Security tight at NAIA amid Rodrigo Duterte arrival

Security at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 was tight Tuesday morning amid the scheduled arrival of former President Rodrigo Duterte from Hong Kong.

Among those present at NAIA Terminal 3 were Philippine National Police chief Police General Rommel Marbil and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Major General Nicolas Torre III.

A number of police officers were also deployed in the area. Parts of the terminal were also cordoned off, as of posting time.

Senator Bong Go and former Labor secretary Silvestre Bello III, a former close aide and legal counsel of Duterte, respectively, were also in NAIA Terminal 3.

The former Philippine leader earlier in the day said he is ready to face the alleged warrant of arrest, stressing that he would deal with it directly as a lawyer and would not escape in another country.

He also allayed concerns that he went to Hong Kong over the weekend allegedly to evade the arrest warrant. He earlier attended a gathering with overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), along with his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte.

“Susmaryosep. Mas lalo akong mahuli dito (sa Hong Kong). I am here as a visitor. We do not enjoy any privileges here. Tsaka kung magtago ako, hindi ako magtago sa ibang lugar. Diyan ako sa Pilipinas. Diyan mo ako hindi makita,” the Duterte patriarch said in an exclusive interview with GMA Integrated News' Marisol Abdurahman.

(The possibility of me getting caught is bigger here in Hong Kong. I am here as a visitor. We do not enjoy any privileges here. Besides, if ever I hide, I won't hide anywhere else. I will hide in the Philippines. You won't see me there.)

Malacañang, meanwhile, has ensured readiness on any eventuality in relation to the rumor.

The Palace also said Monday that it has not received any information regarding the alleged Interpol Red Notice against Rodrigo Duterte.

The ICC has been investigating Duterte and other top officials of his administration for crimes against humanity over the alleged systematic drug war deaths in police operations.

These deaths reached around 6,000 based on police records, but human rights groups contend that the deaths were as much as 30,000, including vigilante killings.—AOL, GMA Integrated News