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Imee Marcos Files Bill to Block Foreign Arrests Without Local Warrant

 Manila – July 16, 2025

Senator Imee Marcos has filed Senate Bill No. 557, officially titled the “President Rodrigo R. Duterte Act,” which seeks to prohibit the arrest, detention, or transfer of any individual within Philippine territory to a foreign or international entity without a warrant issued by a Philippine court.

The proposed legislation comes in response to the March 11 arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who was turned over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity linked to his administration’s drug war. Marcos described the incident as an act of “extraordinary rendition”—a term used to denote the transfer of a detainee to foreign custody without due process.

🔍 Key Provisions of the Bill

The measure outlines several restrictions aimed at safeguarding national sovereignty and constitutional rights:

  • No arrest or transfer of individuals to foreign jurisdictions without a local court order or the person’s written consent

  • No investigations or prosecutions on behalf of foreign entities without a permit from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)

  • No entry of foreign agents into the country for the purpose of conducting unauthorized arrests or inquiries

  • Asset freezes for individuals charged under the Act, preventing financial transactions unless cleared by the courts

  • Legal remedies for victims of extraordinary rendition, including retroactive protection

  • Diplomatic repatriation efforts by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for Filipinos detained abroad under questionable circumstances

Violators may face up to 20 years in prison and fines reaching ₱10 million, making it one of the most stringent proposals aimed at curbing foreign legal influence on Philippine soil.

⚖️ Political and Legal Implications

Marcos emphasized that the bill is not just about Duterte, but about protecting all Filipinos from what she calls “abuses of authority” that could arise from unrecognized foreign jurisdictions. She argued that the ICC’s actions violated the Constitution and bypassed Philippine legal processes.

The bill has sparked debate among legal experts and human rights advocates, with some viewing it as a pushback against international accountability, while others see it as a necessary assertion of national legal autonomy.

Duterte remains detained at the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague, with his legal team seeking interim release and questioning the legality of his arrest. The ICC’s pre-trial hearing is scheduled for September 23, 2025.

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