Palace on people power calls after Duterte arrest: Isn't this a call to bring down gov't?

Malacañang on Wednesday played down calls from some supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte for a people power following the latter's arrest due to crimes against humanity charges before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

At a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro was asked for a reaction to the call for people power. She then asked, ''Isn't this a way of overthrowing the government?"

''Hindi po ba pagbabagsak ito ng gobyerno? Unang-una po, may warrant of arrest, pangalawa may case na naka-file. Pangatlo, may mga diumanong biktima na magsasalita patungkol sa kaso. Hindi po ito basta gawa-gawa na kuwento. May mga biktima, hindi ito pagpaplanta ng ebidensiya,'' Castro said.

(Isn't this a way of overthrowing the government? First of all, there's a warrant of arrest; and second, a case has been filed. Third, there were victims who could testify about the case. This was not just a story that was created. There were victims, it's not planting evidence.) 

''Hindi galing ang kaso sa Pilipinas. Ito ang kaso ay pending sa ICC. Ano ang magiging dahilan nila para himukin ang taumbayan na mag-alsa laban sa pamahalaan, samantalang ang pamahalaan ay gumagawa, tumutupad ng batas,'' she added. 

(The case did not stem from the Philippines. This is a pending case in the ICC. What were the reasons they were urging the public to revolt against the government when in fact the government was just following the law.) 

Castro said the public should know more about what is happening regarding Duterte's legal battle in the ICC. 

''Ang pagtawag ba ng people power ay paglabag sa batas? Dapat ang mga tao ngayon, ang mga kababayan natin, mag-isip, alamin, ano ba ang nangyayari? Ang kasong ito sa ICC ay hindi gawa-gawa ng pamahalaan. Gawa ito sa panahon ni dating Pangulong Duterte, gawa ito ng war on drugs ni Pangulong Duterte at aminado siya rito,'' Castro said. 

(Is calling for people power violating the law? At present, people should know and learn more about what is happening. The government did not make this case in the ICC. This stemmed from the time of former President Duterte, it was because of his war on drugs and he admitted this.) 

In a late night address to the media, President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. told supporters of his predecessor that the government was just doing its job when authorities arrested him. 

The Presidential Communications Office earlier confirmed that when the former president arrived in Manila from Hong Kong on Tuesday, authorities served the warrant of arrest from the ICC against him.

Duterte had said he was 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 to another country.

Duterte is now en route to The Netherlands.—LDF, GMA Integrated News