Cabinet members of the Marcos administration and other government officials were absent from the second Senate hearing regarding the possible arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte in connection with his case at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa advised Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Chair Senator Imee Marcos to issue additional subpoenas to resource persons who failed to attend the hearing.
The officials justified their absence, stating that they had already provided sufficient information during the previous hearing on March 20.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro responded to Dela Rosa’s remarks questioning the absence of cabinet members. She reminded the senator that he, too, was a “no-show” during the first hearing, which was his chance to question the resource persons.
Castro emphasized that Dela Rosa should not blame the cabinet members alone, as he also had his own shortcomings in the proceedings.
