Palace on Imee’s Duterte Bill: ‘Good luck’

Malacañang on Thursday weighed in on a legislative measure filed by Senator Imee Marcos titled the “President Rodrigo Duterte Act,” which seeks to prevent a repeat of events leading to the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte in March.

In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro underscored that legislation must benefit the public rather than serve personal agendas.

“It is the job of a senator to make meaningful laws for the people, for the development of the country, not for personal gain. So, good luck,” Castro said.

Duterte is currently detained in The Netherlands, where he faces Crimes Against Humanity charges before the International Criminal Court (ICC). He was placed under the custody of Philippine authorities in compliance with an Interpol request and pursuant to procedures under domestic law.

The proposed bill filed by Senator Marcos seeks to prohibit the transfer of individuals in the Philippines to foreign entities not recognized by an active treaty, or in the absence of the person's consent or a local court order.

Under the measure, violators could face up to 20 years imprisonment, a P10 million fine, and asset freezing provisions. The bill also aims to deter what it describes as “extrajudicial rendition,” defined as the “transfer without due process of a detainee to the custody of a foreign jurisdiction.”

Malacañang, however, maintained that Duterte’s arrest complied with Republic Act No. 9851, or the “Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity.” Officials reiterated that the law is a “mirror image” of the Rome Statute, which formed the legal basis for the Philippines’ cooperation with the ICC.

The Palace did not explicitly oppose the bill but emphasized the importance of crafting laws aligned with national development and public welfare.