SP Escudero nixes Sen. Marcos contempt order vs ambassador

Senate President Chiz Escudero on Friday urged Sen. Imee Marcos to avoid using the Senate for personal political aims, the Inquirer reported. Escudero said Marcos’ contempt and detention order against Special Envoy on Transnational Crimes Ambassador Markus Lacanilao—accused of lying during a committee hearing—was issued without his prior approval. Calling the move unauthorized, Escudero ordered Lacanilao’s release, citing both procedural grounds and compassion. “I directed his release, both as a matter of regularity and out of humanitarian consideration, as his grandfather is to be laid to rest today,” he said.