MANILA — Top government officials on Thursday appeared before a Senate Committee on Foreign Relations inquiry investigating the arrest and transfer of former president Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague, the Netherlands.

Sen. Imee Marcos, sister of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, ordered the inquiry, saying Duterte’s arrest has “deeply divided the nation.”

Police, airport, justice and Foreign Affairs officials are among those invited in the investigation.

In the hearing, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the Philippine government has not contacted the International Criminal Court before Duterte's arrest.

He has defended the legality of the actions of the Philippine government under Republic Act No. 9851 or An Act Defining and Penalizing Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law.

Duterte was arrested Tuesday last week for a complaint on crimes aganst humanity filed before the ICC. He was sent to The Hague, the Netherlands on the same day.

He is set to attend a September 23 hearing to confirm the charges against him.

President Marcos said the Philippine government cooperated with the Interpol and not with the ICC in delivering Duterte to The Hague.

But his sister said her investigation would determine if domestic laws were violated by the arrest, insisting that "our sovereignty and legal processes must remain paramount."

Rodrigo Duterte and ICC: From years-long probe to 'unexpected' arrest

Sen. Bong Go during the Senate hearing on the condition of the National Center for Mental Health and the Mental Health Act in Pasay City on May 9, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

'TOO LATE THE HERO'

Meanwhile, Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go expressed frustration over the Senate hearing on former President Rodrigo Duterte's arrest, saying the effort was "too late" to bring his former boss back to the country.

As Duterte's former aide and long-time ally, Go said Wednesday that while he respects the initiative of Sen. Marcos, he is skeptical about the potential impact of the hearing.

"Ako bilang miyembro, sinasabi ko lang rin po ang aking mga hinanakit na parang too late na po eh. 'Yan ang tinatawag na too late the hero na po. Maibabalik mo ba si Tatay Digong dito? Kung maibabalik mo kahit araw-araw tayo mag-hearing," Go said in an interview in Mabalacat City, Pampanga.

(As a member of the committee, I am expressing my grievances that it seems too late. That’s what you call too late the hero. Can you bring Tatay Digong back here? If you can, then let’s hold hearings every day.)

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Go nonetheless acknowledged that legal questions surrounding Duterte's arrest might still warrant a discussion.

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