Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano has called on Malacañang to formally request the International Criminal Court (ICC) to consider placing former President Rodrigo Duterte under house arrest, citing humanitarian concerns.

The appeal came during the Senate’s deliberation of Senate Resolution No. 144, which expresses the chamber’s collective sentiment on the matter. Cayetano, one of the resolution’s principal authors, emphasized the need for compassion and national unity in addressing Duterte’s current situation.

“This is a humanitarian appeal, and we should act as a country,” Cayetano said during the plenary session. “He is a citizen of the Philippines, 80 years old, in need of medical attention, family support, and human interaction.”

The resolution, backed by 15 senators with three opposing votes and two abstentions, urges the ICC to assign a medical professional to assess Duterte’s fitness for trial. If the evaluation finds that continued detention would further compromise his health, the Senate recommends house arrest as a more humane alternative.

Duterte has been detained in The Hague, Netherlands, for nearly seven months while facing charges of crimes against humanity. Reports indicate that he is suffering from serious health issues and cognitive decline, prompting the ICC to delay its confirmation of charges hearing.

Senators supporting the measure include Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Minority bloc members Christopher “Bong” Go, Robinhood Padilla, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Imee Marcos, Rodante Marcoleta, Joel Villanueva, and Jinggoy Estrada. They collectively urged the ICC to consider Duterte’s age and medical condition in determining the terms of his detention.

The resolution also outlines conditions for house arrest that would preserve the integrity of the trial, such as restricting contact with victims or witnesses and requiring compliance with ICC summons. It cites Article 10 (1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which affirms the humane treatment of all persons deprived of liberty.

Cayetano clarified that the resolution does not seek to undermine the gravity of the charges against Duterte. “Human rights must be upheld, and the truth must be uncovered. But we must also ensure that no one suffers unnecessarily before conviction,” he said.

Senate Resolution No. 144 echoes similar appeals made in the 20th Congress, including Senate Resolution No. 17 filed by Cayetano in July, which likewise called for Duterte’s interim release on humanitarian grounds.