Kitty Duterte seeks SC oral arguments for father's release from ICC

Veronica 'Kitty' Duterte has filed a motion with the Supreme Court (SC) to schedule oral arguments on consolidated petitions seeking the release of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is under custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

In her filing submitted through lawyer Salvador Panelo and renewed on Tuesday, April 8, Veronica argues that oral arguments would provide a transparent platform for addressing significant legal and constitutional issues surrounding the case, including questions on whether Duterte's constitutional rights were violated after his arrest without a warrant issued by a Philippine court.

The petition also noted potential violations of the separation of powers upon recognizing the jurisdiction of the ICC.

Veronica emphasizes that oral arguments would enable the SC to directly question the parties on these constitutional issues and set a precedent for future cases involving individual liberties, the jurisdiction of foreign tribunals, and international cooperation.

Government lawyers argue that the case is moot since Duterte is no longer under domestic custody and his arrest was lawful according to Philippine law.