Imee Marcos Wants Duterte Arrest Investigated

Senator Imee Marcos Calls for Probe Into Duterte’s Arrest by ICC

Senator Imee Marcos has called for an immediate inquiry into the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, seeking to determine whether due process was followed when he was turned over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to face trial.

Duterte was arrested last Thursday after the ICC issued a warrant for his detention in connection with charges of crimes against humanity linked to his controversial war on drugs. The arrest warrant was facilitated through the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in coordination with the Philippine government.

Marcos, who chairs the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, emphasized that Duterte’s arrest “has deeply divided the nation.”

Sovereignty and Due Process Concerns

“It is imperative to establish whether due process was followed. Our sovereignty and legal processes must remain paramount,” Marcos stated in a statement on Monday.

She stressed the need to ensure that Duterte’s legal rights were upheld, particularly given the involvement of Interpol and the ICC.

“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 added.

Her call for a Senate inquiry comes amid ongoing debates over the Philippines’ cooperation with the ICC, especially after the country formally withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019 under Duterte’s administration.