No information on Duterte seeking China asylum - Palace

Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang said it did not receive information about a supposed request of former President Rodrigo Duterte to seek asylum in China before his arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC) straight out of a Hong Kong trip.

In a press briefing on Friday, March 21, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro the government was only informed about Duterte returning from Hong Kong.

“Wala po kaming ganoong impormasyon na natanggap. Hindi po iyon ang mga lumalabas na info na dumarating sa Palasyo,"said Castro.

[Translation: We did not receive such information. That is not what the information reaching the Palace states]

“Ang nakarating lang, pauwi siya mula sa Hong Kong, iyon lang," she added.

[Translation: What was communicated was that he was returning from Hong Kong, that’s all ]

The Chinese embassy in Manila has yet to comment on reports that Duterte's asylum request was denied.

In a previous interview with ‘The Newsmaker,’ Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa said hiding in China could have been an option of the former president.

“Kung takot ba iyon di sana noong pumunta ng China nagtatago na sa China,” said Dela Rosa.

[Translation: If Duterte was afraid, he could have hid in China when he was there.]

Vice President Sara Duterte also denied such asylum requests.

“Wala. I was in Hong Kong, wala siyang kinausap from the Chinese government,” she said.

[Translation: None. When I was in Hong Kong, he did not speak with anyone from the Chinese government.]

Duterte flew to the special Chinese administrative region to attend a gathering of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). He was arrested upon his return to Manila.

The Hong Kong government said Duterte and his daughter’s visit was a private vacation.

“The rallies held by Philippine citizens in Hong Kong have been applied for in advance in accordance with the laws and regulations of the SAR," said the Commissioner’s Office for China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong on March 10.

Duterte faces accusations of committing murder as a crime against humanity between Nov. 1, 2011 and March 16, 2019 in connection with his bloody war on illegal drugs as mayor of Davao City and later as president.