Petition to free Duterte from ICC custody gains nearly 500,000 signatures

A screenshot of the online petition as of 1pm on March 22, 2025. CHANGE.ORG

An online petition demanding the release of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte from the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has amassed nearly 500,000 signatures, as his supporters intensify calls for his return to the Philippines. Launched on change.org, the petition titled “Rage Against the Deception of the World! Free the Asian, Filipino Duterte!” had collected 493,251 verified signatures as of 1pm on Saturday (March 22). The petition argues that Duterte should be tried in the Philippines, not in an international court, and accuses the ICC of violating Philippine sovereignty. Supporters have also flooded the ICC’s Facebook page, denouncing the charges against Duterte as “unjust” and “politically motivated.” “Bring him back to the Philippines. Let the Philippine Government exercise sovereignty and due process,” one supporter wrote. Another comment read: “Look at what this man did for his beloved country. Do your research, and you’ll see how he became the greatest president the Philippines ever had.” The ICC has not issued an official response regarding the petition as of this publication.

Duterte’s ICC case and arrest

Duterte was arrested on March 11 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila and later transferred to The Hague, Netherlands, where the ICC is prosecuting him for crimes against humanity in connection with his war on drugs. The Philippine Senate launched an urgent investigation into Duterte’s arrest on March 20, questioning the role of local authorities in executing the warrant. During the hearing, Senator Imee Marcos—sister of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.—criticized the Philippine government’s decision to surrender Duterte to the ICC. “Bakit natin isinuko ang isang kapwa Pilipino? (Why did we surrender a fellow Filipino?)" Marcos asked. Vice President Sara Duterte, appearing via video conference, condemned her father’s arrest as “extraordinary rendition.” “If a former president can be taken without due process, what stops them from doing the same to any other Filipino?” she questioned. Meanwhile, former president Duterte is set to appear before the ICC in September for a hearing to confirm the charges against him. Political analysts suggest that the arrest has shattered the Marcos-Duterte alliance, which played a key role in the 2022 elections. With the midterm elections approaching in May, tensions between political factions are expected to escalate. ICA/CAM/Expat Media