The Philippine Senate has thrown its support behind a resolution urging the International Criminal Court (ICC) to place former President Rodrigo Duterte under house arrest while awaiting trial for alleged crimes against humanity linked to his controversial war on drugs.
On Wednesday, senators voted 15–3, with two abstentions, in favor of the measure. Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri and Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano authored the resolution, stressing Duterte’s age and fragile health as primary grounds for the appeal. They argued that continued detention in an international facility could worsen his condition and that the ICC should instead allow him to remain confined in his residence under strict conditions.
The resolution points to the ICC’s Rules of Procedure and Evidence, which provide for interim release under specific circumstances, including confinement to a single address while still limiting a detainee’s freedom. Proponents emphasized that house arrest would not exempt Duterte from accountability, but would balance humanitarian considerations with judicial requirements.
Not all senators agreed. Risa Hontiveros, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, and Bam Aquino voted against the resolution, citing concerns about justice for thousands of victims of Duterte’s drug war. Pangilinan, chair of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, explained his “no” vote: “Bilang chairman, nais ko man pumanig sa isang banda, tungkulin kong pumanig sa mga daing ng naghahanap ng hustisya.”
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Senator Raffy Tulfo abstained. Tulfo noted that uncertainty over Duterte’s actual medical condition led him to withhold a definitive vote.
The Senate’s appeal does not carry legal weight over the ICC, but it sends a strong political message. It highlights the delicate balance between addressing humanitarian concerns for an aging former leader and ensuring justice for thousands of Filipinos who were killed in the government’s anti-drug campaign.
For now, the final decision rests with the ICC, which must weigh the Philippine Senate’s request against the demands of international justice.
