Senator Robin Padilla isn’t staying quiet after the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte on March 11, 2025, at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
In a fiery Facebook post, Padilla made a direct appeal to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., invoking historical parallels and warning of foreign interference in the case.
The senator referenced the exile of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., drawing comparisons between the late dictator’s forced departure in 1986 and the current ICC-driven arrest of Duterte.
His post quickly gained traction, fueling debate over Philippine sovereignty and the Marcos-Duterte alliance’s crumbling ties.
Padilla’s Call for Marcos Jr. to Act
In his post, Padilla reminded Marcos Jr. of his past support, writing, “When there was no one else to stand by you, my group supported and protected you.”
He alluded to his role as president of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) during the 2022 elections, backing the UniTeam alliance between Marcos Jr. and then-Vice President Sara Duterte.
The post also featured a video clip of Duterte defending Marcos Sr.’s burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in 2016, a move that sparked nationwide protests but was ultimately carried out under Duterte’s administration.
Padilla urged Marcos Jr. to halt the Philippine National Police (PNP) from enforcing “foreign directives”, saying, “The fate of our country now rests in your hands,” as he framed the arrest as a sovereignty issue amid growing global pressures.
Duterte’s Arrest & The ICC’s Role
Duterte was arrested after returning from Hong Kong, where he attended a supporters’ event on March 9.
The PNP acted on an Interpol warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has been investigating Duterte’s brutal war on drugs from 2016 to 2022.
The ICC probe focuses on over 6,000 drug-related deaths per official police data, though human rights groups estimate the toll could be as high as 30,000.
The investigation spans Duterte’s time as Davao City mayor and Philippine president, covering actions until March 2019, when the Philippines withdrew from the ICC under his leadership.
Initially, Marcos Jr. resisted ICC cooperation, but by late 2024, he agreed to honor Interpol’s request, signaling a major shift in his stance.
This decision further exposed the fractured relationship between the Marcos and Duterte camps, as Sara Duterte now faces impeachment proceedings over alleged fund mismanagement and threats against Marcos Jr.
A Test of the Marcos-Duterte Alliance
Padilla’s outspoken defense of Duterte is no surprise—he has long backed the former president’s policies, from the drug war to Marcos Sr.’s burial. But now, he’s putting Marcos Jr. to the test, questioning his loyalty to the UniTeam legacy.
Meanwhile, protests erupted in Davao City, Duterte’s political stronghold, with supporters demanding his release. Padilla’s viral post only amplified the growing divide, as Filipinos remain split—some rally behind Duterte, while others insist that justice must be served.
Though Marcos Jr. has not rejoined the ICC, his decision to allow the arrest raises bigger questions: Will he continue cooperating with the international court, or will pressure from his former allies force him to reconsider?
