MANILA — The Senate Minority bloc has introduced a resolution calling for the protection of Filipinos against extraordinary rendition and ensuring access to legal remedies in Philippine courts before any surrender or extradition linked to the International Criminal Court.

Senate Resolution No. 307, filed on February 18, 2026, expresses the chamber’s position that Filipinos must be given reasonable time to seek judicial relief prior to any transfer to an international tribunal.

“It is the sense of the Senate of the Philippines to protect all Filipinos against extraordinary rendition and guarantee them a reasonable time prior to their surrender by or extradition from the Philippines to seek redress from the courts and avail of legal remedies,” the resolution stated.

“Due process and national sovereignty are two of the most fundamental tenets of our Constitution, the bedrock of our civil society, without which we can only hope in vain to honor God, build communities, and transform the nation,” it added.

The Minority bloc filed the measure amid continuing debates over the scope of international criminal jurisdiction and the absence of prior recourse to local courts. The group has argued that bypassing domestic judicial processes undermines both sovereignty and due process.

The resolution cited constitutional principles on independent foreign policy, national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and due process. It pointed to the surrender of former president Rodrigo Duterte to the ICC without judicial redress as an example of what it described as a denial of due process and a violation of national sovereignty under Section 17 of Republic Act No. 9851.

It also raised concerns over the inclusion of incumbent senators as “co-perpetrators” in an ICC document, saying such references make them vulnerable to extraordinary rendition. The resolution emphasized the need for the State to ensure that any person sought for extradition or surrender is afforded reasonable time and opportunity to access the country’s legal system.

“Due process and the rule of law should not be sacrificed at the altar of a blind pursuit of justice. The 1987 Constitution guarantees that in all criminal prosecutions, an accused shall be presumed innocent until the contrary is proved, and that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law,” the resolution noted.

In a media interview on Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said the measure is grounded not only on legal technicalities but on the spirit of the 1987 Constitution.

“Ang diwa ng ating Saligang Batas ay malinaw: kung may problema o paratang laban sa isang Pilipino, may karapatan siyang dumulog sa ating mga hukuman. Hindi maaaring isantabi ang ating mga korte,” he said.

“Kung ang magiging interpretasyon ay kapag may arrest order mula sa ICC o kahit anong international court ay agad na dadamputin at dadalhin sa ibang bansa, napaka-delikado nito. Hindi lang ito usapin ng isang tao — usapin ito ng ating soberanya at ng ating constitutional framework,” he added.