- Arrest of FPRRD had too many lapses
- From frugal and very private celebrations of his birthday, every nook and corner in the world joined the millions of Filipinos all over the country who have come out of their homes and poured to the streets to greet their living hero – former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on his 80th birthday.
The list of countries, towns and cities is too long to enumerate. The common cry “Bring home Tatay Digong” a deafening appeal that will not only reverberate in the halls of the International Criminal Court but the world over.
FPRRD was arrested last March 11 when he landed at NAIA from a brief sojourn in HongKong for a thanksgiving event with the Overseas Filipino Workers. He was shanghaied to the Hague in Netherlands and put to prison. All the due process were ignored prompting the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to conduct a probe.
The Committee, which is chaired by Presidential sister Sen. Imee Marcos, reported that the arrest had glaring lapses, the most serious among these are:
- The Philippines had no legal obligation to arrest former president Rodrigo Duterte and turn him to the International Criminal Court.
- The Philippine government decided to assist the ICC to arrest the former president. The administration already started preparations prior to March 11.
- There were glaring violations of the rights of the former president.
She added that the constitutional safeguards guaranteeing liberty and due process of law were disregarded.
Senator Marcos also disclosed that no warrant was issued by the Philippine court and added that the arrest did not fall within the exceptions of a warrantless arrest.
Duterte however is not cowed nor bowed despite his age and state of health. He remains a legitimate candidate for Mayor in Davao City. VP Inday Sara is always around to monitor his condition and tells her constituents to “move on”. While the critics of Duterte gave that a twisted meaning to suit their political agenda, the statement simply means move on with your normal chores for former President Duterte is okay. She exudes confidence she will bring home Tatay Digong.
As of press time all immediate family members of the former President, including his daughters VP Inday Sara, the eldest, and Kitty, the youngest are in the Netherlands to be with him on his birthday.
In the meanwhile the deafening greetings of Happy Birthday have not ceased to ebb and is awe-inspiring.
