CIDG: Medialdea also arrested, cuffed hours before Duterte taken to The Hague

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Police Major General Nicolas Torre III on Thursday disclosed that he arrested and handcuffed former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea for allegedly trying to prevent law enforcers from taking former President Rodrigo Duterte, hours before he was put on a plane bound for The Hague.   

During a discussion with Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro, Torre recalled how emotions were high on Tuesday evening before Duterte was flown out of the country to face his pre-trial for crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court.

''Well, ang tingin ko, ang turning point talaga doon is noong time na talagang humarang si ES Medialdea at binigyan ko siya ng warning na talaga, 'Sir, tapos na ito, kanina pa ang usapan, kaya sumakay ka na muna sa eroplano, kayo sa eroplano at saka na natin pag-usapan ang iba pa sa husgado na,''' Torre said.

(To my mind the turning point was when ES Medialdea blocked us and I gave him a warning: 'Sir, this is done, we've talked about it, so get on the plane and we can discuss matters before the court.)

''So, nag-insist si ES Medialdea dared me to arrest him and I did. So, binasahan ko siya ng kanyang karapatan...for PD 1829 at pinosasan ko siya, kaya nung hinila ko na siya palabas, palayo na nakaposas ay, siguro nakita ni PRRD na seryoso ako at hindi tayo patatalo and we do believe na talagang the majesty of the law has to remain supreme, dapat masunod ang batas,'' he added.

(So ES Medialdea insisted and dared me to arrest him and I did. I read him his rights...PD 1829 [the law against obstruction of justice] and I handcuffed him, and when I was taking him away Duterte probably realized that I was being serious, and we will not be deterred and we do believe that the majesty of the law has to reign supreme. The law must be followed.)

Torre said he was also supposed to take lawyer Martin Delgra, who served as chief of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) during the Duterte administration and who is serving as a legal counsel for him, but Delgra had already left and the former president decided to come with authorities. 

''Noong makita ni PRRD iyon, kasi bumalik uli ako na inilagay ko siya sa bus, dala ko uli ang posas, sabi ko, 'Sir, ito ang kasunod, susunduin ko sana si Attorney Delgra,' pero umalis naman na sila at sumama na si PRRD,'' Torre said. 

(When Duterte saw it, because I went back and put him on the bus, bringing the handcuffs, I said, 'Sir, this is the next. I'm going to take Attorney Delgra.' But they had left and Duterte went with us.)

At around 9 p.m. on Tuesday, a coaster of the Philippine National Police brought Duterte to a waiting private jet. However, his family was not able to come with him.

Aside from Medialdea, Duterte was also accompanied by a nurse and a personal assistant onboard the aircraft.

Early Thursday morning (Philippine time), Duterte entered the Hague Penitentiary Institution or the Scheveningen Prison where he is set to be held while awaiting trial. — BM, GMA Integrated News