Govt says no arrest warrant from ICC
FORMER president Rodrigo Duterte yesterday laughed off reports that he fled the county during the weekend supposedly to evade an arrest warrant rumored to have been issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in relation to its probe on alleged crimes against humanity in the implementation of the previous administration’s bloody campaign against illegal drugs.
“Balita ko may warrant daw ako. Totoo? Sa ICC or something matagal na akong hinahabol ng mga [expletives] iyon. Ano man ang kasalanan ko na ginawa ko man lahat sa panahon ko para may konting katahimikan at payapa ang buhay ng mga Pilipino (I heard there is already a warrant for my arrest. Is that true? It’s supposed to be from the ICC or something, which has been running after me for the longest time. Whatever my sins are, I committed those so there will be some peace and order in the lives of Filipinos),” Duterte said in a speech during the “Pasasalamat kay PRRD with OFWs (Thanksgiving for President Duterte with OFWs)” held at the Southorn Stadium in Wan Chai district, Hong Kong organized by the Kingdom of Jesus Christ religious group.
Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra denied reports the ICC has issued an arrest warrant against Duterte.
“We have not received any such notice from the ICC,” was Guevarra’s brief response.
The ICC website has no formal announcement.
Speculations that the ICC has ordered the arrest of the former president spread after Duterte left the Philippines for Hong Kong on Friday.
Former chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo denied over the weekend that the former president fled to avoid the reported arrest warrant. He said his former boss will only attend the thanksgiving event with Hong Kong-based OFWs.
Vice President Sara Duterte joined her father in Hong Kong.
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) said that aside from attending event, the vice president will also join a sortie of the senatorial candidates of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
The OVP, in a statement, said the vice president is expected to immediately return to the country to attend the “Araw ng Dabaw” festivities this week in Davao City.
PALACE COOPERATION
Malacañang yesterday maintained it is obliged to cooperate with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) should it ask for the Philippines’ assistance amid reports that the ICC has issued the arrest of the former president
Palace Presidential Press officer Claire Castro, in a message to media, said, though, that Malacañang has not received confirmation about the reported arrest warrant.
“But as what ES (Executive Secretary Lucas) Bersamin and SOJ (Justice secretary Crispin Remulla) said before, if Interpol will ask the necessary assistance from the government, it is obliged to follow,” Castro said.
Communications Secretary hay Ruiz, in a separate message to media, said Malacañang “heard” about the reported arrest warrant.
“The government is prepared for any eventuality,” he said but did not elaborate.
Castro, in a separate interview with Teleradyo, said the position of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’ stands — that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines after the country left the body in 2019.
The ICC in 2019 started looking into the complaints of human rights violations and deaths committed during the drug war, which prompted the Duterte administration to withdraw from the Rome Statute which created the ICC.
DUTERTE MONUMENT
Duterte, in the Hong Kong event, said that if the allegations were true that he ordered the killing of criminals or that he himself killed them, he reiterated that he committed the acts only to keep the country safe and free from criminals.
He said if he will be found guilty by the ICC, he will accept his fate, but joked that OFWs in Hong Kong should contribute money and put up a monument for him, similar to that of the statue of Dr. Jose Rizal, except that he will be holding a gun instead of a book.
“Kung ganito talaga ang suwerte ko sa buhay, okay lang, tatanggapin ko yan. Wala tayong magawa eh. Eh di hulihin tayo, ikulong tayo (if that is my fate, it’s okay, I will accept it. I cannot do anything about that if they arrest and jail me),” he said.
He insisted he did what he did “to confront evil.”
“Sino ba naman ang gustong pumatay? Why would I waste my time? Sino ba naman ang gusto maging security guard, na ang kinuha ko nga ay law (Who wants to kill people? Why would I waste my time? Who wants to play the role of a security guard [who will safeguard the people especially at night) when I even studied law),” Duterte said.
MAKE YOUR LIVES BETTER
On a serious note, Duterte urged the OFWs in Hong Kong to persevere with their jobs so they will have the means to give their families better lives.
He endorsed the nine senatorial candidates being fielded by the PDP-Laban, whom he said can help to further improve the plight of OFWs.
Duterte said he cannot discuss political issues during the event as Hong Kong authorities have told them to refrain talking about politics in the Philippines.
“I will not tell you to vote for…Nasa inyo na yan kung ano ang mabuti sa bayan (It’s up to you to consider what’s best for our country). But if you have to listen to some advice, maybe you can consider the advice from the former president that is good only for the country. I am not talking about any candidate but the interest of the Philippines,” he said.
The event was also attended by eight of the nine PDP-Laban senatorial bets, except for Sen. Ronald dela Rosa who had his flight to Hong Kong cancelled on the last minute. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
