Malacañang has acknowledged the resolution filed by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano urging the Philippine government to pursue the interim release of former president Rodrigo Duterte from the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) custody.
“Noted,” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said when asked about the senator’s appeal. She added that Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla had already commented on the matter. “Nagsalita na po ang SOJ Boying Remulla patungkol po sa interim release. At kung may ganiyan pong mga suggestions mula kay Senator Alan Cayetano, noted,” Castro said during a Friday briefing.
Cayetano’s resolution also proposed placing Duterte under house arrest at the Philippine Embassy in The Hague, Netherlands.
Manila Representative Bienvenido Abante, who led the House human rights panel in the previous Congress, said the resolution may be symbolic but holds no legal weight. “The resolution does not have any bearing at all dahil ‘yung resolution naman is asking the Philippine government,” Abante said in an online interview. “And the request should come from the Philippine government kung papagamit nila ‘yung ating embassy.”
While he acknowledged Cayetano’s right to file the resolution, Abante doubted it would influence the ICC’s decisions. “Even if our government makes that request to the Netherlands, I do not know if the ICC would listen,” he said, pointing out that previous petitions from Duterte’s camp were already ignored.
Abante, however, expressed openness to the proposal if it’s motivated by humanitarian grounds. “If the government will be able to justify that resolution, baka maaari… Sa akin, medyo okay na rin kung, halimbawa, he’ll be staying at the embassy ng Pilipinas for health consideration,” he said.
He added that the Philippine Embassy may have a role to play in monitoring the former president’s health if necessary: “Palagay ko naman, titingnan din maigi ng ating embahada ang health condition ng ating dating Pangulo because that would be their concern.”
But ACT Teachers Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio dismissed the proposal outright, saying it is legally unfeasible due to the country’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute. “The ICC will only consider interim release to a member state,” Tinio said. “Too bad for him now, since Duterte himself caused the Philippines to withdraw from the ICC.”
Tinio further criticized Cayetano’s move, calling it political grandstanding. “Yet another senator playing to the gallery, telling Duterte supporters what they want to hear,” he added.
Duterte was arrested in the Philippines on March 11 under an ICC-issued warrant and is currently held at Scheveningen Prison in The Hague. According to his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, the former president has significantly lost weight since being detained, describing his appearance as “skin and bones.” She also shared that Duterte has requested cremation in case of death while in custody.
