DOJ Secretary Boying Remulla Attends Senate Probe over Duterte Arrest
REMULLA – The Department of Justice Secretary claimed that Senator Imee Marcos is allegedly trying to “make people admit something that they will not admit”.
Sen. Imee Marcos is one of the lawmakers in the Senate who are against the arrest of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. The former Chief Executive is now detained in The Hague, Netherlands. The Senator stressed that the government transferring Duterte’s custody to the International Criminal Court insults the sovereignty of the country.
Marcos opened an investigation in the Senate over Duterte’s arrest. Previously, Malacañang suggested that Sen. Imee Marcos must invite international law experts into the Senate probe over Duterte’s arrest to understand the issue better.
Several cabinet officials were present on the first Senate hearing over Duterte’s arrest. However, they skipped the second inquiry as executive secretary Lucas Bersamin stressed that all matters not covered by the executive privilege have already been discussed.
The absence of the cabinet officials in the second inquiry left Sen. Imee Marcos disappointed. She claimed that the officials may be hiding some truths. Malacañang denied the claim of the Senator saying that there are matters that must not be discussed in public.
Previously, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero revealed that the cabinet officials will attend the April 10 probe of Sen. Imee Marcos on Duterte’s arrest. According to him, he initiated a communication with the executive department about it.
At the Senate hearing, Department of Justice Sec. Boying Remulla had heated exchange of statements with Sen. Imee Marcos. Based on a report on GMA News, the Justice Secretary intervened when Marcos and Sen. Bato dela Rosa tried to press Philippine Center on Transnational Crime Executive Director Anthony Alcantara and PNP chief Pol. Gen. Rommel Marbil to name who ordered the boarding of FPRRD to the private jet that flew him to The Hague.
Alcantara claimed that he’s not in the authority to answer it while Marbil invoked executive privilege. The Senators tried to press them to answer to the question.
“Kung sinu-sino na ang itinuro mo ngayon mag-e-executive privilege ka,” Marcos said.
DOJ Sec. Remulla intervened saying that they skipped the previous hearing as they expected to be “bullied into a position”. Based on the report, he stressed that it is valid to invoke an executive privilege in the said kind of question.
“I think that you are trying to make people admit something that they will not admit. An executive privilege is a valid excuse not to answer any question,” Remulla said.
According to the DOJ Secretary, it means that there is something more to it if the Senator is trying to make a person admit something that should not be admitted. Both Marcos and Dela Rosa denied bullying the officials.
At the Senate hearing, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group or CIDG chief Nicolas Torre also admitted not allowing former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte to see VP Sara.