention in the Hague Penitentiary Institution after his custody was transferred to the International Criminal Court. According to VP Sara, their family has never been more united until now amid Duterte’s ICC battle.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte also previously expressed her gratitude to Sen. Imee Marcos for leading a Senate committee investigation on the arrest of her father. According to the Vice President, they are thankful that the case of her father is discussed not only in the Hague but as well as within the Philippine government.
Several government officials and members of the cabinet of Pres. Bongbong Marcos appeared at the first day of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee led by Sen. Imee Marcos. Following the first day of the investigation, the Senator claimed that there seems to be no due process in the arrest of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte.
Sen. Marcos planned to conduct another schedule for the hearing over the arrest of former Pres. Duterte. Her decision came amid her belief that the probe might have angered her brother.
However, the Palace has informed Sen. Imee Marcos that the cabinet officials won’t be attending the day two of the Senate inquiry over Duterte’s arrest. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin told Marcos in a letter that the cabinet officials have discussed all the matters that are not covered by the executive privilege.
Based on a report on PhilStar, Sen. Imee Marcos has sent a letter to ES Lucas Bersamin asking Malacañang to reconsider its decision on the absence of the cabinet officials in the second day of the Senate probe over Duterte’s arrest. It is amid the Malacañang suggestion for her to invite other resources persons who are expert in the legal field.
“The undersigned hopes that you reconsider your decision and allow the invited Cabinet members to attend the scheduled hearing… Regrettably, the undersigned finds none of the reasons you adduced in the letter as sufficient justification for the refusal of executive officials to attend the hearing,” Sen. Imee Marcos wrote in a letter.
On Sen. Marcos previously saying that the absence of the cabinet officials may make it appear like they are hiding something, Malacañang explained that there are matters that can’t be discussed in public.