In an ongoing probe by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Senator Imee Marcos once again raised questions about the legality of former President Rodrigo Duterte‘s arrest.
On Thursday, April 3, Marcos said that the Philippines is not obligated to cooperate with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), citing the case of former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr.
In February 2024, Interpol issued a red notice against Teves, a suspect in the assassination of former Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, after he flew out of the Philippines late in February 2023 and was found in Timor-Leste in September 2023. Teves was arrested in the Timor-Leste capital of Dili in March 2024. In March 2025, Timor-Leste’s Court of Appeals denied his extradition to the Philippines.
Marcos said that the government of Timor-Leste has not yet faced repercussions for not turning Teves over to Interpol. “Pwede palang hindi-an [and Interpol],” she said.
Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said, “It is very clear na ang papel ng Interpol is is purely coordinative and [for] sharing of information. So kung ang Interpol ay magdala ng warrant dito coming from [the International Criminal Court], napakadaling sabihin ng [Philippine National Police], ‘Sorry, Interpol, I cannot cooperate with you. We do not recognize the jurisdiction of ICC.’”
‘Following Orders’
In the hearing, dela Rosa also said he understood that police and military officers were only “following orders.”
“They are just following orders,” he said. “Pero ‘pag umabot sa punto na ‘yong order na ibinibigay sa inyo ay very unconstitutional, at klarong may nilalabag na mga batas, dapat tayo na mga sundalo, mga pulis, mag-isip-isip din tayo dahil ang ating oath is to serve and to protect, hindi po para mag-violate ng batas.”
Dela Rosa led the war on drugs as a former PNP chief. The ICC Office of the Prosecutor identifies him as a suspect in the alleged crimes against humanity committed under the Duterte administration.
Marcos questioned Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro’s statement in the first hearing on March 20, in which he claimed the Armed Forces of the Philippines were “deputized to support the PNP” as part of their “constitutional duty to follow processes.”
“Ang tanong natin, sino nag-utos? Sino nag-deputize?” Marcos asked.
In response, dela Rosa said that only President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Sen. Imee Marcos’ brother, can give Teodoro orders.
“Nobody can make an order to a secretary of defense kundi somebody above him,” said dela Rosa. “And who is above the secretary of national defense? It is the president of the Republic of the Philippines.”
Marcos and dela Rosa are both seeking third terms as senators in the midterm elections.
Presidential Cabinet Snub
The Senate hearing on Thursday marks the second in the Senate’s probe of Duterte’s arrest, which Marcos called for on March 17. Aside from Teodoro, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla also attended the hearing on March 20.
In a letter addressed to Marcos and Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, dated March 31, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said members of the Presidential Cabinet will not attend the April 3 hearing, as they have already disclosed all information not classified as privileged. “We believe that all matters not covered as executive privilege have already been extensively discussed,” Bersamin wrote.
Escudero said on Thursday that the Senate’s legal team is reviewing dela Rosa’s proposal to issue subpoenas to summon the cabinet members in the next hearing, which has no date yet.
