Duterte siblings ask SC to free ex-President from ICC detention

Davao City Representative Paolo "Pulong" Duterte, alongside his siblings Veronica "Kitty" Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte, has filed petitions before the Supreme Court (SC) seeking the release of former President Rodrigo Duterte from what they argue is illegal confinement.

The former president was arrested on March 11, 2025, based on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant related to his war on drugs.

Their petitions argue that the arrest, detention, and transfer to the ICC are unlawful, citing an unverified and unenforceable ICC warrant that lacks proper Philippine legal procedures.

Mayor Duterte asserted that subjecting a Filipino citizen, especially a former head of state, to foreign jurisdiction without due process under Philippine law is an assault on national independence.

The Duterte children are asking the Supreme Court to compel the government to bring their father back to the Philippines, arguing the ICC lacks jurisdiction due to the Philippines' 2019 withdrawal from the Rome Statute.

Pulong Duterte also asked the SC to issue a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction to stop the government from cooperating with the ICC and Interpol.

The SC has consolidated the three habeas corpus petitions and directed Philippine government officials, led by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, to show cause within 24 hours why the writ of habeas corpus should not be issued.

The former president faces a charge of "the crime against humanity of murder" from the ICC for his war on drugs, a crackdown that rights groups estimate killed tens of thousands.