Malacañang on alleged ICC arrest warrant vs. Rodrigo Duterte: Gov't is prepared

Malacañang on Sunday ensured readiness amid speculations that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has allegedly already issued a warrant of arrest against former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“We’ve heard that an arrest warrant has been issued by the International Criminal Court against former President Rodrigo Duterte for crimes against humanity,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Ad Interim Secretary Jay Ruiz said in a statement.

“The government is prepared for any eventuality,” he added.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro, meanwhile, clarified to GMA News Online that there is no confirmation yet from the Palace on the issuance of the arrest warrant.

“But as what ES [Executive Secretary Lucas] Bersamin and SOJ [Secretary of Justice] said before, if Interpol will ask the necessary assistance from the government, it will provide,” she said.

In a statement to reporters, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said, "We have not received any notice or communication from the ICC regarding the matter."

"Our Department of Foreign Affairs is the official entry point for any such notice or communication as a matter of diplomatic courtesy," he added.

Duterte and his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte are currently in Hong Kong to attend a thanksgiving event of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) on Sunday.

For the part of the Duterte camp, former presidential chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo denied allegations that the former President is trying to escape while out of the country.

“Fake news. FPRRD and VP Sara are here to speak before a gathering of OFWs to express their thanks for their continued support,” Panelo told GMA News Online.

Asked when the father and daughter will return to Manila, Panelo said, “very soon.”

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a known critic of the Duterte family, refused to give a comment on the matter.

The ICC has been investigating Rodrigo 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.

The Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, in 2019 after The Hague-based tribunal began a probe into the Duterte administration's drug war.

In January this year, the Department of Justice (DOJ) expressed openness to engage with the ICC over its investigation into Duterte's drug war.

Bersamin maintained that the Philippines has not changed its position as regards the ICC and the country’s withdrawal from it. However, if the ICC courses its requests through the Interpol, he said the government will certainly respond to it.

In October 2024, Duterte told a congressional hearing that he will take “full, legal responsibility” on the war on drugs despite being firm that he will not apologize for the bloody campaign. —KG/RF, GMA Integrated News