DOJ: Arrested ex-Pres. Duterte has several legal remedies

Metro Manila, Philippines - Former President Rodrigo Duterte may explore several legal remedies amid his detention in the Netherlands, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Wednesday, March 13.

In a chance interview, DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano was asked whether there is a possibility for Duterte to be brought back to the Philippines as he is currently under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity due to his administration’s bloody drug war.

“Marami po talaga siyang legal remedies and I know these remedies are found in the Rome Statute which is the basis of the ICC. So, siguro mas maganda kung tignan na lang niya du’n at hingin na niya sa unang pagkakataon pa lang dahil ang hiling din naman natin dito sa Pilipinas ay respetuhin ang karapatan ng isang accused,” Clavano told reporters.

[Translation: He has several legal remedies and I know these remedies are found in the Rome Statute which is the basis of the ICC. So, it would be better if he looked at that and asked for it immediately because our desire here in the Philippines is to respect the rights of an accused.]

“Hindi naman natin sinasabi na kinokondena na natin ang dating pangulo. Ang sinasabi natin, we just want him to face the charges that were filed against him in the ICC,” he added.

[Translation: We are not saying that we condemn the former president. What we are saying is that we just want him to face the charges that were filed against him in the ICC.]

With an ICC warrant, authorities arrested Duterte on Tuesday. The judicial body coursed the warrant through the International Criminal Police Organization as the Philippines has withdrawn from the Rome Statute.

Based on human rights groups data, some 30,000 individuals were killed in Duterte’s national anti-drug campaign.