Senate hearing on Duterte arrest set, officials invited

Senate President Francis Escudero announced that invited officials will attend the third Senate hearing into former President Rodrigo Duterte's arrest scheduled for April 10, reversing an earlier decision by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin who cited executive privilege.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed on Tuesday that Senator Imee Marcos has been asked to invite international legal experts to her inquiry into Duterte's arrest, while Cabinet officials will also attend the hearing as requested.

The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations launched an inquiry into Duterte's arrest on March 20, questioning the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the Philippines.

During the second committee hearing last week, cabinet members and officials were absent after Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin invoked executive privilege.

On April 10, invited resource persons will attend without a subpoena but may invoke executive privilege when answering questions.

Duterte was arrested on March 11 and brought to The Hague for charges of crimes against humanity related to extrajudicial killings during his administration's war on drugs.