MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano yesterday filed a resolution urging the Philippine government to call on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to approve the interim release of former president Rodrigo Duterte and allow him house arrest.
Duterte’s allies are calling for special treatment and due process of law, both of which were denied to thousands of drug suspects summarily killed by law enforcers at the height of his administration’s drug war.
Cayetano, who served as Duterte’s foreign affairs secretary, proposed that the 80-year-old former president be placed under house arrest at the Philippine embassy in The Hague while awaiting trial for crimes against humanity.
Duterte should “be afforded the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty,” the resolution read.
Cayetano cited Duterte’s deteriorating health, old age and prolonged social isolation.
While the Philippines has withdrawn from the Rome Statute, the Philippine embassy in The Hague may still enter into an agreement with the ICC for conditional arrangements and Duterte’s house arrest, the resolution said.
Citing the 2009 case of Congolese rebel Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, the resolution noted that the ICC granted Gombo interim release pending a final decision on his sentence in a related case.
Cayetano appealed to the Philippine government to give Duterte courtesy as a former president.
“The least the Philippines could do for its former leader is to advocate for his release and make the necessary arrangements to accommodate him,” he said.
Cayetano called for compassion for Duterte so that he could spend time with his family in his twilight years.
Denying Duterte time with family is an injustice, Cayetano said.
Duterte is detained in The Hague for alleged crimes against humanity over his drug war that claimed over 6,000 lives.
‘Not all jailbirds bad’
Duterte told his 12-year-old grandson that not all people in detention are bad.
Impeached Vice President Sara Duterte, who is expected to stay in the Netherlands until July 23, recalled her father’s conversation with her son.
“He said, ‘not all people in detention are bad. I am not here because I am a kidnapper, I am a robber, I am a ‘holdupper,’ I am a thief. I am here because I did things for my country. And I do not regret going after criminals and going after people dealing in illegal drugs for my country,’” the Vice President said.
The Vice President has yet to face an impeachment trial in the Senate after being charged with graft and corruption, among others.
Loyalists missing
The Vice President is criticizing known supporters of her father, complaining that they were absent when he was arrested and brought to Villamor Air Base in Pasay on March 11.
Duterte did not identify people, but she defended Sen. Imee Marcos, who was absent during the event.
Marcos met with the elder Duterte’s lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman when she visited The Hague, the Vice President said. – Bella Cariaso