Voters' stand on Duterte’s arrest is crucial in 2025 polls — Drilon

Metro Manila, Philippines - Whether Filipino voters see Ex-President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest as legal or not will be crucial in winning their favor for the 2025 midterm elections, former Senate President Franklin Drilon said on Saturday.

In an interview, Drilon said voters are law-abiding Filipinos who are now questioning whether the arrest did not violate any law.

“Kung ang mga tao ay maniwala na ang pagkahuli kay Duterte ay legal at may basehan, walang epekto yan sa eleksyon,” the former lawmaker said.

“Ngunit, kung makumbinsi ang mga tao na walang karapatan ang ICC na hulihin si Digong, maapektuhan po ‘yung chances ng administration candidate,” he added.

[Translation: If people believe that Duterte’s arrest is legal and there is

basis, that has no effect on the election. But, if people are convinced that the ICC has no right to arrest Digong, the chances of the administration candidates will be affected.]

He pointed out that this may be the reason behind the Duterte camp’s defense which consistently insists that the arrest was illegal.

As Duterte’s confirmation of charges hearing is set for September, Drilon pointed out that the case will still be pending during the May 12 elections and Filipinos’ take on the arrest’s legality would still be unclear.

“Kung sino makakumbinsi sa taong bayan na ito'y may basehan o walang basihan, ‘yan po ang makaka-apekto sa chances ng administration at ng oposisyon,” Drilon said.

[Translation: Whoever can convince the people that this has a basis or no basis, this will affect the chances of the administration and the opposition.]

Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to rule on the issue of jurisdiction before Duterte appears for the confirmation of charges in September. 

The Palace has repeatedly insisted that Duterte’s arrest was in accordance with the government’s commitment to the International Police Organization (Interpol).

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro earlier said that arrest was common and based on Republic Act 9851 of the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity.

The former president is accused of committing murder, qualified as a crime against humanity, allegedly between November 1, 2011 and March 16, 2019, in the Philippines as part of his administration’s bloody war on illegal drugs.