Philippine Senate investigates arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte

The Philippine Senate announced on March 17 that it will officially investigate the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently being held in custody in the Netherlands awaiting trial on charges of crimes against humanity.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte addressed the Filipino community in Hong Kong on March 9.

According to AFP, the investigation was initiated by Senator Imee Marcos. She is the sister of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. but a close friend of Vice President Sara Duterte, Duterte's daughter.

The conflict between the two families has been brewing since Marcos and Duterte both successfully ran for election in 2022. Vice President Duterte was subsequently impeached on numerous charges, including plotting to assassinate the president. Imee Marcos is believed to pursue policies independent of her younger brother on many issues.

"As Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I am calling for an urgent investigation into the arrest of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, an issue that has deeply divided the country," said Imee Marcos.

According to her, the investigation is mandatory to determine whether the arrest followed legal process and whether President Duterte's rights were protected. "Our sovereignty and due process must remain our priority," Imee Marcos said.

The Philippine Senate will hold a hearing on March 20 and has invited police leaders and government officials to provide evidence.

President Duterte was arrested at Manila airport on March 11th after returning from Hong Kong. Shortly afterward, he was taken to the Netherlands to be handed over to the ICC. Imee Marcos immediately stated that the incident could only lead to trouble.

Duterte is accused of involvement in the bloody anti-drug campaign during his presidency. For the trial, veteran lawyer Nicholas Kaufman (British-Israeli) has been selected to join Duterte's defense team.

Mr. Kaufman previously had experience at the ICC defending former Democratic Republic of Congo politician Jean-Pierre Bemba and Ayesha Gaddafi, daughter of former Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thuong-vien-philippines-dieu-tra-vu-bat-cuu-tong-thong-rodrigo-duterte-18525031718080899.htm