Senator Alan Peter Cayetano criticized the sudden transfer of former President Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague without first exhausting legal remedies in the Philippines.
In a Facebook livestream after Interpol flew Duterte to The Netherlands, Cayetano expressed disbelief over what he called a lack of due process.
“It just boggles my mind how we could put him on a plane and simply say, ‘Sa Hague na lang magpaliwanag,'” he said.
Cayetano, a lawtyer, stressed that every Filipino, including a former president, has the right to due process under the country’s justice system. “Ang pinaka-minimum is due process and letting everyone avail of the legal remedies,” he said.
He also questioned whether Philippine courts had verified the warrant of arrest.
“Hindi ba basic right ng kahit sinong Pilipino, much more a former President, na he can go to court and ask the court to interpret [the situation] bago natin gawin [ang arrest]?”
Cayetano warned that this incident could set a dangerous precedent, undermining the country’s judicial system. “Hindi pwedeng may korte [tayo], huhulihin mo tapos isasakay mo na lang sa eroplano… [We] have a court, [we] have a system that’s working,” he said.
“Kailangan malinaw sa DOJ, sa PNP, sa militar, sa practicing lawyers, sa mga businessmen, sa mga anak natin, na sa Pilipinas, kapag may nag-accuse sa ‘yo, you have a court that you can run to and [be given] reasonable time.”
Cayetano argued that Duterte, at 79 years old, should have been allowed to rest, consult his lawyers, and let Philippine courts clarify the situation. “Will they (Philippine embassy) give assistance to PRRD knowing na dito hindi natin hinintay y’ung korte? Paano y’ung mga lawyers na kailangan niya doon? Paano y’ung doctors na kailangan niya doon?” he asked.
The senator from Taguig urged Filipinos to stay united, not for political reasons, but in upholding due process.
“Nationwide, I know this is a very divisive issue… Alam kong serious y’ung charges… and I also criticized behind closed doors,” he said. “But ang point ko, pagdating sa due process at legal remedies, hindi dapat tayo hati-hati.”
Cayetano ended by calling for prayers for the country and its leaders. “Pray for the country. We’re at a crossroads. Pray for the PNP, pray for our courts,” he said.IMT
