Manila, Philippines — Deemed as a significant case, the urgency of the matter led the Supreme Court to hold a special raffle regarding the petition filed by former President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa against the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) warrant of arrest.
In an official statement on Wednesday, the SC Office of the Spokesperson announced their decision regarding the petition, hours after Duterte’s arrest and flight to ICC in the Netherlands.
Based on the decision, SC did not grant the petition for the immediate issuance of a TRO that will prohibit the Philippines from coordinating with ICC and its investigation regarding the 2016 war on drugs campaign.
SC said that the petitioners failed to establish a clear and unmistakable right for the immediate issuance of a TRO, as appealed by Duterte.
However, the High Court said that it has ordered the respondents of the petition to comment on the petition with prayer for TRO and/or writ of preliminary injunction within 10 days from notice.
Among the respondents are Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Department of Justice, Department of Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Office of the Solicitor General, Bureau of Immigration, Department of Foreign Affairs, and Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Meanwhile, the High Court has also held a special raffle for the two petitions for the writ of habeas corpus for the former president filed by his children, Davao City mayor Sebastian Duterte and Veronica “Kitty” Duterte.