VERONICA “Kitty” Duterte has filed a second “Urgent Motion to Resolve” before the Supreme Court, seeking the immediate resolution of pending habeas corpus petitions filed on behalf of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The motion petitioned the High Tribunal to declare the former leader’s arrest—intended for his turnover to the International Criminal Court (ICC)—as illegal.
Furthermore, the Duterte camp is urging the Supreme Court to compel the Philippine government and named respondents to take all necessary measures to facilitate the former president’s return to the Philippines.
Defense counsel Atty. Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr. highlighted the “unreasonable delay” in resolving petitions first filed in March 2025, arguing that the inaction jeopardizes the former leader’s constitutional rights.
The filing cites Senate Resolution No. 44, a measure designed to protect Filipino citizens from being surrendered to foreign jurisdictions without exhaustive local legal remedies.
The urgency of the filing comes on the heels of a high-stakes standoff at the Senate involving Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
The Duterte camp pointed to this incident—linked to the alleged enforcement of ICC warrants—as clear evidence of an imminent “legal crisis” that requires the Supreme Court’s intervention.
“The continued silence of the Court amid these brazen attempts at rendition is no longer tenable,” the motion stated, citing the need for immediate judicial protection against foreign-led arrests.
If granted, the habeas corpus petition would effectively challenge the legality of any state cooperation with the ICC, potentially setting a landmark precedent on Philippine sovereignty and the jurisdiction of international courts over former heads of state.
The Supreme Court has yet to issue a response on the new motion.
