Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday said the minority bloc’s resolution aims to prevent the enforcement of International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants without first going through Philippine courts, allowing citizens to pursue legal remedies before potential extradition.
Cayetano raised concerns about Section 17 of the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity, which allows the government to surrender a Filipino if another court or international tribunal is already investigating or prosecuting an alleged crime against humanity.
“Basta’t nalang pwedeng ibigay or ipadala. Kung sila’y nagmamadali o medyo pas-pas at i-sakay na sa eroplano, walang reasonable time na tumakbo sa korte,”
Cayetano said, warning that underlying legal issues could be disregarded if a citizen is immediately sent abroad.
He clarified that the resolution is not specifically targeting former President Rodrigo Duterte, who faces ICC allegations, though Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Christopher “Bong” Go were named as co-conspirators in ICC documents but have not been formally charged.
In his sponsorship speech, Cayetano cited the 1987 Constitution, emphasizing citizens’ rights:
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, and papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures of whatever nature and for any purpose shall be inviolable.”
Other minority senators, including Go, Robin Padilla, Imee Marcos, Rodante Marcoleta, and Jinggoy Estrada, already presented their sponsorship speeches on Tuesday. Interpellations on the resolution will continue next week ahead of plenary votes.
While the resolution would signal the Senate’s position, it would not carry binding legal authority.