Manila, Philippines — April 11, 2025
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero called out Senator Imee Marcos on Friday, cautioning her against using the Senate as a stage for political self-interest after a heated exchange over the detention of a Philippine special envoy.
The tension erupted after Sen. Marcos, chairperson of the Senate foreign relations panel, ordered the arrest and detention of Special Envoy on Transnational Crimes Ambassador Markus Lacanilao, accusing him of giving false testimony during a Senate probe. However, Escudero contested the legality of the arrest, saying it was carried out without the required approvals.
“Ambassador Lacanilao was detained without proper authorization and in violation of due process,” Escudero said in a statement. “The Senate must remain a bastion of law and fairness, not a platform for individual agendas.”
Escudero revealed that he was not informed of the contempt order beforehand and that Marcos had publicized the arrest order before it even reached his desk. In response, he ordered Lacanilao’s release, citing both procedural irregularities and humanitarian grounds, as the envoy was grieving the loss of a family member.
Despite his sharp criticism, Escudero clarified that he is committed to ensuring due process is followed. He stated that a formal show cause order would be issued to Lacanilao later in the day, asking him to justify within five days why he should not be held in contempt.
“I will only consider signing an arrest or detention order after reviewing his explanation and ensuring all legal steps are observed,” Escudero added.
The incident underscores growing friction within the Senate, especially over how sensitive investigations are handled and the importance of upholding institutional integrity over personal political motives.
