Former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea stands as a legal counsel for former President Rodrigo Duterte during his initial appearance before the Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court,  March 14, 2025. International Criminal Court 

MANILA — Malacañang on Wednesday said it was not trying to hide information from a Senate panel despite the looming absence of Cabinet members in its inquiry on the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Sen. Imee Marcos — the elder sister of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — earlier said she received a letter from the Palace, notifying her that Cabinet officials would skip her committee’s next hearing due to “executive privilege.”

“Wala naman pong itinago,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said. 

“Sapat na po iyong napakahabang oras noong unang hearing para po masabi ang dapat na masabi po ng ating mga Cabinet officials patungkol po doon sa pag-surrender kay dating Pangulong Duterte sa ICC (International Criminal Court),” she told Palace reporters.

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In last week’s hearing, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. were quizzed over the legality of Duterte’s arrest.

Sen. Marcos had claimed that initial findings showed that the Philippines had no legal obligation to execute the ICC’s warrant against Duterte that was coursed through the Interpol.

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On Wednesday, she said none of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin's reasons for the absence of Cabinet officials were "sufficient justification." 

"Regrettably, the undersigned finds none of the reasons you adduced in the Letter as sufficient justification for the refusal of executive officials to attend the hearing." Marcos said in a letter, a copy of which was shared to the media. 

"The undersigned hopes that you reconsider your decision and allow the invited Cabinet members to attend the scheduled hearing."

Marcos rebutted Bersamin's claim that the participation of the Cabinet officials was no longer necessary, claiming that there were new pieces of information that concerned officials should answer.

"Foremost, the findings you referred to in your letter, while sufficiently backed by factual and legal bases, are nonetheless preliminary. The Committee is keen to provide the executive officials an opportunity to clarify issues and questions that surfaced last hearing,” the senator said.

“There are likewise new pieces of information that the Committee has received, and in the interest of fairness and transparency, the Committee would like to give executive officials a chance to explain their side relative to these new pieces of information," she added. 

Marcos reminded Bersamin, a former Supreme Court Chief Justice, of previous SC rulings which “held that on-going judicial proceedings do not preclude congressional hearings in aid of legislation.” 

“The power of legislative inquiry is an essential component of legislative power. The same cannot be made subordinate to a criminal or an administrative investigation or to special civil actions pending before the Supreme Court,” she said. 

 — With a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News