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Bella Cariaso - The Philippine Star
May 13, 2026 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Veronica “Kitty” Duterte, daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, has filed before the Supreme Court a second motion to resolve habeas corpus petitions seeking the immediate return of her father.
Through her lawyer Paolo Panelo, Veronica sought her father’s return from The Hague, where he will face trial for crimes against humanity.
More than 14 months have passed since the petitions were filed on March 12, 2025, with no substantive action from the high court, Panelo said.
Dramatic events at the Senate on Monday “prove that immediate and decisive action on the petitions is not only warranted, but absolutely imperative,” Panelo argued.
“The executive shamelessly capitalized on the Supreme Court’s silence on the petitions as a license to perpetrate the same grave constitutional violations complained of in the petitions,” he added.
Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation on Monday attempted to enforce an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, one of the “co-perpetrators” of Duterte in his crimes against humanity case.
Panelo cited Senate Resolution 44, adopted on March 17, aimed at protecting all Filipinos from extrajudicial rendition, “the very fate suffered by (the former president).”
Respondents, represented by former executive secretary Lucas Bersamin, should take all available steps to facilitate the immediate return of the former president, Panelo said.
British lawyer eyed for Duterte
A British lawyer known for a high-profile acquittal at the ICC is being eyed as the former president’s new lead counsel.
Peter Haynes, former president of the ICC Bar Association, was confirmed to be the lawyer whose name was redacted in the request for withdrawal of Nicholas Kaufman, Duterte’s former lead defense counsel.
Haynes is known for his role in securing the acquittal on appeal of Congolese politician Jean-Pierre Bemba, who was initially convicted of crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The British lawyer was appointed by the ICC in 2024 to represent the interests of Ugandan militant Joseph Kony during his confirmation hearings, which were held in absentia last year.
The ICC Trial Chamber III earlier directed the release of the unredacted version of Kaufman’s request.
Haynes, who reportedly met with Duterte last weekend, has yet to be formally nominated as the former president’s new defense counsel.
In his request for withdrawal, Kaufman described Haynes as someone who has a “wealth of experience” at the ICC. – Janvic Mateo, Evelyn Macairan
