Malacañang confirmed Tuesday that former President Rodrigo Duterte is under the custody of authorities after getting arrested for crimes against humanity, according to a report by GMA News Online.
In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office said that when the former president arrived in Manila, a prosecutor general from the International Criminal Court (ICC) had served a warrant of arrest against him.
“Kaninang madaling araw, natanggap ng INTERPOL Manila ang official copy ng warrant of arrest mula sa International Criminal Court (ICC),” the PCO said.
(Early this morning, INTERPOL Manila received the official copy of the warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court.)
"Sa kanyang pagdating, inihain ng Prosecutor General ang ICC notification para sa isang arrest warrant sa dating Pangulo para sa krimen laban sa sangkatauhan,” it added.
(Upon his arrival, the Prosecutor General served the ICC notification for an arrest warrant on the former President for crimes against humanity.)
The Department of Justice has yet to issue a statement on the serving of arrest warrant against Duterte.
‘Unlawful arrest’
In a separate statement, former presidential legal counsel Atty. Salvador Panelo branded the arrest as unlawful.
“It’s unlawful arrest. The PNP didn’t allow one of his lawyers to meet him at the airport and to question the legal basis for PRRD’s arrest,” Panelo said.
“He was deprived of legal representation at the time of his arrest,” Panelo added. “The PNP could not have a hard copy of the warrant arrest.”
He pointed out that by not allowing one of Duterte’s lawyers to meet him, the arresting [officer] could avoid being asked if they have the hard copy of the arrest warrant.
“It is an illegal arrest because the ICC arrest warrant comes from a spurious source, the ICC, which has no jurisdiction over the Philippines,” Panelo said.
The former Duterte spokesman also said this government action would make the arresting team as well as the public officials ordering the arrest criminally liable.
Ensure good condition of Duterte
Meanwhile, the PCO said that Duterte and his team were checked by government doctors. They ensured that the former Chief Executive is in good condition.
“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 PCO said.
(The former president and his group are in good condition upon check up by government doctors. They made sure that he [Duterte] is in good condition.)
Police officials who served the warrant of arrest wore body camera, the PCO said.
“Ang mga opisyal ng PNP na nagpatupad ng warrant ay tiniyak na may suot na body camera,” the PCO said.
“Sa ngayon, nasa kustodiya na siya ng mga kinauukulan,” it added.
(The PNP officials who served the warrant wore body cameras. At present, Duterte is under the custody of authorities.)
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.
Duterte had said he is ready to face the warrant of arrest issued by the ICC for his controversial war against illegal drugs, stressing that he would face it directly as a lawyer and would not escape in another country.
(Reports from Anna Felicia Bajo, GMA Integrated News)
