Sen. Imee Marcos

MANILA, Philippines – Government executives will no longer attend the next scheduled hearing of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs investigating the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte. 

This was the subject of a letter sent by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin informing committee chairperson Sen. Imee Marcos that officials involved in the arrest are invoking their executive privilege on the matter.

The letter, dated March 31, said officials from various government agencies who attended the March 20 hearing have already “answered all the questions to the best of their knowledge, and candidly provided all information elicited by the Senate committee members.” 

“Given the extensive disclosure made, we believe that further participation may no longer be necessary at this time especially considering that the Honorable Chairperson has already has publicly relayed her comprehensive findings,” Bersamin said. 

“We reiterate our position on the extent of executive privilege on these proceedings,” Bersamin said. 

“We believe that all matters not covered by executive privilege have already been extensively discussed,” Bersamin said. 

Bersamin also took note that the four habeas corpus petitions filed by the Duterte siblings pending before the Supreme Court are “closely intertwined” with the discussions being heard in the hearing. 

Further discussions about the details of the arrest may “constitute violation of the sub judice rule which could unduly influence the ongoing proceedings.” 

Towards the end, Bersamin stated, “we must respectfully decline the invitation to attend the hearing.” 

The hearing was attended by key government officials such as Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, Criminal Investigation and Detention Group Director Nicholas Torre, Philippine Center for Transnational Crime Executive Director Anthony Alcantara and all those involved in the March 11 arrest of the former president.

International law experts also attended to shed light on the legal perspective. 

In the probe, the officials faced a firestorm of questions from Duterte allies led by no less than the president’s sister.

Imee, who publicly announced her disgust of the controversial arrest, grilled her brother’s men who found themselves pushed back as they floundered with conflicting answers.

Apart from questioning the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the legality of the arrest and the government’s entire move, Imee pinned down her brother’s men to admit if the government had already changed its non-cooperative stance on the foreign tribunal. 

The preliminary investigation concluded three findings: 

1. The Philippines had no legal obligation to arrest former president Rodrigo Duterte and turn him to the International Criminal Court. 
2. The Philippine government decided to assist the ICC to arrest the former president. 
3. There were glaring violations of the rights of the former president.

After the probe, the re-electionist senator was a no-mention on the admin-backed Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas ticket. Shortly after, she announced her withdrawal from the party. 

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