Manila, Philippines — The Senate, via a contempt citation order, formally detains the Special envoy that personally accompanied and brought former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court in the Hague, Netherlands after his arrest.
In an official statement, the Upper Chamber confirmed the detention of Special Envoy on Transnational Crime Ambassador Markus Lacanilao, who was placed under Senate’s custody in relation to Senate’s inquiry over Duterte’s arrest.
It can be recalled that on April 10, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations cited Lacanilao in contempt and ordered his detention due to alleged evasion on the inquiries set by Senate.
Despite the contempt order, Lacanilao was eventually released under Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s directive, who noted the move’s failure to comply with the due process.
“All members of the Senate are fully aware that under the Rules of the Senate, the power of a committee chairperson to order the arrest or detention of any resource person cited in contempt is subject to the approval of the Senate President. After several hours of Ambassador Lacanilao’s unauthorized detention, I directed his release, both as a matter of regularity and out of humanitarian consideration as his grandfather is to be laid to rest today,” escudero said in a statement on April 11.
Although released from the previous contempt order, Escudero issued a show cause order to Lacanilao to explain why he should not be cited in contempt.
And in the recent decision, Escudero noted that Lacanilao failed to give satisfactory explanation on his seemingly evasiveness during the Senate hearing.
Lacanilao voluntarily presented himself and compiled with the contempt order, and will be detained for two days.
Meanwhile, Senate panel chairperson Senator Imee Marcos criticized the seemingly easy and gentle treatment of Lacanilao.
In a statement on Tuesday, Marcos pointed out the 11-day grace period for Lacanilao despite the direct contempt citation, comparing it to the haste arrest of Duterte.
“While ordinary people are locked up until they purge themselves of the contempt, Lacanilao is given an ever so gentle slap on the wrist. Apparently, the rules only apply to ordinary people and not to people like Lacanilao who is favored by the powers that be,” Marcos said in a statement on April 22.