Iza Aldana
Feb 19, 2026
Resolution asserts due process, national courts’ primacy before any surrender to foreign tribunals
The Senate Minority Bloc has filed Senate Resolution No. 307, pressing for firm safeguards to protect Filipinos from what it describes as “extraordinary rendition” and to guarantee adequate time for recourse to local courts before any extradition or surrender to foreign tribunals, including the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The measure underscores the primacy of due process, the rule of law, and national sovereignty, anchoring its arguments on the 1987 Constitution and Section 17 of Republic Act No. 9851. Lawmakers backing the resolution argue that these protections are non-negotiable and must precede any action that could place a Filipino under the jurisdiction of an international court.
The resolution also cites concerns over the alleged surrender of former President Rodrigo Duterte without first being afforded the opportunity to seek relief before Philippine courts—an episode the bloc says raises serious constitutional questions.
Senate Minority Floor Leader Senator Alan Peter Cayetano framed the initiative as more than a procedural dispute. “This is not a technicality,” Cayetano said, describing the resolution as a defense of constitutional principles. Any accusation against a Filipino, he stressed, must first pass through the country’s judicial processes before international mechanisms are triggered.
Backers of the measure say the resolution aims to clarify the boundaries between domestic jurisdiction and international obligations, ensuring that Philippine courts remain the first forum for justice—while reaffirming the country’s commitment to lawful, orderly cooperation with the international community.