MANILA – Malacañang has no objections to Sen. Imee Marcos’ plan to conduct an investigation into the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte based on an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity.
According to Presidential Communications Office’s Undersecretary Claire Castro, it is within Marcos’ right as a lawmaker to hold an investigation on certain issues.
“If that is what the senator wants, she is free to do that. If the inquiry is in aid of legislation, we will respect the request of Sen. Imee,” Castro said in a media briefing at Malacañang Palace on Monday.
Castro added that the government is ready to cooperate by sending the personalities involved in the arrest of former Chief Executive if they will be summoned by Marcos.
Marcos on Monday announced that she is set to hold a probe into the arrest of Duterte over his alleged crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court (ICC) on March 20.
“As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, I am calling for an urgent investigation into the arrest of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, an issue that has deeply divided the nation,” Marcos said in a statement.
“It is imperative to establish whether due process was followed and to ensure that his legal rights were not only upheld but protected, especially given the involvement of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) and the International Criminal Court,” she added.
According to Marcos, she is inviting officials from the Philippine National Police, Department of Transportation-Office for Transport Security, Department of Justice, Department of Foreign Affairs, National Security Council, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, and other resource persons and witnesses.
“The Senate must address these critical concerns to uphold the country’s jurisdiction and to clarify policies governing our law enforcement agencies and their engagement with international tribunals,” Marcos said. “Our sovereignty and legal processes must remain paramount.”
Duterte is currently in ICC’s custody in The Hague, Netherlands after Philippine authorities served the warrant of arrest issued by the ICC upon his arrival in the country on March 11.
According to the arrest warrant, the ICC pre-trial chamber found reasonable grounds to believe he was “individually responsible for the crimes against humanity of murder” in connection with the killings blamed on his war on drugs./PN
