The Police Regional Office-Davao (PRO-11) has clarified that the deployment of police personnel at the Davao International Airport on Sunday, March 9, 2025, was part of a simulation exercise and is not connected with the alleged arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Naa’y deployment diha sa airport, Regional Mobile Force Battalion nga naga-conduct og simulation exercises. Basin matingala mo nganong ang RMFB ang naa dinha, tungod kay ang na-deploy sa airport kay mga RMFB. So, diha pud sila nag-conduct sa ilang simulation exercise,” PRO-11 Spokesperson, Major Catherine Dela Rey, said.
“Nag-verify ko sa Investigation Division kay kung naa’y mga arrest warrant nga ipagawas ang korte, sa ilaha man na siya modiretso. So, as of now, wala’y na-receive nga any warrant of arrest against the former President Rodrigo Duterte and then ang ginahimo nga SIMEX sa RMFB dili siya related sa unsa man galing ang ongoing nga mga activities sa government. Purely police operation lang siya nga SIMEX,” Dela Rey added.
SUPPOSED WARRANT
Information has surfaced that an alleged arrest warrant will be served against Duterte when he arrives from Hongkong.
In a report by GMA News Online, Malacañang on Sunday ensured readiness amid speculations that the ICC has allegedly already issued a warrant of arrest against 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.
AIRPORT
Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP)-Davao assured that airport operations will remain normal.
“Among primordial concern is the security of the riding public, remains to be our primordial objective,” CAAP-Davao General Manager, Engr. Rex Obcena, said.
“The airport remains on normal operations, all our flights are as scheduled. And wala tay mga ano, there is nothing untoward dinhi sa atoang airport,” he added.
(With reports from GMA News Online)
