No ‘group effort’ in DU30 arrest — Palace

Senator Imee Marcos is set to release today the final result of the Senate probe into the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte and later transfer to The Hague in March.

On Monday, Marcos said her investigation revealed that there is a coordinated effort on the part of the current administration to take down the Dutertes and that the arrest of Duterte is “unlawful.”

In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said that Senator Marcos’ opinions on the matter is “not surprising”.

“It wouldn’t be surprising if her approach was like that, we’ve already seen which side she picked before she started the hearings based on her opinions,” she said.

Marcos’ camp said that the Senator was able to narrate in an interview a timeline from when the Department of Justice released a report in May 2024 and the events of 11 March 2025 which reveals a coordinated approach of the administration against the Dutertes.

In the preliminary findings of the Senate hearing, Marcos said that carrying out the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) through the Interpol against Duterte violated his rights.

However, Malacañang Palace denied the allegation and insisted that it was only honoring its commitment with the Interpol.

The government also said that the arrest of Duterte was done legally in accordance of Republic Act 9851or The Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity which states that “Philippine authorities may dispense with the investigation or prosecution of a crime punishable under this Act if another court or international tribunal is already conducting the investigation or undertaking the prosecution of such crime”.

“Instead, the authorities may surrender or extradite suspected or accused persons in the Philippines to the appropriate international court, if any, or to another State pursuant to the applicable extradition laws and treaties,” the law added.

Duterte was flown to The Hague after his arrest on the charge of crimes against humanity in relation to his involvement in his administration’s bloody war on drugs. He faced the ICC days after his arrival through teleconference in which the international tribunal set the confirmation of charges hearing on 23 September 2025.

Politically motivated

Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte believes that the arrest of her father, was “politically motivated.”

“Clearly, it’s all about politics because of midterm elections and 2028 elections,” Duterte said in an ambush interview in Carcar, Cebu on Sunday.

“There’s no other reason. What is it called? Kidnapping or abducting our former President Rodrigo Duterte here in our country and take him to another country to be imprisoned by foreigners?” she added.

Duterte also believes that opposition candidates are strong in the 2028 national elections.

“For those who don’t want to step down. They will hold their power on their position,” she said.

Aside from her father, Duterte is also included in the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) list.