Senator Imee Marcos on Thursday accused her brother’s administration of “glaring violations of the rights” of former President Rodrigo Duterte while insisting that the Philippine government had no legal obligation to hand him over to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The accusations came as the senator’s foreign relations panel released its preliminary report following a speedy investigation into the details surrounding Duterte’s arrest and subsequent surrender to the Hague-based global tribunal.
“The Constitutional safeguards guaranteeing liberty and due process of law were not observed. No warrant was issued by a Philippine court. The arrest did not fall within the exceptions to a warrant arrest,” Marcos said.
“The Constitutional safeguards guaranteeing the liberty [and] abode were also disregarded. No court order was issued mandating that the former president be taken out of the Philippines against his will,” she added.
Meanwhile, Malacañang insisted that Duterte’s arrest was above board, even if cabinet officials were not at liberty to disclose all the details surrounding his capture.
At a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said officials called to the Senate probe were not being deliberately evasive to conceal facts.
“I hope Senator Imee understands the meaning of ‘executive privilege.’ It is a constitutional doctrine that allows the President and high-ranking officials to withhold some sensitive information, especially if this will result in the encroachment of one branch [of government] over another branch,’’ she explained in Filipino.
Castro also pointed out that Senator Marcos’ conclusion in her preliminary report that the former president was treated unfairly stems from the fact that she only talked to Duterte supporters but omitted talking with legal experts.