China yesterday denied claims that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and his family sought asylum in the country to evade arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC), stating it “never received” any application of sort.
Recent reports, citing an anonymous source, alleged that Duterte had attempted to seek asylum in China but was rejected before his arrest in Manila on March 11 under an ICC warrant.
China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun dismissed these reports, urging the media to be cautious about unverified information from “so-called sources.”
“We have never received the so-called application for asylum to the Chinese government from former president Rodrigo Duterte or his family,” Guo Jiakun said.
“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.
Guo also referenced a statement from the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong SAR, which clarified that the Duterte family’s visit to Hong Kong was purely for leisure, and not for asylum.
“It is understood that Mr. Duterte and Ms. Sara’s visit to Hong Kong is a private vacation trip. 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,” the Commissioner’s Office said.
Duterte remains in ICC custody over alleged crimes against humanity linked to his controversial war on drugs. He was held by Philippine law enforcement on March 11 upon arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from his Hong Kong trip, during which he and his family also met with overseas Filipino workers.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “‘No asylum request from Duterte,’ China says.”