Senator Imee Marcos has called for an urgent investigation into the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is accused of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In a statement on Monday, Marcos, the elder sister of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said Duterte’s arrest is “an issue that has deeply divided the nation.”

“It is imperative to establish whether due process was followed and to ensure that his legal rights were not just upheld but protected, especially given the involvement of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) and the International Criminal Court,” she said.

To shed light on the matter, Marcos said she will invite key officials and agencies, including from the Philippine National Police, Office for Transportation Security–Department of Transportation, Department of Justice, Department of Foreign Affairs, National Security Council, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, and other resource persons and witnesses.

“The Senate must address these critical concerns to uphold the country’s jurisdiction and to clarify policies governing our law enforcement agencies and their engagement with international tribunals,” she said.

“Our sovereignty and legal processes must remain paramount,” she added.

Meanwhile, Malacañang said Senator Marcos is free to conduct a Senate investigation into the arrest and transfer of the former president to The Hague in the Netherlands.

“We haven’t discussed that yet, but if that’s what the senator wants, she is free to do that,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.

Castro said the Palace would cooperate with a Senate inquiry. She emphasized that Duterte’s arrest was carried out in accordance with the law.

‘We haven’t discussed that yet, but if that’s what the senator wants, she is free to do that.’

Senator Marcos has been very open and vocal about her “friendship” with Duterte.

In 2023, she vowed to defend the former chief executive, who at the time was being criticized by members of the House of Representatives over his tirades against them.

“I repeat, in 2015, I was the first and the only government official that declared support for President Duterte. And even if I’m the only one left, I would remain standing by him,” Senator Marcos said.

As the eldest child of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Senator Marcos said she would never be silenced by those “betraying” the former president who respected her father and permitted his burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

In 2016, then President Duterte permitted the burial of the Marcos siblings’ father at the Libingan ng mga Bayani despite the opposition of human rights groups, particularly the families and victims of martial law.