Imee sees 'cover up' as Cabinet execs absent in Duterte arrest hearing

Senator Imee Marcos lamented Thursday the absence of Cabinet officials in the second Senate committee hearing into the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Marcos, chairperson of the Senate committee on foreign relations, presided over the hearing with only a few senators and representatives from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the academe present.

"Nirerespeto ko ang doktrina ng executive privilege pero pakantandaan natin hindi ito puwedeng gamitin bilang blanket shield, pangkalahatang pantago, para ilagan ang tanong at umiwas sa paanyaya ng Senado," she said in her opening speech.

(I respect the doctrine of executive privilege, but let us remember that it cannot be used as a blanket shield or cover to avoid the Senate's questions and invitation.)

Empty seats at the second Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing into the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte as Cabinet officials skipped the probe. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/SjKb3OkoMu

— Giselle Ombay (@giselleombay_) April 3, 2025

"Hidden truths are unspoken lies. Ang katotohonang tinatago ay kasinunggalingan din. At mukhang ganu'n ang nangyayari ngayon sa pagtatago ng katotohan gamit ang executive privilege at subjudice, nagmimustulan tuloy may cover up sa mga nangyayari," she added.

(Hidden truths are unspoken lies. And that seems to be what is happening now with the hiding of the truth using executive privilege and subjudice. Apparently there is an attempt to cover up what is happening.)

Constitutional crisis?

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, who made his first physical appearance in the Senate since Duterte's arrest on March 11, moved to subpoena the executive officials, raising concerns of a potential "constitutional crisis."

"Itong ginawa ng mga opisyales from the Executive branch of government is a total snub, as far as we're concerned. Ito'y tahasang pagbalewala sa doktrina ng checks and balances ng ating gobyerno. Kung ayaw nila mag-attend ng hearing, ibig sabihin, ayaw nilang magpapa-check sa atin na co-equal branch of government," he said.

(What the officials from the Executive branch of government did was a total snub, as far as we're concerned. It is a blatant disregard for the doctrine of checks and balances of our government. If they don't want to attend the hearing, it means they don't want to be checked by a co-equal branch of government.)

"I think we're now on a verge of a constitutional crisis kapag tuluyan nilang i-snub ang ating Konstitusyon. Wala nang mangyari, wala nang resputahan ito sa isang kapwa co-equal branch of government," he added.

(I think we're now on the verge of a constitutional crisis when they completely snub our Constitution. Nothing will happen anymore, there will be no respect for a co-equal branch of government.)

Reacting to this, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said he would not allow such a Constitutional crisis to happen and add to the country's problems.

“Ang pagiging malaya ng Senado ay hindi pinapatunayan sa kada isang insidente kaugnay na kagustuhan ng isang miyembro. Ito’y mababakas, makikita, at mapapatunayan sa direksyong tinatahak ng aming institusyon,” the senate president said in a press conference. 

(The independence of the Senate is not proven by every incident related to the whims of one senator. It can be traced, seen, and proven in the direction that our institution is taking.) 

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin earlier invoked Executive Order (EO) 464, which provides for executive privilege, classifying the communication between the Chief Executive and Cabinet officials and the President's advisers as privileged communications not for public disclosure.

Imee, sister of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., had said that EO 464 is not a free pass for Cabinet officials wanting to dodge a Senate inquiry.

'Siya po yata 'yung wala'

Meanwhile, Malacañang hit back at Dela Rosa for saying that there could be a "constitutional crisis" if executive officials will continue to snub the Senate investigation.

In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said Dela Rosa should have attended the first hearing, which lasted for six hours, so that he could ask questions from Cabinet officials.

"Hindi po ba niya natatandaan na nagkaroon na ng first hearing? Siya po yata 'yung wala. That was an opportunity para sa kanya para magtanong so huwag niya pong sisihin kung ngayon po ay hindi um-attend ang mga Cabinet officials natin sa pangalawang hearing po," Castro said.

(Doesn't he remember that there was a first hearing? He's the one who's not present. That was an opportunity for him to ask so he should not blame the Cabinet officials for their absence in the second hearing.)

Subpoenas

Earlier in the day, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said he has referred to the Senate legal department the subpoenas requested by the Senate foreign relations committee to be issued against Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura from the Philippine Air Force and Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon from the National Prosecution Service. 

Senator Marcos said that she is seeking more subpoenas to be issued against other Cabinet officials who missed the second hearing, pending the signature of Escudero.

This includes Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Rommel Marbil, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Police Major General Nicolas Torre III, PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo, and special envoy on transnational crime Markus Lacanilao, among others.

"Kung ang sigaw ng taumbayan para kay dating Pangulong Duterte ay, ‘Bring him home,’ ang sigaw ko naman sa Ehekutibo, ‘Bring them here sa Senado’ para may testigo tayo at malinawagan ang mga tao. Napakarami pong tanong," Senator Marcos said in an ambush interview.

(If the people’s clamor is, ‘Bring him home,’ my call to the Executive is to ‘Bring Them Here in the Senate’ so that we will have witnesses and the people can be enlightened. There are so many questions.)

Earlier in the day, Escudero said he had referred to the Senate legal department the subpoenas requested by the Senate foreign relations committee to be issued against Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura from the Philippine Air Force and Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon from the National Prosecution Service. 

He maintained that he would act on the request for issuance of subpoena based on the law. 

“Hihintayin ko muna ang legal. Pero ayaw kong inaakusahan ang Senado na hindi nagiging patas depende kung pipirma o hindi. Hindi naka-base ‘yun don. Gagawin ko pa rin palagi kung ano ang tama at naaayon sa batas, at hindi kung ano ang pangangailangan o kagustuhan ng isa o dalawang miyembro,” Escudero said. 

(I will wait for the suggestion of the legal department first. But I don’t want any accusations that the Senate is not being fair, depending on whether I sign the subpoena or not. That is not based on that. I will always do what is right based on the law, and not based on what a senator or senators need or desire.) — with a report from Anna Felicia Bajo/ VDV, GMA Integrated News