PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s sister, Senator Imee Marcos, has drawn mixed but largely supportive reactions from Dabawenyos after filing a bill that seeks to prohibit the arrest or detention of individuals in the country for the purpose of surrendering them to a foreign jurisdiction such as an international court without a warrant issued by a Philippine court.
What is President Rodrigo R. Duterte Act?
Senate Bill No. 557, titled the “President Rodrigo R. Duterte Act,” was filed on July 14, 2025, in direct response to the March 11 arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte (FPRRD) by authorities acting on an order from the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands.
“What took place on that fateful day was an extraordinary rendition — the transfer without due process of a detainee to the custody of a foreign jurisdiction,” Marcos said, describing the arrest as unconstitutional.
She emphasized the need for local legal safeguards, arguing that no individual should be handed over to an international body without a domestic court's order and a valid treaty backing the move.
The proposed legislation prohibits the investigation, arrest, detention, and transfer of any person within Philippine territory to any international tribunal or foreign entity, unless the act is supported by an existing treaty, the individual's consent, or a court order from a Philippine court.
The bill has sparked discussion among residents of Davao City, long known as a Duterte stronghold.
Dabawenyos’ thoughts
A 25-year-old development communicator, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue, told VoxPop Davao that while he identifies with left-leaning political ideals, he believes the bill has merit.
“I think it’s a good move. It reinforces the authority of the Philippine legal system. We must uphold the integrity of our own courts first,” he said.
Similar sentiments were shared by a 28-year-old citizen from Matina, who said the measure defends national sovereignty and legal due process.
“Regardless of who’s involved, arrests should always go through our own judicial system. We can’t let foreign bodies bypass our courts,” he said.
Meanwhile, a third Dabawenyo, a 32-year-old government employee from Toril said the bill may raise red flags among those who support international accountability, but agrees that due process must still be observed.
“I understand why some people are alarmed, especially those who want justice for human rights violations. But even so, we cannot allow any arrest or transfer without our courts being involved. That’s a basic principle of sovereignty,” she said.
Enforce existing laws, not create one
Enya Plaza, a resident of Cabantian, said that as a Dabawenyo, she understands that the bill proposed by Sen. Marcos seeks to protect Filipinos from being handed over to foreign jurisdictions without due process. She emphasized that this is important for the country's national sovereignty.
However, she believes that the Philippines already has existing laws, such as the Constitution and the Extradition Law, which provide protection against arbitrary arrest and ensure proper legal procedures.
“While the bill might reinforce these protections, there might be some redundancy since we already have legal safeguards in place,” she said.
Plaza added that instead of creating another law, the government should focus on properly enforcing existing ones to ensure a balance between protecting individual rights and upholding justice fairly.
Philippines’ identity
Isaih John Guanzon, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman of Tugbok Proper, said that the Rodrigo Duterte Act is more than just a legislative measure; it is a resolute defense of the identity of the Philippines.
He said that surrendering a Filipino to a foreign entity is not justice and is a betrayal of the constitution.
"This measure draws the line where it must be drawn: that no authority outside our jurisdiction may determine the fate of our citizens without lawful consent, due process, or national agreement," he said.
Meanwhile, Third District Councilor and the 21st City Council’s Floor Leader, Bai Hundra Cassandra Dominique Advincula, said she found Section 8 of the proposed Rodrigo Duterte Act noteworthy, as it stipulates recourse for victims falling under the definition of extrajudicial or ordinary rendition.
“Naay recourse ang any individual who is transferred from the Philippines to a foreign country or to international jurisdiction without their consent or any valid submitted court which I think could apply kay FPRRD,” she told VoxPop Davao in a phone interview on Friday, July 18, 2025.
(Any individual who is transferred from the Philippines to a foreign country or to an international jurisdiction without their consent or any valid court order has recourse, which I think could apply to FPRRD.)
She said that if the bill is passed into law, the legal team of FPRRD would be able to invoke this provision. She added that Marcos' proposal is commendable, as it not only applies to FPRRD’s situation but also to future cases where Filipinos may be subjected to extraordinary rendition in other countries without having been given the chance to be tried in a Philippine court.
She further said that the bill affirms the position of the Philippines that it is capable of trying its own citizens, considering that the country has functioning courts and bolsters the country’s sovereignty.
Advincula emphasized that the bill underscores the power of the judiciary as the sole arbiter in permitting or denying the transfer of Filipino citizens to foreign or international jurisdictions without their written consent or a valid court order.
She also said that the bill reinforces the criminal law principle of territoriality, which holds that if a crime occurs within Philippine jurisdiction, it is the Philippine courts that have the authority to try the case. The bill also stresses the importance of due process, ensuring that every Filipino has the right to be heard in a Philippine court before being subjected to any foreign legal proceedings.
To recall, FPRRD was taken to The Hague, Netherlands, on March 12, 2025. He made his first appearance before the ICC on March 14, 2025, via video link and is scheduled to attend the confirmation of charges on September 23, 2025.
The ICC is currently investigating Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity linked to his administration’s bloody war on drugs. RGP, DEF
