The government officials in charge won’t be attending the second day of the Senate investigation about the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Imee Marcos said on Tuesday.
What Happened?
Duterte was arrested on March 11, 2025, in The Hague, Netherlands. He was taken into custody because of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes related to his war on drugs. Many people in the Philippines were shocked and had questions about what really happened.
To get answers, the Senate started an investigation. They called important government officials to explain what they knew about the arrest. The first hearing happened on March 20, where many officials spoke. But when the Senate asked them to come back for a second hearing on April 3, they refused.
Why Won’t They Attend?
Senator Imee Marcos, who is leading the investigation, said she received a letter from Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin saying that officials from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s government would not be joining the hearing.
Bersamin later confirmed the letter but mentioned that an updated version would be sent soon.
Senator Imee was disappointed because she still had a lot of unanswered questions.
“It’s sad because many people are still asking questions. There are details that don’t match up,” she said.
The President’s Stand
President Marcos Jr. has said he will not stop the investigation, but the letter from Bersamin seems to say otherwise.
The letter explained that officials already answered enough questions during the first hearing, and there was no need to attend again. It also mentioned Executive Order 464 (EO 464), which protects private discussions between the President and his Cabinet members.
What is EO 464?
EO 464 is a rule made by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. It allows government officials to refuse to answer some questions in a Senate hearing if the topic is a private discussion with the President.
However, Senator Imee disagrees with using EO 464 to avoid answering more questions.
She explained that officials can only use this rule for certain questions, not everything.
“Executive privilege doesn’t cover all topics,” she said.
Was Duterte’s Arrest Legal?
Senator Imee believes that Duterte’s rights were violated when he was arrested. But the Palace and other officials say that the law was followed.
They pointed to Republic Act 9851, which allows the Philippines to surrender suspects to international courts like the ICC if an investigation is already happening there.
What Happens Next?
After his arrest, Duterte was sent to Scheveningen Prison in The Hague on March 13, 2025. The next day, he attended a court hearing online where the ICC officially read the charges against him.
The confirmation of these charges will take place on September 23, 2025. That means the world will have to wait to see what happens next in this major case.
Final Thoughts
Many people are still looking for answers. Some believe the arrest was unfair, while others say it followed the law. The Senate hoped to get more clarity in the second hearing, but with government officials refusing to attend, the mystery around Duterte’s arrest continues.
