The Senate yesterday approved a resolution asking the International Criminal Court (ICC) to consider placing former president Rodrigo Duterte under house arrest on humanitarian grounds.
The resolution, a tapered version of a lengthier one filed by Duterte allies in the chamber, was approved 15-3-2 by the chamber.
It was introduced by Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and was sponsored by Senators Ronald dela Rosa, Robin Padilla, Imee Marcos, Rodante Marcoleta, Bong Go, Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva.
All of them voted yes alongside Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, JV Ejercito, Loren Legarda, Panfilo Lacson, Erwin Tulfo and Mark Villar.
Meanwhile, senators who voted no were Risa Hontiveros, Francis Pangilinan and Bam Aquino.
In her explanation of vote, Hontiveros argued there was no proof the ICC was neglecting Duterte’s welfare, noting that his family recently described him as ‘well, even jolly.’
Pangilinan echoed Hontiveros, saying that the cries for justice from thousands of victims of extrajudicial killings must take precedence.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III abstained, saying he also would not like to disrespect families of victims of alleged extrajudicial killings.
Sen. Raffy Tulfo also abstained, stressing he would have voted yes had Duterte’s being unwell was certain.
Senators Camille Villar, Lito Lapid, Francis Escudero and Pia Cayetano were not in the session hall when the chamber voted.
Meanwhile, Duterte-allied senators yesterday used a Commission on Appointments hearing to grill an Air Force general, Maj. Gen. Loreto Pasamonte, zeroing in on his unit’s supposed role in the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte during proceedings originally set to confirm the promotion of 39 military officers.
Former Bayan Muna representative Neri Colmenares, for his part, said Duterte’s present health status should not be a cause of delay or postponement of the confirmation of charges hearing against him.