By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
The arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte is in accordance with the law, Malacañang said on Wednesday, reiterating that the Philippine government has to honor its commitments to the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).
Speaking to reporters, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro maintained that there is nothing wrong with the Marcos administration’s decision to allow the arrest of Duterte because he is facing crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“Unang-una po, ang pamahalaan po, ang administrasyon po, gumawa po ng hakbang na naaayon sa batas at ito po ay in cooperation with the Interpol,” Castro said in a Palace press briefing.
“Siya po ay kinu-konsiderang isang akusado, isang suspek sa crimes against humanity, particularly murder na ang nagsampa rin po ay kapwa Pilipino na diumanong biktima ng extrajudicial killings ng madugong war on drugs. Ang ginawa ng pamahalaan ay hindi naman po pagsuko ng soberanya kundi pagsuko ng isang akusado,” she added.
Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, accused President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. of committing an impeachable offense for allegedly allowing the arrest of her father and his eventual transfer to the ICC detention facility in The Hague, Netherlands.
She said Marcos violated the Constitution and betrayed public trust by allowing “foreign jurisdiction” to meddle in Philippine sovereignty.
Castro called Duterte’s statement “baseless.”
“Hindi po ibebenta o isusuko man ng Pangulo ang anumang parte ng ating karapatan sa bansa kaninuman. Ang opinyon na nanggagaling sa ating Bise Presidente ay walang pinanggagalingan, walang basehan,” she said.
Castro, nevertheless, said the government officials involved in Duterte’s arrest would file counter-affidavits before the Office of the Ombudsman.
The Ombudsman on Tuesday directed Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Director PMaj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, Philippine National Police Chief PGen.. Rommel Francisco Marbil, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, and Special Envoy on Transnational Crimes Markus Lacanilao to respond to the complaint regarding the legality of Duterte’s arrest.
“Ang mga nasabing opisyal ay tutugon po at sila po ay magsa-submit ng kanilang mga counter affidavit. At muli, sasabihin po natin, ang kanilang ginawa ay naayon sa batas. Unang-una po, lagi naming sinasabi ni Pangulo, sundin ang batas, kung anong procedure na valid at legal, dapat lamang pong sundin,” Castro said.
Duterte is facing crimes against humanity before the ICC for his bloody war on drugs.
