20-3-2025 (MANILA) Philippine lawmakers have launched a rigorous inquiry into the unprecedented handover of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The parliamentary probe, which unfolded in Manila on Thursday, saw Justice Minister Jesus Remulla facing intense scrutiny over the circumstances surrounding Duterte’s arrest.
The former leader’s detention on 11 March, followed by his swift transfer to The Hague, marks a watershed moment in Philippine politics. Duterte faces charges of crimes against humanity stemming from his controversial anti-narcotics campaign, which claimed numerous lives during his presidency.
The parliamentary session took an intriguing twist when Senator Imee Marcos, sibling to the incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos, highlighted discrepancies in the official narrative. She drew attention to specific language in the Interpol diffusion document, dated 10 March, which suggested prior consultation with Philippine authorities—a claim vehemently contested by Justice Minister Remulla, who dismissed it as mere boilerplate text.
The political drama intensified as Vice President Sara Duterte, participating virtually from The Hague, launched a scathing critique of the administration. The former president’s daughter characterised her father’s arrest as a calculated political manoeuvre, linking it to the upcoming May mid-term elections and urging supporters to voice their dissent through the ballot box.
This development has laid bare the deteriorating alliance between the Marcos and Duterte political dynasties, former partners in the 2022 electoral triumph. The Vice President, currently embroiled in impeachment proceedings over alleged assassination conspiracy charges, disclosed discussions with newly appointed counsel Nicholas Kaufman regarding potential ICC legal aid applications.
The government’s apparent pivot from its previous stance of non-cooperation with the ICC—maintained since the Philippines’ withdrawal from the body in 2019—to its current position has sparked intense debate within political circles. This shift emerged only recently, as officials acknowledged their obligation to honour Interpol requests, marking a significant departure from their longstanding position.
