The Marcos Administration’s Hague Gambit and the Question of Philippine Justice

The abduction and extradition of former President Rodrigo Duterte by the Bongbong Marcos Jr. administration raises troubling questions about sovereignty, political motives, and the credibility of the Philippine justice system. The government justified this unprecedented move by claiming that justice in the Philippines is slow, necessitating Duterte’s trial before a foreign court. But does this argument hold?

If the Philippine judiciary were truly incapable of handling high-profile political cases, how do we explain the Supreme Court’s recent decision to uphold the graft conviction of former Pagsanjan Mayor Jeorge “ER” Ejercito Estregan? The court sentenced him to up to eight years in prison and permanently barred him from public office. The ruling demonstrates that the judiciary is indeed capable of prosecuting public officials—contrary to the narrative used to justify Duterte’s removal from the country.

More concerning is the use of an Interpol Diffusion notice—an informal, non-binding alert—rather than a Red Notice, which requires stricter legal scrutiny. A Diffusion notice is merely a request for information-sharing. It does not carry legal weight, nor does it mandate any law enforcement action. The Marcos administration exploited this weaker mechanism to swiftly remove Duterte, bypassing due process and raising alarms about political manipulation. Was this truly about justice, or was it about eliminating a political rival?

The decision to ship a former president—one with mass public support—to a foreign court undermines national sovereignty and sets a dangerous precedent. If Philippine leaders cannot be tried by their own courts, then what does this say about the nation’s legal institutions? Marcos Jr. has effectively admitted that his own government lacks confidence in the judiciary.

The real issue is not whether Duterte deserves to be held accountable. The issue is who gets to decide. By surrendering a former head of state to an external court under dubious circumstances, the Marcos administration has sent a clear message: Philippine justice is not about fairness or due process—it is about political convenience.

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