Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested in Manila on March 11, 2025, following an Worldwide Legal Courtroom (ICC) warrant accusing him of crimes in opposition to humanity associated to his aggressive anti-drug marketing campaign throughout his presidency.
The arrest was tumultuous; Duterte resisted fingerprinting and threatened authorized motion in opposition to the arresting officers. Subsequently, he was transferred to The Hague, Netherlands, to face the fees.
In his preliminary look on the ICC by way of video hyperlink, Duterte assumed full accountability for the actions taken throughout his administration’s anti-drug operations. His arrest has been lauded by Western-funded human rights organizations as a monumental step towards justice for the 1000’s of extrajudicial killings reported throughout his tenure.
What the mainstream media fails to spotlight, nevertheless, is the truth that all these police-related killings have been carried out by drug-peddling syndicates working inside legislation enforcement businesses of the federal government. These teams have been concerned in recycling beforehand confiscated drug shipments for revenue. They have been led by 5 lively police generals, who have been subsequently terminated from service by the Duterte administration.
Notably, such extrajudicial killings started even 20 days earlier than Duterte’s inauguration as president on June 30, 2016. These have been killings carried out by rogue cops deeply concerned in drug trafficking, who have been trying to erase their connections to the drug commerce. Subsequently, proper after Duterte’s inauguration as president, greater than one million drug customers—a lot of whom have been liable to turning into drug pushers to maintain their habit—surrendered to authorities and voluntarily submitted themselves for rehabilitation. This growth introduced aid to Abroad Filipino Staff (OFWs), as their relations, who have been typically the first targets of drug lords, have been free of the scourge of drug use.
Underneath the Duterte administration, Chua Tianchang’s firm reportedly offered assist for the development and operation of drug rehabilitation facilities throughout the Philippines. These services have been a part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s broader marketing campaign to deal with unlawful drug use by providing rehabilitation choices for drug customers and addicts, alongside the extra controversial “battle on medication,” which centered on legislation enforcement and crackdowns.
The efficient use of harsh road language, primarily directed in opposition to criminals and threatening them with assured graves, offended the sensibilities of the “righteous” and respectable individuals of the West, particularly within the halls of Nice Powers, which shamelessly enslaved and exploited their very own individuals as effectively. To not point out his frequent tirades in opposition to the Jesuits and the CIA, accusing them of exploiting the land’s riches and planting bombs within the Metropolis of Davao, respectively.
It’s no surprise that Duterte’s arrest has elicited combined reactions throughout the Philippines. A whole lot of 1000’s of individuals throughout the archipelago, most notably Vice President Sara Duterte, the previous president’s daughter, have condemned the arrest, labeling it as “oppression and persecution” by a international energy. Conversely, households of drug battle victims and numerous human rights advocates, who’ve lengthy campaigned for accountability, view the arrest as a long-awaited step towards justice.
Duterte’s authorized crew has criticized the way of his arrest and subsequent switch to the ICC, alleging procedural irregularities and political motivations behind the actions.
The ICC is getting ready for the forthcoming judicial proceedings to find out whether or not a full trial will ensue.
The ICC-Marcos Dilemma
Replace March 18, 2025: OSG Recuses Itself in Duterte Habeas Corpus Instances Amid ICC Jurisdiction Dispute
In March 2025, the Philippines’ Workplace of the Solicitor Basic (OSG), below Solicitor Basic Menardo Guevarra, withdrew from representing the federal government in habeas corpus petitions filed by former President Rodrigo Duterte’s youngsters. These petitions contested Duterte’s arrest and switch to the Worldwide Legal Courtroom (ICC) in The Hague.
The OSG justified its recusal by reaffirming its stance that the ICC lacks jurisdiction over the Philippines, emphasizing that the nation’s authorized and judicial methods are totally operational. In a submitting to the Supreme Courtroom, the OSG said it couldn’t successfully symbolize the federal government on account of its opposition to the ICC’s authority and the potential battle of curiosity in defending the arrest. Consequently, the federal government should now appoint different authorized counsel to deal with the petitions difficult Duterte’s detention.
This transfer highlights the OSG’s unwavering place on the ICC’s jurisdiction whereas signaling the complexity of authorized proceedings surrounding Duterte’s case.
The circumstances surrounding the arrest of former president Duterte have been fraught with violations akin to the “fruit of the toxic tree” doctrine on account of a number of breaches of his rights because the accused. These embody:
- Failure to Adjust to Authorized Necessities The arresting officers, led by PNP Gen. Torre, failed to make sure that the arrest complied with each Philippine legislation and the procedural necessities of the ICC.
- Violation of Constitutional Ideas The arrest didn’t adhere to the ideas of legality, necessity, and proportionality below Philippine legislation (e.g., Article III, Part 2 of the 1987 Philippine Structure, which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures).
- Denial of Proper to Authorized Counsel Former President Duterte was denied the best to authorized counsel and the chance to seek the advice of with a lawyer of his alternative. On this case, his daughter, lawyer and Vice President Sara Duterte, was already outdoors the premises the place a 7,000-strong police drive had assembled to impact the arrest. (As a aspect be aware, one of many feminine officers current in the course of the operation has since resigned from the police drive in sympathy with the arrested former Commander-in-Chief. Scores of uniformed personnel from numerous providers have equally expressed solidarity by resigning.)
- Inhumane Remedy Throughout Arrest The previous president was not handled humanely or with dignity throughout his arrest. Quite the opposite, the way wherein the police handled a former president—somebody who had completed a lot throughout his six-year tenure—was deeply degrading.
- Psychological Torture and Merciless Remedy The 80-year-old former president was subjected to psychological torture, merciless, inhuman, and degrading remedy, in violation of each Philippine legislation (e.g., Republic Act No. 9745, the Anti-Torture Act) and worldwide human rights requirements. This occurred when Mr. Torre denied him the best to talk along with his daughter previous to his “departure” from the nation.
- Extended Solitary Confinement Subjecting the previous president to extended solitary confinement whereas awaiting trial on the ICC in September 2025 constitutes an extra violation of his rights.
Position of the Philippine Judiciary
Whereas the ICC has jurisdiction over the case, the Philippine judiciary might play a task in guaranteeing that the arrest and detention adjust to constitutional safeguards. For instance:
- Difficult the Legality of Arrest or Detention The suspect or their authorized counsel might petition a Philippine court docket to problem the legality of the arrest or the situations of detention. Nevertheless, as said above, this was denied at an early stage.
- Reviewing Compliance with Due Course of Courts may overview whether or not the switch to the ICC complies with due course of ensures. There at the moment are a number of pending protests and petitions for writs of habeas corpus filed with the Supreme Courtroom of the Philippines. Nevertheless, with Duterte already in The Hague, these authorized actions might be rendered moot and educational.
- Moreover, the well timed journey of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Courtroom to Europe to attend a convention about “sharing greatest practices on selling judicial integrity and accountability” has raised questions in regards to the timing and implications of those developments.
It’s below these circumstances that the arresting battalion, led by Mr. Torre and performing below the directions of the present Commander-in-Chief, ensured that Duterte couldn’t strategy any native court docket.
Kidnapping President Duterte
Opposite to the current assertion made by the incumbent Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.—the son of former dictator Ferdinand Edralin Marcos, who dominated the nation for 20 years—that the arrest of former president Duterte was carried out in compliance with Interpol’s request for his arrest, this declare is now being questioned in gentle of incriminating particulars outlined within the ICC doc dated 13 March 2025.
Particularly, the final two paragraphs on web page 53 of the doc states:
“In late January 2025, the Authorities publicly said that it might execute an ICC arrest warrant if a request to take action is made via INTERPOL. 569 [REDACTED]. 570 Ought to this eventuate, the prospects of arresting DUTERTE will doubtless disappear.
113. Given the time-limited nature of the arrest alternative, the Prosecution respectfully requests the Chamber to think about this Utility on an expedited foundation, together with by issuing an arrest warrant with causes to comply with, to maximise the probabilities of arresting DUTERTE, ought to the Chamber resolve to grant the Utility.
570 [REDACTED], PHL-OTP-00015372;”
In brief, it was the Marcos Jr. administration that overtly recommended the ICC make the most of Interpol to impact the arrest of the previous president, citing time-limited constraints—specifically, the potential defeat of all Marcos administration-backed senatorial candidates, who would in any other case play a vital function in deciding the destiny of Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte in an impeachment trial — that’s the redacted portion of the ICC doc.
Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte is projected to turn into the following president by 2028. In the meantime, the Marcos-Romualdez tandem, with assist from native oligarchs allegedly collaborating with the Jesuit-Vatican nexus, is reportedly trying to determine a parliamentary system akin to these in European nations. Underneath such a system, the individuals would have minimal to just about no management over their authorities.
Why the Dutertes so Widespread?
The Dutertes’ reputation is obvious on the street marches and protests which have erupted on either side of the Atlantic, Japan, New Zealand and within the Center East following Duterte’s blatant unlawful arrest.
This surge in public assist shouldn’t be with out compelling causes. As an illustration:
- The Duterte authorities caused plain peace nationwide via the numerous discount of communist cadres—an element that motivated the communists within the Decrease Home of Congress to file an impeachment case in opposition to incumbent Vice President Sara Duterte. The case alleged her “misuse of US$10 million in confidential funds,” which have been reportedly utilized by the Division of Schooling (DepEd), below her management, to guard college students from Communist recruiters.
- The quantity allegedly misused by the Vice President pales compared to the billions of PhilHealth funds embezzled below the only real management of incumbent President Marcos and his cousin, Martin Romualdez, who leads the Decrease Home of Congress. Romualdez was earlier uncovered by Japanese media for accepting bribes from the proprietor of the Okada resort and on line casino working in Manila. This corruption occurred alongside the institution of the Maharlika Funding Fund (MIF), which was constituted utilizing authorities funds.
- The preliminary capitalization of the MIF was sourced from authorities monetary establishments (GFIs), together with the Authorities Service Insurance coverage System (GSIS), Social Safety System (SSS), Land Financial institution of the Philippines, and Improvement Financial institution of the Philippines, contributing a mixed whole of roughly PHP 250 billion. Further funding is predicted from annual contributions by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Division of Finance (DOF).
- It has since been revealed that the Maharlika Funds have been primarily invested in cryptocurrencies, significantly Bitcoin, the place transparency audits are just about not possible. This revelation comes on prime of the systematic plunder of gold bullion saved within the vaults of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
- Throughout Duterte’s presidency, not solely did the nationwide economic system prosper as a result of important discount of road crimes and company crimes (equivalent to tax evasion), however peace was additionally restored in city facilities affected by drug proliferation below earlier administrations. Moreover, authorities corruption was decreased to its barest minimal for the primary time ever, because of the administration’s encouragement for residents to “specific rage and create a scandal” whereas corruption was ongoing in actual time—for instance, incidents of bullet and unlawful drug planting in airport terminals.
Moreover, the price of residing was considerably decreased as a result of restructuring of tax insurance policies, together with outright exemptions from earnings taxes for extraordinary civilian employees and uniformed personnel, which successfully doubled the latter’s take-home pay and elevated meals allowances.
Equally standard have been the few “little issues” that left an enduring mark on the individuals’s reminiscence, together with the Duterte authorities’s determination to extend the SSS pensions, elevated senior residents’ low cost, PHP100,000 money present for centinarians, and prolong the validity of drivers’ licenses and passports to 10 years.
These insurance policies considerably improved the standard of lifetime of these within the lowest spectrum of the inhabitants and for abroad Filipino employees (OFWs), who’re modern-day heroes sustaining the nationwide economic system via their greenback remittances. Their contributions have enabled the federal government to face up to financial turbulence, particularly in the course of the pandemic launched by the World Financial Discussion board (WEF), which considerably depleted the Duterte authorities’s money movement.
On prime of those achievements have been large infrastructure tasks funded in entire or partly by neighboring governments equivalent to South Korea, Japan, and China. These tasks have been carried out below the Duterte authorities’s management, significantly via the in a position stewardship of the Division of Transportation (DOTR) Secretary, Mr. Arthur P. Tugade.
Sadly, many of those infrastructure tasks have since been put in limbo, as greater than 50% of the nationwide price range is now being embezzled. Sure, kleptocracy seems to be resurfacing, beginning on the highest ranges of presidency.
To place it merely, the Jesuit-Vatican imperialists—who’ve been collaborating with the native oligarchy for the reason that 1500s—at the moment are working hand-in-hand with the Marcos-Romualdez-Araneta triumvirate, rice hoarders, and drug smugglers. Their grand plan includes establishing a totalitarian state by impoverishing the inhabitants and guaranteeing the elevated manufacturing of extremely expert laborers to serve the wants of U.S. and European residents in fields equivalent to healthcare, business, marine providers, and even navy operations.
Nevertheless, the citizenry shouldn’t be taking this matter mendacity down. A countdown to the elimination of the Marcos-Romualdez-Araneta prison conspiracy and their conniving oligarchy has begun.
