Former President Rodrigo Duterte during the congressional inquiry on the war on drugs. Photo from the House of Representatives Media Bureau
MANILA, Philippines — The Marcos government “is prepared for any eventuality” in case the International Criminal Court (ICC) issues an arrest warrant for former President Rodrigo Duterte, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Jay Ruiz said on Sunday.
Duterte reportedly left the Philippines for Hong Kong last March 7. It was also reported that the information that the ICC was set to issue an arrest warrant for Duterte on Saturday morning, March 8, was allegedly leaked to the Duterte camp.
READ: Duterte expected at PDP sortie in HK; trip stirs buzz of ICC ‘escape’
Duterte is facing a case at the ICC for crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the bloody war on drugs of his administration.
“We’ve heard that an arrest warrant has been issued by the International Criminal Court against former President Rodrigo Duterte for crimes against humanity. The government is prepared for any eventuality,” Ruiz told reporters.
PNP Public Information Office chief Col. Randulf Tuaño told INQUIRER.net in a Viber message that the police force is also “prepared for any eventualities.”
On the other hand, PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro said the PCO had not received any confirmation from the Palace regarding the issuance of an arrest warrant for Duterte.
“No confirmation of issuance of a warrant of arrest from the Palace. But as what ES (Executive Secretary) [Lucas] Bersmin and SOJ (Secretary of Justice) said before, if Interpol will ask the necessary assistance from the government, it is obliged to follow,” Castro said in a separate message to reporters.
INQUIRER.net also reached out to Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra. He said they “have not received any such notice from the ICC.”
Based on reports, Duterte’s war on drugs left at least 6,000 people dead; however, human rights groups reported that the number may have reached 20,000.
Duterte and his former police chief and now Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa were among the personalities mentioned in the crimes against humanity complaint pending before the ICC.
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