A political earthquake rocked Manila on Thursday as allies of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte stormed Congress to impeach his successor—only to hit a wall.
At 3:20 p.m., former lawmaker Ronald Cardema and his wife, Duceille Marie, marched into the House of Representatives. Their mission: file a bombshell complaint accusing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of betraying the Philippines by allowing Duterte’s arrest for an ICC trial. But the door was shut.
“We waited until closing time. No one would take it,” Cardema told reporters. A sign on the office warned staff were away for planning sessions until May 8. House Speaker Martin Romualdez later shrugged it off: “Even if they filed, nothing happens until June.”
Stalled Filing Sparks Chaos
The Cardemas’ 24-page complaint claims Marcos violated the Constitution by surrendering Duterte to Interpol. They argue the ICC lost jurisdiction when the Philippines quit the Rome Statute in 2019. But the Supreme Court ruled in 2021 the country must still cooperate.
“This is a betrayal of sovereignty,” Ronald Cardema declared. His sister, Duterte Youth Rep. Drixie Mae Cardema, was set to endorse the complaint—but time ran out.
Palace Fires Back
Malacañang Palace insists the arrest was legal. “We followed Interpol rules and our own laws,” a spokesperson said, citing Section 17 of RA 9851. The law allows surrendering suspects to international courts.
Legal experts are split. Retired Justice Antonio Carpio backs the arrest, while ex-Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea claims Duterte should’ve faced Philippine courts first.
What’s Next?
Congress resumes June 2, but the session ends June 13—leaving little time for action. Meanwhile, VP Sara Duterte faces her own impeachment trial in July.
“This isn’t over,” warned a House staffer. “When the doors reopen, the fight begins.”
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