Philippines: Senator Marcos Demands Clarity on Former President Duterte's ICC Arrest
Click to start listening
Synopsis
Philippine Senator Imee Marcos is contemplating a second Senate committee hearing on the arrest of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte. She stresses the need for clarity on international laws and the Philippine Constitution amid ongoing discussions about the jurisdiction of the ICC.
Key Takeaways
- Senator Imee Marcos is considering a second hearing.
- Calls for public opinion from volunteers.
- International laws and the Constitution are crucial factors.
- Marcos questions the ICC's jurisdiction over Filipino citizens.
- Duterte faces trial as the first former Asian leader at the ICC.
Manila, March 22 (NationPress) Philippine Senator Imee Marcos stated on Saturday that she is still evaluating the possibility of holding another Senate committee hearing regarding the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
As the chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Marcos shared during a forum that there are requests for a second hearing, as some volunteers wish to express their views.
"I believe further analysis is necessary due to the involvement of international laws, the Philippine Constitution, and the rights of the accused along with the bill of rights, in addition to numerous laws that have not been adequately tested in many instances," Marcos explained.
Marcos, who is the elder sister of Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, mentioned that the committee is in "a mad rush" to prepare a report for the upcoming hearing on Thursday.
"(The committee), like the rest of the Philippines, seeks clarity and decisive action on this matter," she remarked. "We are meticulously examining these laws, line by line, including the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC). However, the Philippine Constitution must take precedence."
During the initial hearing, Marcos questioned whether the "Philippines has become a province of The Hague," expressing concern that the 79-year-old former President is having to respond to a foreign court.
On March 11, the International Criminal Police Organisation apprehended Duterte following a warrant from the ICC for crimes against humanity linked to his contentious "war on drugs" initiative.
On Thursday, Marcos asserted that the law should take precedence: "But whose law? Ours or theirs?"
She emphasized that Filipinos are not "slaves" to foreign entities and that the nation should not yield its citizens to external jurisdictions.
Duterte is the first former Asian leader to be detained and tried before the ICC.
