FORMER president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested yesterday upon his arrival from Hong Kong based on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
From the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Duterte was immediately brought to the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City where he stayed until last night before being taken to a waiting jet.
As of press time, there was no official word as to where Duterte will be taken.
A social media post from Sen. Christopher Go and Duterte’s daughter, Kitty, showed that he was accompanied by former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea and lawyer Martin Delgra III while at the Kalayaan Lounge of the Villamor Air Base.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the official copy of the arrest warrant, which is dated March 7, 2025, was received by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) – Manila before dawn yesterday.
Anthony Alcantara, special envoy on Transnational Crimes under the Office of the President, and Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon served the arrest warrant on Duterte when he and his family arrived from Hong Kong at 9:20 a.m. at NAIA.
Duterte was accompanied by his common-law wife Honeylet Avancena and daughter Veronica “Kitty” Duterte.
“Sa kanyang pagdating, inihain ng Prosecutor General ang ICC notification para sa isang arrest warrant sa dating Pangulo para sa krimen laban sa sangkatauhan (Upon his arrival, the Prosecutor General served the ICC notification for the arrest of the former president for crimes against humanity),” the PCO said in a statement.
“Ang dating Pangulo at ang kanyang grupo ay nasa mabuting kalusugan at sinuri ng mga doctor ng gobyerno. Sinigurado na siya ay nasa maayos na kalagayan (The former president and his group are in good health and was checked by government doctors. We want to make sure that they are in good condition),” it added.
The PCO said the arrest of the former president was documented.
“Ang mga opisyal ng PNP na nagpatupad ng warrant ay tiniyak na may suot na body camera. Sa ngayon, nasa kustodiya na siya ng mga kinauukulan (PNP officials who served the warrant wore body cameras. They [Duterte and companions] are now under the custody of authorities),” it said.
FLIGHT TO HAGUE?
Earlier, Vice President Sara Duterte accused the Marcos administration of denying her father his rights and allowing the ICC to forcibly bring him to The Hague in the Netherlands last night.
“Worse, former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte is being denied his fundamental rights. Since he was taken (Tuesday) morning, he has not been brought before any competent judicial authority to assert his rights and to allow him to avail of reliefs provided by law,” the Vice President said in a statement.
“As I write this, he is being forcibly taken to The Hague tonight (Tuesday night). This is not justice —this is oppression and persecution,” she added.
In Instagram, Kitty posted a video showing CIDG chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III and the Duterte camp disagreeing on a supposed plan to take out the former president out of the Villamor Air Base via a chartered flight.
Torre was heard talking to former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea, saying that the police “can do this the hard way, (or) we can this the easy way.”
“The easy way is for you to choose three people to accompany PRRD (Duterte) to the plane. May bus diyan (There is a bus there) and they will go into the plane,” Torre said, without giving details on where Duterte was supposed to be brought.
Medialdea was heard as saying that their camp wants the “rules” to be followed.
A woman who not seen on the posted video, insisted that Torre tell them where they would bring the former president.
Prior to this, reports spread on social media that a chartered lear jet has landed at the Villamor Air Base to supposedly transport Duterte to The Hague.
Retired police general Filmore Escobal posted a video of Duterte boarding the private jet before 9 p.m. last night.
Medialdea was seen boarding the jet to accompany Duterte.
“PRD nasakay na sa lear jet, kasama si ES… PRD dadalhin sa Netherlands, inaresto ng banyaga (PRD has boarded the lear jet with ES [Medialdea]. PRD will be brought to the Netherlands, he was arrested by foreigners),” an unidentified man on the background said in the video.
As of printing, authorities have yet to confirm if Duterte has indeed been flown to The Hague.
As of 7 p.m., radio reports said Duterte was still at the Kalayaan Lounge in Villamor Air Base.
As of around 7:45 p.m, Air Force spokesperson Col. Ma Consuelo Castillo, when asked if Duterte was still indeed at the Kalayaan Lounge, said: “May we refer you to the relevant agency in charge to confirm details regarding FPRRD’s status. Thank you for your understanding.”
When asked, CIDG director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said he has no latest information to report.
At around 7 p.m, retired police general and former National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) director general Alex Paul Monteagudo, a known supporter of Duterte, posted on Facebook pictures of Duterte on an oxygen, sleeping on a couch.
“FPRRD is not feeling well, his sugar level continue to rise,” said Monteagudo, adding that “he needs to be hospitalized but the PNP refuse to bring him to a hospital.”
Monteagudo said the former president was made to sleep in a couch and chairs inside the Air Force lounge.
ARRESTED
Torre read the Miranda rights to Duterte shortly after the former president’s arrival at NAIA and explained to him why he was being arrested.
Torre cited Article 25, (3) (a) of the Rome Statute of the ICC which he said is related to crimes against humanity. He also cited Article 7 (1) (a) for those accused of murder.
He was referring to the ICC arrest warrant, which stated: “Taking into account the totality of the information before it, the Chamber finds that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Mr. Duterte is individually responsible for the crime against humanity for murder (Article 7) (1) (a) of the Statute as an indirect co-conspirator within the meaning of Article 25 (3) (a) of the Statute, committed within the Relevant Period.”
The PNP said it assisted the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime in implementing the Interpol notice for the arrest of Duterte “to ensure a peaceful and orderly process.”
It said PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil and Torre “supervised security measures at the airport,” adding that 379 personnel were deployed at NAIA and other key locations.
“The PNP remains committed to assisting in lawful processes while maintaining peace and order. In fulfilling this role, the organization upholds its duty to enforce the law with professionalism and adherence to due process,” it said.
“The PNP urges the public to remain calm and avoid spreading misinformation,” it added.
The PNP cautioned the public against the spread of fake news in relation to Duterte’s arrest and advised the public to “rely only on official government sources for accurate information.”
From NAIA, Duterte was brought to the Villamor Air Base also in Pasay City.
“It is normal for PAF’s secured base facilities to be used as arrival or departure points for air movements of certain important personalities,” said Air Force spokesperson Col. Ma Consuelo Castillo.
“For operational security, we however defer to the concerned government agency responsible for this activity to confirm and give specific details,” Castillo also said.
In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Armed Forces spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said “legal and political developments involving former officials fall under the jurisdiction of the appropriate government agencies.”
Nevertheless, Padilla said the military will adhere to the chain of command, which is headed by President Marcos Jr. being the AFP’s commander-in-chief.
“As a professional organization, the AFP adheres to the chain of command, and we remain focused on our mandate,” said Padilla.
“However, together with the appropriate government agencies, we stand ready to reinforce efforts to uphold national security and stability when necessary,” she added.
CHR INVESTIGATORS
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said it has deployed investigators “to monitor and assess the developments surrounding this case.”
“CHR underscores that due process is an integral pillar of justice — one that safeguards not only the rights of the accused but also ensures that the voices of victims are heard,” the CHR said in a statement.
“A fair and impartial legal process is essential in uncovering the truth and, ultimately, holding perpetrators accountable, should guilt be established. This aligns with CHR’s long-standing call for accountability over human rights violations linked to the campaign against illegal drugs under the Duterte administration,” it added
The CHR said it remains committed to truth and justice since the ICC resumed its investigation on Duterte’s war against illegal drugs. It even expressed its openness in cooperating with the court.
“This steadfast commitment reflects CHR’s role as the country’s independent national human rights institution and its duty to help ensure that allegations of human rights violations are thoroughly examined and that justice is pursued through appropriate legal processes,” it said.
While acknowledging that Philippines has ceased to be a State Party to the Rome Statute in 2018, the CHR took note of the government’s existing legal obligations under the Interpol and other international mechanisms.
“The country’s cooperation with international bodies serves as a measure of its adherence to the rule of law and its responsibility to uphold justice,” the CHR said.
It urged concerned agencies to guarantee the safety and protection of the families of victims of the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs.
“Creating a safe and secure environment is a crucial step towards breaking the culture of fear and silence, ultimately empowering more families and witnesses to pursue justice. It is crucial to continue to ensure their protection and provide an environment where they can freely testify without fear,” it said.
It said the pursuit of pursuit should not be delayed, adding that every delay “prolongs the suffering of those left behind.”
“It bears repeating: the truth cannot be silenced. Accountability must prevail over impunity,” it said, as it emphasized that accountability does not rest on one individual only. “All those who participated and were complicit in the violations must be held to account,” it said. – With Wendell Vigilia and Raymond Africa
“CHR, as the country’s independent national human rights institution, remains grounded to its Constitutional duty to monitor human rights violations, as well as to amplify the call for accountability for all perpetrators — whether state or non-state actors,” it said. – With Wendell Vigilia and Raymond Africa
