MANILA, Philippines — The camp of former president Rodrigo Duterte has asked the Supreme Court to immediately resolve the consolidated habeas corpus petitions questioning his arrest, saying the delay has triggered what it described as a constitutional crisis.
The Panelo Law Office filed a second urgent motion on behalf of petitioner Veronica Duterte seeking the immediate resolution of the petitions involving the former leader, who is detained at The Hague, the Netherlands, over crimes against humanity charges.
The motion argued that more than 14 months had passed since the petitions were filed on March 12, 2025 without substantive action from the court, despite the summary and extraordinary nature of habeas corpus proceedings.
It also cited Senate Resolution No. 44, adopted on March 17, 2026, which expressed the Senate’s position to protect Filipinos from extrajudicial rendition and ensure they are given sufficient time to seek legal remedies before any surrender or extradition.
The motion further pointed to the events that unfolded at the Senate on May 11 involving Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, where an attempted enforcement of an alleged ICC warrant led to contempt citations against agents of the National Bureau of Investigation and the senator being placed under Senate custody.
The Duterte camp argued that the latest developments demonstrated the urgency of resolving the petitions.
“The Rule of Law demands an immediate resolution to the consolidated petitions,” the motion stated.
The motion asked the Supreme Court to declare Duterte’s arrest, rendition, and continued detention “illegal and unconstitutional” and to order respondents to take all available steps to facilitate his immediate return.
