Go, Bato, Padilla seek Rodrigo Duterte’s house arrest in The Hague

Senators Robin Padilla, Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, and Bong Go have filed a resolution urging the Philippine government to push for the interim release of former president Rodrigo Duterte in the form of house arrest at a residence in The Hague, Netherlands. 

In the resolution, Duterte's allies pointed out that the former president’s health is “in danger of deteriorating further,” considering his old age, various medical conditions, and social isolation from loved ones.  

“[E]ven if the Philippines has already withdrawn from the Rome Statute, the Philippines is not precluded from advocating, in good conscience of the State, for more humane conditions for FPRRD, while he bravely faces the allegations against him,” the resolution read. 

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano had also filed a Senate resolution urging the Philippine government to push for the interim release of Duterte before the ICC and enter into an agreement to have his custody be transferred to the premises of the embassy under a form of house arrest, modified house arrest, or any appropriate arrangement deemed suitable by the Court.

Malacañang said that Cayetano’s call was “noted.” 

Vice President Sara Duterte previously said that her father, Rodrigo, has lost a lot of weight since his detention in The Hague, describing him now as “skin and bones.” 

She also said that her father has asked that his remains be cremated should he pass away while detained in The Hague.

Since March 12, former President Duterte has been in ICC custody and is currently detained at Scheveningen Prison in The Hague on charges of crimes against humanity for the alleged extrajudicial killings during his administration’s war on drugs. 

His lawyers have since insisted that the ICC lacks jurisdiction to try him for the charges he is facing and are seeking his release to an undisclosed country. Amid these, they have been reviewing the batches of evidence disclosed by the Office of Prosecution in preparation for the confirmation of charges hearing set for September 23. —VAL, GMA Integrated News