Cabinet officials have provided the Senate enough information on the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte, Palace press officer Claire Castro said on Wednesday. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Cabinet officials have provided sufficient information on the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte during a previous Senate hearing, the Palace maintained on Wednesday.
This statement came in response to Sen. Imee Marcos鈥� objection to the absence of officials at the upcoming hearing of the Senate foreign relations committee, which she chairs, on the same issue, scheduled for Thursday.
READ: Admin officials no-show in next Senate hearing on Duterte arrest
鈥淎lam na po ng mga Cabinet officials natin na sapat na po, sa kanilang pananaw, ang kanilang mga nasabi, naibigay na facts, mga data sa naunang hearing,鈥� Palace press officer Claire Castro said during a briefing.
(Our Cabinet officials believe that they have already provided sufficient statements, facts, and data during the previous hearing.)
She insisted that since Marcos had established her preliminary findings during the previous hearing, this made the attendance of government executives unnecessary.
鈥淗indi po natin masasabi na hindi naman po tinugunan ang mga katanungan kung ito po ay in aid of legislation,鈥� Castro said.
(We cannot say that the questions were left unanswered, especially if this is in aid of legislation.)
The Palace official also emphasized that the administration is not withholding any information regarding Duterte鈥檚 apprehension and surrender to the International Criminal Court.
On Tuesday, the senator鈥檚 office released a copy of a letter from Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin informing her and Senate President Francis Escudero that Cabinet officials would no longer attend the hearing.
Bersamin said in the letter that the officials had 鈥渟incerely answered all the questions to the best of their knowledge and candidly provided all information elicited by the Senate committee members.鈥�
He also reiterated his position on invoking the 鈥渆xecutive privilege鈥� of the officials in the proceedings, as stated in a letter he sent to Escudero on March 20.
鈥淲e believe that all matters not covered by executive privilege have already been extensively discussed,鈥� Bersamin said.
READ:
Marcos did not respond favorably to the officials鈥� expected absence, which she said contradicts Malaca帽ang鈥檚 earlier position that it will not hinder the officials from participating in the hearing.
鈥淲ho should be followed? Executive Secretary Bersamin鈥檚 statement does not align with that of President Marcos,鈥� read Marcos鈥� statement in Filipino. 鈥淭hey can鈥檛 have contrasting decisions. What鈥檚 the use of the President鈥檚 statement if they won鈥檛 follow it?鈥�
The first Senate hearing on Duterte鈥檚 arrest for crimes against humanity allegedly committed during his administration鈥檚 drug war was held on March 20.
Duterte was arrested in Manila on March 11 and was flown on the same day to The Hague in Netherlands, where he is being held pending his trial.聽The former president had his pretrial hearing on March 14, while the confirmation of the charges against him is set on Sept. 23.