Senator and presidential sister Imee Marcos has called for an urgent investigation into the arrest of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on March 11 on an ICC warrant.
She cited concerns over due process and sovereignty amid charges of crimes against humanity—specifically murder—tied to his 2016-2022 “war on drugs” campaign that killed thousands.
As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Marcos said the investigation aims to determine whether due process was followed and to ensure Duterte’s legal rights were protected, particularly given the involvement of Interpol and the ICC.
She plans to invite officials from the Philippine National Police (PNP, which conducted the arrest), the Department of Justice (DOJ, the legal oversight body), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Office for Transportation Security under the Department of Transportation (OTS-DOTR), the National Security Council (NSC), the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and other resource persons and witnesses.
Marcos stressed that the Senate’s role in upholding the country’s jurisdiction and clarifying policies on law enforcement engagement with international tribunals is critical, asserting that “our sovereignty and legal processes must remain paramount.”
In response to the detention, she shared her dismay at a press conference, stating she was deeply shaken, found it unbelievable, and described his situation as unfortunate.
The senator also criticized Philippine politics, comparing Duterte’s detention to the treatment of past leaders while noting it offered no benefit to the public.
On March 14, she skipped a campaign sortie led by her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., to publicly oppose the action. She again reiterated her disapproval, stating she could not accept what had been done.
