LOOK: Senate releases photos of detained envoy Lacanilao

Photo c/o the Senate’s Office of the Sergeant-At-Arms

MANILA, Philippines — The  Senate on Tuesday released photos showing Special Envoy on Transnational Crime Markus Lacanilao in its custodial facility.

Also in the photos, shared on the chamber’s official Facebook account, was Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr., who visited the envoy on Monday.

“He’s okay naman and based sa last medical check this am, he remains fine,” Bantug said in a text message on Tuesday.

READ: Amb. Markus Lacanilao cited for contempt for `lying’

According to Senate spokesperson Arnel Bañas, Lacanilao is in the chamber’s “detention room under the supervision of OSAA (Office of the Sergeant-At-Arms).

He would remain in the chamber’s custody “for a period not exceeding two days,” as directed by Senate President  Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

Photo c/o the Senate’s Office of the Sergeant-At-Arms

“Ambassador Lacanilao went through standard procedure and was checked by the Medical and Dental Bureau. He shall remain in the custody of the Senate for a period not exceeding two (2) days,” Bañas said in a statement on Monday night.

Lacanilao was cited for contempt and ordered detained by the Senate committee on foreign relations last April 10 for allegedly lying before the panel probing the March 11 arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

READ: Escudero tells Sen. Marcos: Don’t use Senate as partisan politics platform

After several hours of Lacanilao’s “unauthorized detention,” however,  Escudero ordered the envoy’s release “both as a matter of regularity and out of humanitarian consideration,” as the latter’s grandfather was set to be laid to rest on April 11.

Instead, the Senate chief issued a show cause order, directing the envoy to explain why he should not be ordered arrested and detained at the chamber’s Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms.

But according to the Senate spokesman, Lacanilao reiterated in his reply to the show cause order that he had no personal knowledge as to whether or not Duterte was presented to a local court before he was sent to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, immediately after his arrest.

Duterte is now facing trial at the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity over his administration’s war on drugs that left thousands of people killed.