(UPDATE) THE Philippine National Police (PNP) is on heightened alert and is preparing to deploy thousands of policemen to arrest former president Rodrigo Duterte following the issuance of a red notice by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), The Manila Times learned from an unimpeachable source.
The source, who had knowledge of the security preparations, said at least 7,000 police personnel will be mobilized to hunt down and arrest the former leader, who has been investigated by the International Criminal Court for thousands of deaths linked to his anti-drug war.
The source said that security forces will secure major entry points across the country, including seaports and airports, in preparation for Duterte’s return from Sara Duterte.
However, efforts to capture Duterte will be concentrated in Metro Manila and in Davao, his home province.
The number of officers to be deployed is said to be double that fielded in the manhunt last year for Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy.
A high-ranking police official, who requested anonymity, confirmed the deployment.
“We are taking all necessary security precautions to ensure public safety and to uphold any legal obligations that may arise from the Interpol notice,” he told The Manila Times.
A red notice is a request Interpol sends to law enforcement agencies to arrest a person facing an arrest warrant or court order issued by judicial authorities.
Former President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte arrives inside the Southorn Stadium during a thanksgiving gathering organized by Hong Kong-based Filipino workers for the former populist president in Hong Kong on Sunday, March 9, 2025. AP PHOTO
Former President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte speaks inside the Southorn Stadium during a thanksgiving gathering organized by Hong Kong-based Filipino workers for the former populist president in Hong Kong on Sunday, March 9, 2025. AP PHOTO
Former President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte arrives inside the Southorn Stadium during a thanksgiving gathering organized by Hong Kong-based Filipino workers for the former populist president in Hong Kong on Sunday, March 9, 2025. AP PHOTO
Former President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte speaks inside the Southorn Stadium during a thanksgiving gathering organized by Hong Kong-based Filipino workers for the former populist president in Hong Kong on Sunday, March 9, 2025. AP PHOTO
Former President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte speaks inside the Southorn Stadium during a thanksgiving gathering organized by Hong Kong-based Filipino workers for the former populist president in Hong Kong on Sunday, March 9, 2025. AP PHOTO
Former President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte speaks inside the Southorn Stadium during a thanksgiving gathering organized by Hong Kong-based Filipino workers for the former populist president in Hong Kong on Sunday, March 9, 2025. AP PHOTO
In Duterte’s case, the arrest order was reportedly issued by the ICC, which is investigating crimes against humanity Duterte allegedly committed while enforcing a nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking during his presidency from 2016 to 2022.
The ICC opened its investigation in September 2021, citing evidence that thousands of extrajudicial killings were carried out during police anti-drug operations.
Despite the Philippine government’s withdrawal from the ICC in 2019, the court has maintained jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the country was still a member.
Duterte had steadfastly refused to recognize ICC’s jurisdiction and cooperate with the court.
His administration had also repeatedly asserted that any legal action against him should be handled by Philippine courts.
Duterte is the only individual named in the red notice. It does not include Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who was PNP chief at the height of the drug war.
A legal expert familiar with the case said it is unusual that the red notice does not include other key figures linked to the implementation of the war on drugs.
“This could indicate a selective approach by the ICC or a staggered issuance of notices,” the expert said.
The Marcos administration has so far maintained a cautious approach to the ICC investigation, with some officials reiterating the country’s non-cooperation policy.
In full swing
The PNP has yet to issue an official statement on the deployment of personnel, but security preparations are reportedly in full swing, with officers stationed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and other key transit hubs.
Earlier reports confirmed that Duterte flew to Hong Kong last Friday with his wife, Honeylet Avanceña, and their daughter, Victoria.
With them were former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea, former PNP intelligence director Nelson Quinsay, and his wife, former PNP official Filmore Escobal and former National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) director-general Alex Paul Monteagudo.
Duterte’s trip to Hong Kong fueled speculation he was avoiding being served an arrest warrant by the Interpol.
There are also conjectures that he may not return to the Philippines and could seek refuge instead in China.
Duterte’s former presidential legal counsel, Salvador Panelo, dismissed rumors that Duterte had fled, saying that he was in Hong Kong to attend a gathering of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at Southorn Stadium in Wan Chai on March 9.
Panelo said Duterte wanted to thank the OFWs for their support.
“He has nothing to hide. This trip has long been planned, and it has nothing to do with the ICC or any supposed warrant,” Panelo said.
Campaign rally
Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, were the main speakers in a campaign rally at the Southorn Stadium in the busy Wan Chai commercial district for the senatorial candidates of his political party ahead of the May 12 midterm elections in the Philippines. Thousands of cheering and flag-waving Filipino expatriates packed the stadium to watch Duterte speak.
In his expletives-laden speech, Duterte touched on news reports about the ICC possibly issuing a warrant for his arrest and repeated that he was ready to be jailed.
“What was my sin?” he asked. “I did everything in my time so Filipinos can have a little peace and tranquility.”
“If this is my fate in life, it’s OK, I’ll accept it. I can’t do anything if I get arrested and jailed,” said the former president, now 79.
He told the crowd in jest to make small contributions for the construction of his monument, which he said should show him holding a gun.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said that Philippine law enforcement agencies would be bound to fully cooperate if the ICC seeks the custody of his predecessor.
On Sunday, Malacañang said the government is prepared “for any eventuality” amid reports that the ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Duterte.
“We’ve heard that an arrest warrant has been issued by the International Criminal Court against former president Rodrigo Duterte for crimes against humanity,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Ad Interim Secretary Jay Ruiz said in a statement. “The government is prepared for any eventuality.”
In a separate statement, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro clarified that there is no confirmation that the ICC has ordered Duterte’s arrest.
“But as what ES [Executive Secretary Lucas] Bersamin and SOJ [Secretary of Justice] said before, if the Interpol will ask for the necessary assistance from the government, it will provide,” Castro said.
On Sunday, a source at the Bureau of Immigration (BI) told The Times there is no hold departure order (HDO) either for Duterte or his daughter, Sara.
“The former president is not a subject of a hold departure order, and so is the Vice President,” the source, who requested anonymity for lack of authority, said.
“The right to travel cannot be impaired except upon lawful order of the court, through the issuance of a hold departure order. There is no such order for the President,” the source said.
“Granting that a warrant has been issued by the ICC against the former president, we cannot still prevent him from leaving because the BI has not received any lawful order to stop Duterte from traveling abroad,” it added.
Duterte’s entourage reportedly went through the usual immigration departure clearance and final security check at NAIA.
The Office of the Vice President said she joined her father in Hong Kong to campaign for the senatorial ticket of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
WITH ASSOCIATED PRESS
