Filipino Senate that launched the investigation of the arrest of the ICC of Duterte

Manila, the Philippines – The Philippines Senate said Monday that he will carry out a formal arrest investigation against former President Rodrigo Duterte and the rapid delivery last week before the International Criminal Court, which is to prove it for alleged crimes against humanity.

The 79 -year -old man, the former Asian head of state accused by the ICC, is accused of the crime against murder humanity during his years against drug users and merchants that the rights groups have said that they killed thousands.

The investigation was initiated by Senator Imee Marcos, sister of President Ferdinand Marcos, but a close friend of Duterte’s eldest daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.

The two families have had a spectacular fall since Marcos associated with Duterte to win an electoral land slide in 2022. The latter has been accused since then for charges that include an alleged assassination plot against the president.

“As president of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, I am asking for urgent investigation into the arrest of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, a problem that has deeply divided the nation,” said Imee Marcos in a statement on Monday.

“It is imperative to establish whether due process was followed and ensure that their legal rights were not only confirmed but protected,” he said, he added: “Our sovereignty and legal processes must continue to be essential.”

Duterte was arrested at Manila airport on March 11 after a brief trip to Hong Kong and flew to the Netherlands only a few hours later, where he was delivered to the CPI.

The Senate has established a public hearing for Thursday and invited other government officials to the Superior Police to give evidence.

Imee Marcos has tracked a largely independent course of her brother on many issues, although she is postulated for re -election under the administration ticket in the medium -term elections of May 12.

Hours after Duterte’s arrest, Imee Marcos warned of a press conference that “could only cause problems.”

Separately, a veteran international lawyer with experience of the ICC has taken advantage of to join the former president’s defense team.

Nicholas Kaufman, a British-Israeli citizen, has previously represented customers in The Hague, including former Congolese rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba and Aisha Kadhafi, daughter of the late Libyan dictator.

“President (Ha) appointed Nicholas Kaufman as his lawyer,” confirmed the vice president Duterte at a press conference outside the Hague, according to a transcription made public on Sunday by his office.

“Yesterday we had a meeting with him, and then we will have a meeting in person when he arrives this weekend,” he told reporters after his father’s appearance.

In an email to the AFP, Kaufman said that “he was honored to have been asked to help former President Duterte to compose his defense team in which my future role has not yet been determined precisely.”

“In fact, I hope to denounce the kidnapping sponsored by the former president’s state to a case in Hague devoid of jurisdiction.”