No Palace interference — Senate head
“HINDI totoo ‘yan.”
This was the straightforward statement of Senate President Francis Chiz Escudero as he belied claims that Malacañang attempted to block or interfere with Senator Imee Marcos’s Senate hearing on the controversial arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The speculation arose following reports that the Palace may have pressured the Senate to abandon or downplay the inquiry.
Escudero, however, was firm in defending the chamber’s independence.
“Hindi at hindi kami nagkausap kaugnay niyan,” he said, asserting that there had been no communication between himself and any Palace officials about the hearing.
Escudero made it clear that under his leadership, the Senate would not be subject to outside influence, especially not on a politically sensitive matter like the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation into Duterte’s controversial drug war.
He emphasized that the Senate maintains autonomy in its proceedings and will never allow any intervention.
He also appeared to minimize the significance of the Marcos-led hearing, noting that a follow-up session had yet to be scheduled.
“Sa ngayon wala pa yata ang pangalawang hearing na ini-schedule. So tila naging sapat ang unang pagdinig,” Escudero remarked.
Despite this, he affirmed that Senator Marcos is well within her rights to convene hearings and invite resource persons.
The Senate President further said that the hearing of Sen Marcos helped the Executive Department clarified what really transpired and the truth that took place during incident.
