Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s continued detention in The Hague has triggered a political and humanitarian appeal from Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who has filed a resolution urging the Philippine government to request the International Criminal Court (ICC) to allow Duterte to be placed under house arrest at the Philippine embassy in the Netherlands while awaiting trial.

Cayetano, who once served as Duterte’s foreign affairs secretary, cited the former president’s deteriorating health, old age, and emotional toll from isolation. He insisted that Duterte should be treated with compassion and be presumed innocent until proven guilty, in accordance with international standards. Despite the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2019, the resolution argues that the embassy in The Hague can still negotiate with the ICC to accommodate Duterte under guarded house arrest, drawing on legal precedents such as the 2009 interim release of Congolese rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo.

Cayetano emphasized that granting Duterte house arrest would be a minimal gesture of respect for a former head of state. He appealed to the government to advocate for his release and make necessary arrangements to support his comfort and dignity in the final years of his life.

Vice President Sara Duterte, currently staying in the Netherlands pending her own Senate impeachment trial, shared a personal moment between her father and her 12-year-old son. She recalled Duterte telling the boy that not everyone in detention is bad, saying, “I am not here because I’m a thief, a robber, or a criminal. I am here because I did things for my country. And I do not regret going after drug dealers and criminals.”

The Vice President expressed disappointment at the absence of her father’s political allies during his arrest at Villamor Air Base on March 11, though she noted that Senator Imee Marcos, despite not being present at the event, had met with Duterte’s lead counsel in The Hague.

Duterte is currently facing charges of crimes against humanity in connection with his controversial war on drugs, which claimed more than 6,000 lives and drew international criticism for alleged human rights violations. While supporters argue that his actions were part of a legitimate national campaign against crime, others assert that he must be held accountable for the violent outcomes of his policies.

As pressure builds on both the Philippine government and the ICC, questions remain over whether Duterte will be granted house arrest — and how his legacy will be judged by history.