The Senate has spoken. On Wednesday, senators voted on a resolution urging the International Criminal Court (ICC) to allow former president Rodrigo Duterte to be placed under house arrest instead of regular detention — citing his old age and failing health as reasons for “humanitarian consideration.”
Out of the 20 senators present, 15 voted yes, three voted no, and two abstained. The proposal, known as Senate Resolution No. 144, was introduced by Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri.
The resolution calls on the ICC to assign a doctor who will assess Duterte’s condition. If medical findings show that detention could worsen his health, the Senate says he should be allowed house arrest — subject to ICC-imposed restrictions to ensure the integrity of the trial.
Who Voted Yes, No, and Abstained
Among those who backed the resolution were Senators Zubiri, Alan Cayetano, Imee Marcos, Robin Padilla, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Bong Go, Jinggoy Estrada, Loren Legarda, Ping Lacson, and others.
Voting “no” were Senators Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino, and Kiko Pangilinan.
Abstaining were Senate President Tito Sotto and Raffy Tulfo.
Meanwhile, Lito Lapid, Pia Cayetano, Camille Villar, and Chiz Escudero were absent during the vote.
The Voices of Opposition
Senator Risa Hontiveros strongly opposed the motion. She argued that if Duterte is truly ill, he should be treated at a hospital in The Hague, with support from the Philippine Embassy.
She delivered an emotional reminder of the thousands of lives lost during the war on drugs.
“The atrocities are not imagined. They are destroyed lives — poor Filipinos, grieving parents, unmarked graves, and a culture of impunity still haunting our society,” Hontiveros said.
She stressed that the families of the victims are still demanding truth and accountability.
“And yet here we are, talking about humanitarian considerations for the very man accused of crimes against them.”
Senator Kiko Pangilinan echoed her sentiments, saying he chose to stand with the victims of the drug war.
“Thousands were killed. Thousands more lost fathers, mothers, children. They cry for justice. Where do we stand? Humanitarian consideration for one man, or justice for thousands of our fellow Filipinos?” he asked.
Calls for Compassion
Others, however, emphasized mercy. Senate President Tito Sotto abstained, saying he wanted to avoid further division in the country.
“I support efforts to bring comfort to FPRRD. But my conscience tells me that my decision should not further divide the nation,” he explained.
Representative Rodante Marcoleta, co-sponsoring the resolution, underscored that justice should not exclude compassion.
“We are not asking for freedom from the process, nor are we judging the cases against him. We are simply calling for humanitarian consideration — that, because of his age and frail condition, he be placed under house arrest.”
A Divided Senate, A Divided Nation
The Senate’s move highlights the deep divide in the country: between those who demand justice for the thousands killed under the war on drugs, and those who believe compassion should be extended even to the accused.
For now, all eyes are on the ICC. The world is waiting to see whether the former president will face detention behind bars — or serve his time under the guarded walls of his own home.
