MANILA, March 20 – Philippine officials defended the arrest and transfer of former president Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) before the Senate on Thursday, refuting allegations that he was illegally abducted at the request of a foreign institution.
Duterte, the first Asian former head of state to be tried at the ICC, was arrested last week and sent to The Hague, where he faces charges of murder as a crime against humanity over his controversial “war on drugs” that resulted in thousands of deaths during his 2016-2022 presidency.
The government’s decision to hand Duterte over has sparked fierce opposition from his supporters, family, and political allies, who have petitioned the Supreme Court, arguing that his arrest was illegal and that the ICC no longer has jurisdiction over the Philippines.
Duterte appeared before the ICC pre-trial chamber on March 14 and remains in custody, with his next hearing scheduled for September.
“Justice rendered by a foreign country is not justice. It’s slavery,” said Senator Imee Marcos, who presided over Thursday’s televised hearing.
Marcos, the sister of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, has close ties with the Duterte family. She argued that Duterte’s transfer signaled an admission that the Philippines is incapable of handling its own judicial matters.
Duterte’s arrest followed years of defiance against the ICC, often taunting the court in profanity-laden speeches since his unilateral withdrawal of the Philippines from the ICC’s founding treaty when it started investigating allegations of extrajudicial killings under his leadership.
Duterte has taken full responsibility for the deaths but denies leading a systematic campaign of murder, maintaining that he only ordered police to kill in self-defense.
‘All About Politics’
Philippine officials clarified during Thursday’s Senate inquiry that Duterte’s handover was legitimate, claiming that it was conducted at the request of Interpol, rather than in cooperation with the ICC.
“The ICC tries individuals, not states, so the Philippines as a state cannot be compelled to act on behalf of the court,” said Justice Secretary Juanito Remulla.
He cited international humanitarian law as the legal basis for the arrest, asserting that the ICC has no authority over the Philippines.
Duterte’s arrest came after a political fallout between President Marcos and the Duterte family, despite their former alliance in the 2022 elections, which saw Sara Duterte—the former president’s daughter—become vice president. However, she has since been impeached by the lower house.
Sara Duterte joined the Senate hearing virtually, condemning her father’s arrest as “patently illegal”, alleging that it was an attempt by the administration to crush political opponents.
“This is all about politics,” she declared.
The ICC, which serves as a court of last resort, maintains that it retains jurisdiction over crimes committed before a member state’s withdrawal.
