Escudero issues show cause order vs special envoy Lacanilao

Senate President Francis “Chiz Escudero issued Friday a show cause order against Special Envoy on Transnational Crime Markus Lacanilao, asking the latter to explain why he should not be cited in contempt for “testifying falsely and evasively” during a Senate inquiry. Escudero said Lacanilao has to respond within five days upon receipt of  the show … Read more

VP Sara back in PH after stay in The Hague for dad Duterte

Vice President Sara Duterte returned to the Philippines on Sunday evening after more than three weeks in The Netherlands, where her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, had been brought on an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. According to a statement from her office, the Vice President’s plane landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport … Read more

Duterte’s core legal team finalized; Roque not included — lawyer

The lead legal counsel of former President Rodrigo Duterte said Friday his client’s core defense team for International Criminal Court (ICC) proceedings has been finalized, and former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque is not part of it. Lawyer Nicholas Kaufman, the former president’s British-Israeli lawyer, said that, “The core team is now fully completed… [The names] … Read more

Imee: Cabinet officials won’t attend Day 2 of Senate probe into Duterte arrest

Cabinet officials won’t be attending the second day of the Senate investigation into the March 11 arrest and eventual detention of former President Rodrigo Duterte in The Hague, Netherlands, Senator Imee Marcos said Tuesday. The chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations said that she received such official communication from Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin. … Read more

Protesters in Manila slam Duterte on his 80th birthday: ‘Convict him’

Activist groups and families of the victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) and the drug war under former President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday called for his conviction for crimes against humanity during a protest action in Manila City. Marchers converged at the Liwasang Bonifacio bearing placards emblazoned with messages seeking justice for Duterte’s alleged victims. A … Read more

Senate panel initial findings: ‘Glaring violation’ of Duterte’s rights in arrest

Senate foreign relations committee chairperson Imee Marcos released on Thursday the preliminary findings of the panel’s investigation into the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Disclosing the preliminary report at a press conference, Marcos said the committee found that there were “glaring violations on the rights” of Duterte. It likewise concluded that the Philippines had … Read more

Prosecution discloses to ICC, defense counsel evidence against Duterte

The Office of the Prosecutor has disclosed to the International Criminal Court Pre-Trial Chamber 1 and defense team of former President Rodrigo Duterte the evidence for the crimes against humanity charges filed against the former state leader. In the Prosecution’s First Communication of the Disclosure of Evidence dated March 24, Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan said that, … Read more

Duterte confident there’s ‘no case’ to answer at ICC, says Sara

THE HAGUE — Former president Rodrigo Duterte believes he has no case to answer at the International Criminal Court, his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte said Sunday, and is confident he has a strong legal argument. The vice-president told reporters her father was now in better health after appearing fatigued and dazed at his first hearing … Read more

VP Sara: Arrest of Rodrigo Duterte done to ‘demolish political opponents’

Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday maintained that her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, was “illegally” arrested and was brought to The Hague, Netherlands only because of politics. The Vice President, who attended the Senate foreign relations committee hearing virtually, claimed that the Marcos administration is using government resources and the International Criminal Court (ICC) … Read more

Senate panel launches probe on Duterte’s arrest

The Senate foreign relations committee on Thursday launched an investigation into the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte on the basis of a warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court (ICC).  The probe is led by presidential sister and Senate panel chairperson Imee Marcos, who earlier decried the arrest of Duterte. Among the invited … Read more