Gov’t not to blame for Duterte ICC woes – Enrile

Metro Manila, Philippines – The government should not be held responsible for former President Rodrigo Duterte’s legal troubles before the International Criminal Court (ICC), Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile said.

In a statement on Tuesday, March 11, Enrile said Duterte’s case is under international jurisdiction.

“The current legal problem of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte is not caused by Philippine laws. His legal problem is caused by laws enforceable by the International Criminal Court (ICC),” said Enrile.

“It is not correct to blame the Philippine government for the current legal problem of ex-PRRD. His lawyers should endeavor to secure a copy of the ICC charges against him so that they will know why he was ordered to be arrested by the ICC. Philippine domestic laws have nothing to do with his current legal problem,” he added.

Duterte was arrested on a warrant issued by the ICC for crimes against humanity linked to his bloody anti-drug campaign, Malacañang said.

Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon served the warrant at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport after Duterte arrived from Hong Kong past 9 a.m. for a thanksgiving event.

Since the Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019, the warrant was coursed through the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), of which the country remains a member.

“Kaninang madaling araw, natanggap ng INTERPOL Manila ang official copy ng warrant of arrest mula sa International Criminal Court,” Malacañang said in a statement.

[Translation: Early today, Interpol Manila received the official copy of the warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court.]

Duterte, who spearheaded his anti-drug campaign as Davao City mayor before continuing it nationwide as president in 2016, questioned the basis of his arrest.

“What is the law and what is the crime that I committed? Show to me now the legal basis for my being here. Apparently, I was brought here not of my own volition,” the former chief executive told arresting authorities.

NewsWatch Plus correspondents Tristan Nodalo and Daniza Fernandez contributed to this report.