China denies receiving asylum request from Duterte

Metro Manila, Philippines — The Chinese Foreign Ministry refuted claims on Monday, March 24, that former President Rodrigo Duterte and his family had requested asylum while in Hong Kong. Beijing clarified that it had not received any such request.

In response to reports suggesting that Duterte decided to return to Manila on March 11 after China allegedly denied his asylum plea, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun asserted, “We have never received the so-called application for asylum from former President Rodrigo Duterte or his family."

He also emphasized that Duterte's visit to Hong Kong was purely for personal reasons.

"We hope people from the media can be careful about the so-called ‘information from sources,’ either unfounded or ill-motivated, and do not easily believe what they hear," he added.

Meanwhile, Malacañang officials indicated that they had no knowledge of any such asylum request.

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro clarified during a briefing last week that the government had only been informed of Duterte’s return 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.]

In a prior interview with NewsWatch Plus, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa suggested that Duterte could have opted to hide in China if he was fearful.

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

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

Vice President Sara Duterte also dismissed any claims of an asylum request. "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 ]

The Hong Kong government confirmed that Duterte's visit, along with that of his daughter, was for personal vacation purposes.

“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 charges related to his controversial anti-drug campaign during his tenure as mayor of Davao City and as president, with accusations of committing murder as a crime against humanity between November 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019.