Senator Robinhood C. Padilla filed a resolution on Monday seeking to defend former President Rodrigo Duterte from the International Criminal Court's (ICC) investigation, claiming that the Philippines has a functioning and independent judicial system.

Padilla asked his colleagues to support Senate Resolution 488, which seeks to "declare unequivocal defense of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the 16th President of the Republic of the Philippines, in any investigation or prosecution by the ICC."

On Monday, the Lower House approved a similar resolution introduced by former President and now Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

House Resolution 780 praised Duterte for his "remarkable achievements brought about by his relentless campaign against illegal drugs, insurgency, separatism, and terrorism, corruption in government, and criminality," which have made Filipinos' lives "better, more comfortable, and peaceful."

Padilla also stated that the Office of the Prosecutor was authorized by a panel of judges at the International Criminal Court in The Hague to resume its investigation into alleged crimes against humanity in the Philippines, which Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla described as "totally unacceptable."

According to the senator, the Duterte presidency brought about "remarkable accomplishments" through a relentless campaign against illegal drugs, insurgency, separatism, terrorism, corruption, and criminality, while the peace and order situation significantly improved.

Padilla's resolution also stated that the former president believed that the widespread, serious, and rampant illegal drug problem "poses an existential threat to the country's social fabric" and that combating illegal drugs, corruption, and other crimes "is a prerequisite for achieving genuine growth and prosperity."