Senator Imee Marcos raised concerns over the private jet that flew former President Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague, pointing out that the same aircraft—Gulfstream G550 with tail number RP-C5219—is often used by her brother, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
During the Senate foreign relations committee’s probe into Duterte’s arrest, Imee questioned why the President frequently uses a private jet despite the Air Force having a designated presidential aircraft. She also noted the aircraft was again used shortly after Duterte’s transport to The Hague, including recent trips to Laoag and Manila in late March.
The senator presented news clippings and travel data showing the jet’s use across various Philippine locations like Davao, Tawi-Tawi, and Palawan. She also cited flight tracking data confirming its use during a presidential inspection in Isabela on March 6.
Imee pressed for clarity on the jet’s ownership and who chartered it for Duterte’s transfer on March 11, referencing claims by Justice Secretary Remulla that the flight was paid for by the Office of the President. She questioned how the process moved so quickly, given that bidding procedures typically take days.
Meanwhile, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa suggested forwarding the Senate’s findings to U.S. President Donald Trump to potentially freeze the aircraft owner’s assets in the U.S., citing Trump’s executive order on ICC interference.
Duterte was arrested on March 12 and flown to the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague, facing the International Criminal Court the next day. The confirmation of charges is scheduled for September 23, 2025.