Sen. Imee Marcos

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Imee Marcos calls for a Senate investigation regarding the highly-contented and globally publicised arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte last March 11, an issue she believed “deeply divided the nation.” 

In a statement, the president’s sister said, “As chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, I am calling for an urgent investigation into the arrest of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, an issue that has deeply divided the nation.” 

The senator said it is “imperative to establish whether due process was followed and to ensure that his legal rights were not only upheld but protected especially given the involvement of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) and the International Criminal Court (ICC). 

With this, the senator invites key officials and agencies such as the Philippine National Police, Office of Transportation Secretary – Department of Transportation, Department of Justice, Department of Foreign Affairs, National Security Council, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and other concerned resource persons or witnesses. 

The senator maintains that the country’s “sovereignty and legal processes should remain paramount.” 

Apart from being the President Marcos Jr.’s sister, reelectionis Imee is also running under the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas ticket of the administration. 

Her position of being the middle of the warring political forces of the Marcoses and the Dutertes warranted Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin to ask the senator to decide who to take side. 

“I believe it’s time for the senator to really decide,” Garin said. 

“Whatever she chooses, so long as it’s just one stance, people will respect and believe [her] more. This would also allow her to take her campaign in a clearer direction,” Garin said. 

The senator had earlier denounced the arrest of the former president upon the strength of an ICC warrant. The president, who has had escalating tensions with the Dutertes, has always publicly declared non-cooperation with the ICC since the country is no longer a member state to the international tribunal. 

In his press con after the arrest however, Marcos reasoned that the government had to honor its commitment to the Interpol otherwise the international law enforcement body will cease to assist the Philippines in future extradition cases. 

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