Former President Rodrigo Duterte said yesterday he has received reports that the International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for his arrest for alleged “crimes against humanity’ during his administration’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.
“Sa totoo lang ang balita ko may warrant daw ako sa ICC or something. Matagal na akong hinahabol ng ptng *na,” Duterte said during his speech before Filipino overseas workers in Wan Chai, Hong Kong.
“Ano man ang kasalanan ko, ginawa ko ‘yun para magkaroon ng konting katahimikan at mapayapa ang buhay ng Pilipino,” he added.
Former presidential chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo, who is reportedly also in Hong Kong, denied allegations that the former President had fled the country to escape possible arrest due to the ICC warrant.
“Fake news. FPRRD and VP Sara are here to speak before a gathering of OFWs to express their thanks for their continued support,” said the staunch Duterte supporter.
A Bureau of Immigration (BI) official earlier confirmed that Duterte left the Philippines on Friday aboard Cathay Pacific flight CX912 from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 bound for Hong Kong,
According to the BI official who asked not to be named, the former president was accompanied by his wife, Honeylet Avanceña, and their daughter, Victoria “Kitty” Duterte.
The group also included former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, former Philippine National Police (PNP) Intelligence Director Nelson Quinsay and his spouse, former PNP official Filmore Escobal and his wife, as well as former National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Director-General Alex Paul Monteagudo.
They were later joined by senatorial candidates of Team Duterte including reelectionist Sen. Bong Go.
Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte confirmed that she joined her father in Hong Kong but would return to the country later this week to attend the Araw ng Dabaw celebration.
Earlier on Sunday, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said there was no legal impediment to the ex-president’s travel beyond the Philippines’ borders.
She added that the BI is unaware of any warrant, local or international, that would serve as a basis for holding their departure.
“As of now, nothing is barring their international travel, any order or warrant barring their international travel,” she said in a mixture of Filipino and English.
The Dutertes flew to China’s special administrative region to attend a thanksgiving event for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).