NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Senate To ICC: Consider House Arrest For Ex-President Duterte On Humanitarian Grounds
FILE
In a significant move, the Philippine Senate has adopted a resolution formally requesting the International Criminal Court (ICC) to place former President Rodrigo Duterte under house arrest, citing humanitarian concerns.
The measure, Senate Resolution No. 144, passed with a clear majority: 15 Senators voted in favor, three were against it, and two abstained.
The resolution, co-authored by Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Juan Miguel Zubiri, stems from concerns over the former president's advanced age and reported deteriorating health. It urges the ICC to first appoint a physician to examine Duterte and determine if continued detention would worsen his medical condition.
If the medical findings support the concern, the resolution appeals to the ICC to allow house arrest. It stresses that any such arrangement should still be subject to conditions restricting his liberty that the ICC would impose, ensuring the integrity of the ongoing trial is not jeopardized.
The Senate's appeal frames the request as a matter of compassion and respect for human dignity, regardless of the ongoing legal proceedings at the ICC, where Duterte faces charges related to his administration's "war on drugs." The resolution pointed to a clause in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which mandates that all persons deprived of liberty be treated with humanity.
The move by the Senate is widely viewed as a show of support for the former leader, who was arrested and flown to The Hague earlier this year to face the charges.
The measure, Senate Resolution No. 144, passed with a clear majority: 15 Senators voted in favor, three were against it, and two abstained.
The resolution, co-authored by Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Juan Miguel Zubiri, stems from concerns over the former president's advanced age and reported deteriorating health. It urges the ICC to first appoint a physician to examine Duterte and determine if continued detention would worsen his medical condition.
If the medical findings support the concern, the resolution appeals to the ICC to allow house arrest. It stresses that any such arrangement should still be subject to conditions restricting his liberty that the ICC would impose, ensuring the integrity of the ongoing trial is not jeopardized.
The Senate's appeal frames the request as a matter of compassion and respect for human dignity, regardless of the ongoing legal proceedings at the ICC, where Duterte faces charges related to his administration's "war on drugs." The resolution pointed to a clause in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which mandates that all persons deprived of liberty be treated with humanity.
The move by the Senate is widely viewed as a show of support for the former leader, who was arrested and flown to The Hague earlier this year to face the charges.
Oct 1, 2025
We are dedicated storytellers with a passion for bringing your brand to life. Our services range from news and media features to brand promotion and collaborations.
Interested? Visit our
Contact Us page for more information. To learn more about what we offer, check out our latest article on services and opportunities.
