Statement of Malacañang on Absence of Cabinet Officials at Sen. Imee Marcos’ Probe on Duterte Arrest
MALACAÑANG – The Palace stressed that Senator Imee Marcos can continue with the investigation even without the presence of the Cabinet officials.
Contrary to what some Filipinos expected, Sen. Imee Marcos showed that she and her brother, Pres. Bongbong Marcos, do not share the same stand on the arrest of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. According to the Senator, she was shocked and she could not accept what was done to FPRRD.
Sen. Imee Marcos skipped the Alyansa Para Sa Pagbabago campaign rallies following Duterte’s arrest. The grand alliance is led by Pres. Bongbong Marcos. She also led the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in investigating the arrest of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte.
Sen. Imee Marcos left the Alyansa and seemingly took swipe at Pres. Bongbong Marcos. Countless people were surprised when the President mentioned everyone except his sister at the grand alliance’s campaign sortie in the huge province of Cavite.
According to Sen. Marcos, there seems to be no due process in the arrest of former Pres. Duterte. Ahead of the 80th birthday of the former President last March 28, Sen. Marcos also expressed her desire to visit Duterte in The Hague and give him his P10,000-check.
Several government officials appeared at the first day of the Senate investigation on Duterte’s arrest. However, recently, Sen. Imee Marcos revealed that the cabinet officials will skip the second day of the Senate probe on Duterte’s arrest. According to her, she received a letter from executive secretary Lucas Bersamin invoking their executive privilege.
Recently, Malacañang spoke on the Senate probe led by Sen. Imee Marcos regarding former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s arrest. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Palace press officer undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro stressed that Marcos can continue with the investigation even without the presence of the cabinet officials.
Castro suggested that Marcos can invite the experts in law so they can help her in understanding matters like the diffusion notice and the red notice. Based on the report, the Malacañang press officer suggested former Supreme Court chief Antonio Carpio and ICC-accredit lawyer and Centerlaw president Atty. Joel Butuyan.
“Marami na pwedeng maging resource person para hindi niya nasasabi na hindi niya naiintindihan o hindi siya napapaliwanagan,” the Malacañang press officer said.
Based on the report, Atty. Claire Castro also denied Marcos’ claim that the government seems to be hiding something. She stressed that the top officials of the government has already appeared during the previous hearing.
“Ilang oras ba niyang tinanong ‘yung mga Cabinet members, high ranking officials natin. Lahat naman sinagot siya. Halos paulit-ulit na ‘yung tanong niya,” Castro said.
Previously, Sen. Imee Marcos expressed her belief that Pres. Bongbong Marcos was angered by the Senate investigation on Duterte’s arrest. For her part, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte expressed her gratitude for the initiative of the Senator and that her father’s case is also discussed within the government.