Senate President Francis Escudero has raised concerns over Sen. Imee Marcos’ recent actions, urging her to stop using the Senate for what he described as “personal political objectives.”
This comes after Marcos attempted to detain Special Envoy Markus Lacanilao on Thursday for allegedly lying during a Senate probe into former president Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest. Marcos, who is running for reelection in the upcoming 2025 midterms, signed an order citing Lacanilao for contempt—but Escudero refused to authorize it, leading to the envoy’s release.
“For the record, I did not refuse to sign the contempt order of Ambassador Markus Lacanilao. Senator Marcos released her statement and flaunted to the media her signed arrest and detention order even before I could see, much less, receive a copy of it,” Escudero said.
He explained that the detention lacked due process, which is required by Senate rules and reinforced by jurisprudence.
“Ambassador Lacanilao was ordered detained without the requisite approval and due process,” Escudero noted, citing a Supreme Court opinion that mandates stricter procedures for such cases.
Escudero emphasized that his role in approving detention orders is not just ceremonial. “The approval of the Senate President is not automatic nor ministerial simply because she desires it,” he said.
He warned against using Senate proceedings for political mileage, stating, “The Senate is an institution of reason and rule; it is not a tool to be leveraged for propaganda or self-promotion.”
Escudero went further to stress that the Senate must not be manipulated for personal agendas. “I urge Senator Marcos to refrain from using the Senate as a platform for her own personal political objectives and to instead use her name, title, and influence as a bridge toward unity, not a wedge for division.”
As for the next steps, Escudero said he will issue a “show cause order” to Lacanilao, giving him five days to explain why he should not be cited in contempt. Any decision to sign a detention order will come after reviewing the proceedings.
“The public we serve can rest assured that I will review the committee proceedings and that I will exercise my duty and discretion in accordance with the law to determine their propriety devoid of political agenda or motivation,” he added.
