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Advocates Philippines
Panelo Law Office Urges SC To Act On Duterte Habeas Corpus Petitions
Photo credit: ICC
The Panelo Law Office has filed a Second Urgent Motion before the Supreme Court seeking immediate resolution of consolidated habeas corpus petitions involving former President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
In a post by Atty. Salvador Paolo A. Panelo Jr., managing partner of the law office and counsel for petitioner Veronica “Kitty” Duterte, the group said it asked the Court to act on G.R. Nos. 278763, 278768, and 278798 and direct respondents to facilitate what it described as the “immediate return” of the former president.
The motion stated that 14 months have passed since the petitions were filed on March 12, 2025, without substantive action from the Court, noting the “summary nature” of habeas corpus proceedings.
It also cited Senate Resolution No. 44, adopted on March 17, 2026, which the filing said expressed the Senate’s position on protecting Filipinos from alleged extrajudicial rendition and ensuring access to legal remedies before any surrender or extradition.
The filing further referenced recent developments inside the Senate on May 11, 2026, which it described as involving an alleged attempt to enforce an International Criminal Court-related warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, resulting in a confrontation between National Bureau of Investigation personnel and Senate security.
According to the motion, these events underscore what it described as the urgency for the Supreme Court to act, arguing that continued delay could raise constitutional concerns.
The petitioners are asking the Supreme Court to resolve the consolidated cases, declare the arrest, rendition, and continued detention of the former president as unlawful and unconstitutional, and order appropriate reliefs.
The motion was signed by Salvador Paolo A. Panelo Jr., managing partner of the Panelo Law Office.
In a post by Atty. Salvador Paolo A. Panelo Jr., managing partner of the law office and counsel for petitioner Veronica “Kitty” Duterte, the group said it asked the Court to act on G.R. Nos. 278763, 278768, and 278798 and direct respondents to facilitate what it described as the “immediate return” of the former president.
The motion stated that 14 months have passed since the petitions were filed on March 12, 2025, without substantive action from the Court, noting the “summary nature” of habeas corpus proceedings.
It also cited Senate Resolution No. 44, adopted on March 17, 2026, which the filing said expressed the Senate’s position on protecting Filipinos from alleged extrajudicial rendition and ensuring access to legal remedies before any surrender or extradition.
The filing further referenced recent developments inside the Senate on May 11, 2026, which it described as involving an alleged attempt to enforce an International Criminal Court-related warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, resulting in a confrontation between National Bureau of Investigation personnel and Senate security.
According to the motion, these events underscore what it described as the urgency for the Supreme Court to act, arguing that continued delay could raise constitutional concerns.
The petitioners are asking the Supreme Court to resolve the consolidated cases, declare the arrest, rendition, and continued detention of the former president as unlawful and unconstitutional, and order appropriate reliefs.
The motion was signed by Salvador Paolo A. Panelo Jr., managing partner of the Panelo Law Office.
May 12, 2026
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