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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Palace: Habeas corpus petition to bring Duterte back may be moot and academic

Palace: Habeas corpus petition to bring Duterte back may be moot and academic

Published Mar 12, 2025 05:02 am

At A Glance

  • In a press briefing, Castro, a lawyer herself, said she doesn't believe the petition is still workable. However, the decision was still up to the Supreme Court.

Malacañang thought that Veronica Duterte's petition for a writ of habeas corpus to bring back her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, may no longer have bearing as the latter was already brought out of the country.

Panelo
'BRING DUTERTE BACK' — Lawyer Salvador Panelo files a petition for a writ of habeas corpus before the Supreme Court on behalf of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter, Veronica “Kitty” Duterte, March 12, 2025. The petition challenges the legality of the former president’s arrest, questioning the grounds and procedures undertaken by authorities. The filing argues that Duterte’s detention violates constitutional rights and due process, raising concerns about political motivations behind the move. Panelo and his legal team seek immediate relief from the court, including Duterte’s release and a review of the circumstances surrounding his arrest. (Mark Balmores)

Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said this after the youngest Duterte daughter, together with former Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo, filed the said petition before the Supreme Court on Wednesday morning, March 11.

In a press briefing the same morning, Castro, a lawyer herself, said she doesn't believe the petition is still workable.

"Normally po, usually po kapag po ang tao ay nasa ibang bansa na po at nadala na po, nagiging moot and academic yung issue (if the subject is already brought outside the country, the issue becomes moot and academic)," she said.

However, Castro said the decision was still up to the Supreme Court.

"Depende pa rin po 'yan sa Supreme Court. Hindi po natin pwedeng pangunahan kung ano ang magiging desisyon ng Supreme Court dito (It still depends o nthe Supreme Court. We cannot preempt its decision)," she said.

Even Silvestre Bello III, one of former president Duterte's legal counsels, did not think the habeas corpus petition would still work.

"Actually, sa tingin ko, hindi na workable yung petition for habeas corpus dahil nandoon na, nilipad na, eh (I think the petition is no longer workable because Duterte's already out of the country)," he told GMA's Unang Balita on Wednesday.

"That petition for habeas corpus, went with it [was the] prayer for a temporary restraining order para sana ay mapigil nila ang pagkuha kay dating pangulong Duterte... Eh wala, hindi nila hinintay. Wala namang action from Supreme Court (to stop them from getting Duterte, but they did not wait for it. The Supreme Court didn't act on it)," he added.

Panelo and his son Salvador Paolo Jr. filed the said petition against the Philippine government for "detaining, kidnapping, and surrendering" Duterte to a foreign institution.

Duterte was arrested on Tuesday, March 11, following the issuance of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity. He was flown out of the country late Tuesday evening on his way to The Hague.

Related Tags

claire castro President Duterte salvador panelo
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