Senator Robin Padilla, accompanied by supporters of former president Rodrigo Duterte, went to the Supreme Court of the Philippines on Monday afternoon to call for a swift resolution of petitions related to cases involving the former chief executive.
Carrying thousands of signatures, Padilla underscored what he described as a collective appeal from Duterte’s supporters.
“Bring Him Home!” he declared. “Nandito po kami muli para dalhin po namin sa ating kataas-taasang hukuman ang mga nakalap po naming pirma, mga kababayan po natin na humihiling na sana po ay desisyunan na ng ating mga hukom ‘yong amin pong hiling na patungkol po sa ating dating Pangulo na Rodrigo Roa Duterte.”
Padilla confirmed that the group had gathered more than 300,000 signatures in support of their appeal.
“May dala po kaming 304,000 na mga pirma,” he said.
Joey Cruz, spokesperson for Duterte’s supporters, said the signatures were collected over a four-month period, emphasizing the scale of public backing behind their initiative.
“Total signatures po na nakalap namin, after four months is 304,304 signatures,” Cruz noted. “All verifiable 304,000 strong support to encourage the Supreme Court (SC) to decide on the habeas corpus cases filed by the Duterte siblings.”
Cruz added that additional signatures are expected to be submitted in the coming months. He stressed that the campaign was conducted voluntarily, without financial incentives, and driven by supporters’ call for action in what they described as a matter of national sovereignty.
Former President Duterte is currently detained at the International Criminal Court, where he faces charges of crimes against humanity in connection with his administration’s anti-drug campaign.