Palace chartered plane used to transport Duterte to The Hague

Malacañang chartered the plane used to transport former President Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague in The Netherlands to face the crimes against humanity charges filed against him with the International Criminal Court. 

At a press conference on Friday, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro confirmed that the Office of the President chartered the plane. She, however, did not have the information as regards its cost.

''Opo, ina-admit po na ang Palasyo po ang nagbayad, ang gobyerno po. Ito po ay may kaugnayan sa assistance po na ibinigay natin sa Interpol,'' Castro said.

(Yes, we admit that the Palace paid for it, it was the government. This was in connection to the assistance we extended to the Interpol.)

''Sabi nga natin kapag hiningi po ang assistance eh siyempre po dapat kumpleto po dahil kung wala naman po naiprovide na sasakyan para madala po ang dating Pangulo sa ICC, eh parang hindi rin po kumpleto ang pagtugon natin sa ating commitment sa Interpol,'' she added.

(The assistance should be complete so if there's no transportation provided, our commitment to Interpol is also incomplete.)

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said Interpol Manila received an official copy of the ICC warrant hours before Duterte's arrival from Hong Kong on Tuesday.

The President said the arrest was done "because Interpol asked us to do it and we have commitments." He also insisted that the arrest was proper and correct, wherein "every single necessary procedure" was followed.

The plane carrying Duterte arrived in Dubai at around 8:03 a.m. Wednesday (Manila time) for a layover. It left the Philippines on Tuesday at 11:03 p.m. Tuesday.

Duterte is set to appear before judges for a hearing on Friday where he will be informed of the crimes he is alleged to have committed, as well as his rights as a defendant.

He is accused of the crimes against humanity over his violent campaign against illegal drugs, with international and local rights groups saying it killed tens of thousands of people.—AOL, GMA Integrated News