BINUTATA ni Senate President Chiz Escudero si Senador Imee Marcos sa paggamit anya nito sa Senado para isulong ang sariling political agenda.
Sa isang kalatas, pinabulaanan ni Escudero ang pahayag ni Imee, kapatid ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos, na tumanggi siyang pirmahan ang contempt order na inilabas ng committee on foreign relations laban kay Special Envoy on Transnational Crimes Ambassador Markus Lacanilao.
Una nang iniutos ng komite na pinangungunahan ni Imee ang pag-contempt kay Lacanilao dahil sa diumano’y pagsisinungaling nito sa padinig hinggil sa ginawang pag-aresto at pagsuko kay dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa International Criminal Court.
Ayon kay Escudero, nagpalabas ng pahayag si Imee at inilabas sa media ang pirmadong arrest at detention order bago pa man ito niya mabasa at makita ng kanyang tanggapan.
“Ambassador Lacanilao was ordered detained without the requisite approval and due process,” ani Escudero.
“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,” dagdag nito.
Ayon kay Escudero, alam naman anya ng lahat ng mga miyembro ng Senado na bagamat may kapangyarihan ang chair ng isang komite para ipag-utos ang pag-aresto at detensyon ng isang resource persoon, kailangan pa rin itong dumaan at aprubahan ng Senate president.
Escudero said this safeguard exists to ensure that the powers of the Senate are exercised prudently with due regard for the rights of all and not wielded for personal or political ends.
“For reasons unknown, Senator Marcos appears to have disregarded this long-standing rule or conveniently forgotten it that the approval of the Senate President is not automatic nor ministerial simply because she desires it,” dagdag pa ni Escudero.
Dahil dito, binalaan ni Escudero si Imee na huwag gamitin ang Senado “as a platform for her own personal political objectives and to instead use her name, title and influence as a bridge toward unity, not a wedge for division.”
“I will not allow the Senate nor the Office of the Senate President to be used to further petty partisan interests, especially by those actively seeking reelection in coming May midterm polls,” giit pa ni Escudero.
“The Senate is an institution of reason and rule; it is not a tool to be leveraged for propaganda or self-promotion,” anya pa.
“Senator Marcos says that this episode sets a terrible precedent, and I concur, but for different reasons.”
“I believe it is a dangerous precedent to allow senators to flout the Senate’s own rules for personal gain,” anya pa.