SC Denies Duterte Camp’s Request for TRO Against ICC Arrest

The Supreme Court on Wednesday denied the petition of former President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Ronald Dela Rosa to immediately halt their arrest following warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity related to Duterte’s controversial war on drugs.  “After a virtual deliberation on the 94-page petition, the Court found that the petitioners failed to establish a clear and unmistakable right for the immediate issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO),” the Court said in a statement. The Court also directed Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and other respondents to comment on the TRO request within 10 days. Duterte was arrested Tuesday and has been flown to The Hague in the Netherlands, where the ICC is based.