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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Makabayan bloc trashes Senate resolution seeking house arrest for Rodrigo Duterte

Makabayan bloc trashes Senate resolution seeking house arrest for Rodrigo Duterte

Published Oct 2, 2025 04:27 pm

At A Glance

  • Self-serving, a mockery of justice. That's how the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives described the Senate's resolution urging the International Criminal Court (ICC) to place former president Rodrigo Duterte under house arrest.
Former president Rodrigo Duterte (PPAB)
Former president Rodrigo Duterte (PPAB)


Self-serving, a mockery of justice.
That's how the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives described the Senate resolution that urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to place former president Rodrigo Duterte under house arrest.
"We, the Makabayan bloc in Congress, vehemently condemn the Senate's resolution...This is not a humanitarian gesture, but a brazen attempt to obstruct justice and protect a mass murderer responsible for thousands of extrajudicial killings (EJK)," the Makabayan said in a joint statement Thursday, Oct. 2.
The militant faction is composed of ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago, and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co.
Ex-president Duterte has been incarcerated at the ICC in the Netherlands since mid-March. He is facing a charge of crimes against humanity in connection with his administration's bloody war on illegal drugs.
"The Makabayan bloc points out the irony that one of the resolution's sponsors, Senator Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa, was himself named as a potential co-perpetrator in the ICC document detailing three counts of murder against Duterte," Tinio said.
"How can someone involved in a crime pass a resolution about it and to his benefit. This just proves that the Dutertes are still very powerful in the Philippines and no justice can be achieved if he is tried here," noted the deputy minority leader.
Co emphasized the political nature of the resolution: "This is nothing more than a political maneuver designed to protect Duterte and his cohorts from facing the full weight of international justice."
"The Senate is more concerned with protecting a former president than delivering justice to thousands of victims of state-sponsored killings," she said.
"Justice demands that Duterte face trial for his crimes. House arrest is nothing but a mockery of the legal process and an insult to the families who continue to seek accountability," Co stressed.
Elago, for her part, said: "There are also numerous elderly and sick political prisoners now, but none of them have earned any Senate resolution because they do not count as rich and powerful. There is a terrible imbalance and double standard with this Senate resolution."
"We reject the Senate's claims of humanitarian concerns...The Makabayan bloc calls on the ICC to proceed with the prosecution without compromise," the trio further said.
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