Senator Imee Marcos has filed a controversial bill titled the “President Rodrigo Roa Duterte Act” (PRRD Act), which seeks to prohibit the arrest or surrender of Filipino citizens to international tribunals without first being tried in Philippine courts.
“What happened was an extraordinary rendition — a transfer without due process to a foreign jurisdiction,” Marcos noted on her explanatory note.
The move has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from Akbayan Party-list Representative Chel Diokno, who called the measure a clear attempt to protect former President Rodrigo Duterte from prosecution before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The proposed legislation comes amid Duterte’s ongoing detention in The Hague, where he faces charges related to the thousands of killings under his administration’s war on drugs. Although the Philippines officially withdrew from the ICC in 2019, Diokno pointed out that the country remains bound by obligations under the Rome Statute for crimes committed while it was still a member.
“Included doon ‘yung ating obligasyon na sumunod. We have a duty to respect and to follow the procedures of the ICC. Any law that we will pass or that will be in violation of the Rome Statute, for me, would not be consistent with our obligations in the ICC,” Diokno explained.
He also raised concerns over the ability of the Philippine justice system to fairly handle cases of this magnitude, citing Duterte’s long-standing influence and numerous judicial appointments, which could potentially intimidate witnesses and might draw biased proceedings.
“A former president who also managed to appoint a lot of members of the judiciary, a former president who really waged a war on drugs that was a very violent war,” Dioko stressed as Duterte’s influence still manifests
“Kaya para sa akin, we can be assured of a fair trial if it’s done in the ICC. The judges there cannot be coerced, intimidated, or otherwise influenced in their decisions. Pati ang mga testigo ay hindi rin matatakot na humarap at sabihin ‘yung kanilang kaalaman,” he added.
Critics argue that the PRRD Act not only undermines international justice efforts but also sends a troubling message about the lengths to which political allies may go to defend each other.
As debate intensifies among the public, the PRRD Act is fast becoming a flashpoint in the broader conversation about justice, impunity, and the building loyalty of Senator Marcos with the Duterte’s.
