Senate President Francis Escudero announced that Cabinet members and other government officials who skipped the second Senate investigation on the legality of the ICC arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte will attend the continuation of the probe on April 10.
Escudero facilitated communication between the executive department and the Senate to prevent further conflict between the two branches, following Sen. Imee Marcos’ push for the investigation.
The Senate had originally invited several officials, including Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Nicolas Torre III, but many of them invoked executive privilege, prompting calls for subpoenas.
Escudero emphasized that the goal of the hearings is unity and understanding, not confrontation, and cautioned against creating a constitutional crisis over the issue.
He also noted that a Supreme Court decision on executive privilege could impact future proceedings, highlighting the delicate balance between the Senate and the executive branch.
Source: PhilNews24 | April 7, 2025
