MANILA – The government committed “glaring lapses” during the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte based on an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) due to alleged crimes against humanity.
This is the preliminary finding by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations chaired by presidential sister Sen. Imee Marcos, based on a hearing done last week.
Marcos said the government had no obligation to arrest the former president and surrender him to an international court.
She also claimed that the administration of her younger brother President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. categorically decided to assist the ICC in the arrest of the former president.
Below are the three preliminary findings by the Senate panel on foreign relations:
1. The Philippines had no legal obligation to arrest Duterte and turn him over to the ICC. What was received was only a diffusion notice, not verified or approved by the Interpol Secretariat. No verification by the Interpol whether the request complied with Article III of their constitution, forbidding the Interpol from undertaking any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.
2. The government decided to assist the ICC to arrest the former president. The administration already started preparations prior to March 11.
3. There were violations of the rights of the former president. The constitutional safeguards guaranteeing liberty and due process of law were not observed — no warrant was issued by the Philippine court [and] the arrest did not fall within the exceptions of a warrantless arrest.
“Nangingibabaw sa akin itong mga dagok sa ating kalayaan, sa ating soberanya. Hindi ko kaya ito eh, talagang ipaglalaban ko ito,” Senator Marcos said.
Malacañang dismissed the preliminary finding of Imee’s committee, insisting that what they did to former President Duterte was within the bounds of the law.
“Ganyan po ang kanyang magiging opinyon kung ang kanyang mga nakausap ay Duterte supporters… Sana po tingnan niya rin po kung ano bang sinasabi natin. Wala tayong legal obligation, pero meron po tayong batas na sinasabi sa RA 9851,” said Presidential Communications Office’s Undersecretary Claire Castro.
“Ito may sinasabing prerogative na makipagtulungan sa Interpol. Meron tayong commitment sa Interpol. Ang gobyerno ay sumusunod lamang sa RA 9851,” Castro added.
Duterte is facing crimes against humanity charges before the ICC due to the deaths linked to his war against illegal drugs during his terms as Davao City mayor and as president./PN
