Manila [Philippines], March 18: The Philippines Senate has announced it will probe the arrest and handover of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The "urgent investigation" was declared by Senator Imee Marcos, sister of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, on Monday. The detainment and deportation of Duterte last week has roiled the country's political scene before midterm elections in May.
"It is imperative to establish whether due process was followed and to ensure that his legal rights were not just upheld but protected," said Senator Marcos, who heads the Senate's foreign relations committee. "Our sovereignty and legal processes must remain paramount," she said, acknowledging that the arrest "has deeply divided the nation".
The Senate has set a public hearing for Thursday and invited police and other government officials to give evidence. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune
