The Philippine Senate will conduct an “urgent investigation” into the recent arrest and handover of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC), Senator Imee Marcos, sister of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., announced on Monday, as per Al Jazeera.
The move follows Duterte’s detainment and deportation last week, a development that has ignited political turmoil in the Philippines ahead of midterm elections in May.
“It is imperative to establish whether due process was followed and to ensure that his legal rights were not just upheld but protected,” stated Senator Marcos, who chairs the Senate’s foreign relations committee.
The Senate has scheduled a public hearing for Thursday, inviting police and other government officials to testify.
Duterte is the first Asian former head of state to be charged by the ICC. He faces accusations of crimes against humanity, including murder, related to his “war on drugs” that resulted in the deaths of thousands during his presidency from 2016 to 2022.
The Marcos and Duterte families formed a political alliance in 2022, which propelled Marcos Jr. to the presidency and Duterte’s daughter, Sara, to the vice presidency. However, the alliance has since fractured.
The Duterte family has publicly called for the president’s removal. Sara Duterte is currently facing impeachment charges that include allegations of corruption and an assassination plot against Marcos Jr.
Adding to the political tensions, former President Duterte recently suggested bombing senators during a campaign attack ahead of the midterm elections.
Duterte was arrested on March 11 at Manila airport, reportedly on orders from Marcos Jr., and subsequently turned over to the ICC. The Philippines, which withdrew from the ICC in 2019 under Duterte’s leadership, stated the move was in response to a request from Interpol.
Duterte’s supporters have organized numerous protests throughout the country, demanding his release and return.
Amidst the ongoing political infighting, Senator Imee Marcos has largely maintained an independent stance from her brother, despite seeking re-election under the administration’s banner for the upcoming midterm elections.
In recent months, members of the Duterte family have threatened to withdraw their support for her re-election bid. Current polls indicate that she may lose her Senate seat in the May 12 election.
