PRESIDENTIAL sister Senator Imee Marcos will lead an investigation on the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte on the basis of an order issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged crimes against humanity.
In a statement, Marcos, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said she is calling for an urgent probe into the matter, which has “deeply divided the nation.”
“It is imperative to establish whether due process was followed and to ensure that his legal rights were not just upheld but protected, especially given the involvement of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) and the International Criminal Court (ICC),” Marcos said.
Among those who will be invited to shed light during the inquiry were officials from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Foreign Affairs, National Security Council, and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap), among others.
“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. Our sovereignty and legal processes must remain paramount,” she added.
Based on the schedule sent by the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau, the hearing is set for March 20.
Earlier, Marcos, who has been identified as having close ties with the Dutertes, expressed dismay over the former President’s arrest, saying it will only cause chaos in the country.
“Hindi ako makapaniwala. Medyo nayanig ako masyado, kawawa naman si [dating] presidente Duterte,” Marcos said.
(I can't believe it. I was a bit shaken, poor former president Duterte.)
“Ang akin kasi hindi na tayo natututo. Gulo lang ang dulot nito. Hindi na tayo natuto. Itong paulit-ulit ay walang pakinabang sa mga naghihirap sa bayan... ang bangayan ng pulitika. Parang naging cycle na tayo. Pag ganito, gumanda ba ang buhay natin dahil sa pamumulitika? Umasenso ba ang ating bansa? Hindi na tayo natuto,” she added.
(For me, it's because we haven't learned. All this does is bring chaos. We haven't learned. This repetitive cycle has no benefit for the people suffering in the country... the constant political bickering. It's like we've become trapped in a cycle. Has our life improved because of politics? Has our country progressed? We haven't learned.)
In a press conference, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) press officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the administration will fully cooperate in the investigation.
She said there will be no effort from the Malacañang to prevent such proceedings.
Asked for comment, veteran Cebu lawyer Democrito Barcenas, who was imprisoned during the Martial Law era, asserted that the Philippines remains bound by its international commitments.
In a message interview with SunStar Cebu on Monday, March 17, 2025, Barcenas said the country cannot question the authority of the ICC to issue an arrest warrant against Duterte.
“We are bound by international commitments. We cannot assail the authority of the ICC to issue the arrest warrant against Duterte,” he said.
Duterte was arrested in the Philippines on March 11 and was immediately transported to the Hague in The Netherlands, where the ICC headquarters is located, via private jet, which was paid by the national government.
He was detained at the Hague Penitentiary Institution or the Scheveningen Prison.
On the orders of Duterte, the Philippines withdrew its membership to the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, in 2019.
The current administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has decided not to rejoin the global court.
President Marcos earlier maintained that the assistance provided by the Philippine government for Duterte’s arrest was not because of the ICC arrest order but of its commitment to the Interpol which was tapped by the body to implement the order.
He recognized that the ICC does not have jurisdiction over the Philippines. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)