Malacañang stated on Friday that it had no information regarding allegations that former President Rodrigo Duterte sought asylum in China prior to his arrest, which was carried out in accordance with an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant.
"Wala po kaming ganoong impormasyon na natanggap. Hindi po ‘yon ang mga lumalabas na info na dumarating sa Palasyo," Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press briefing.
She further mentioned that the only information they received was about Duterte's scheduled return to the Philippines from Hong Kong.
On March 11, Philippine authorities arrested the 79-year-old Duterte upon his arrival at NAIA Terminal 3 in Manila.
He was subsequently sent to The Hague in the Netherlands to stand trial for charges of crimes against humanity, which are claimed to have been committed in the Philippines between November 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019.
Meanwhile, former presidential spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque strongly denied circulating reports claiming that Duterte had applied for asylum in China or Hong Kong.
He rejected the claim as "fake news" and clarified that China and Hong Kong are not signatories to the 1951 Refugee Convention, which makes it impossible for Duterte to apply for asylum in those countries.
Senate inquiry on Duterte's arrest
"Unang-una po nagpapasalamat tayo na nagkaroon po ng Senate hearing patungkol dito. Mas naliwanagan ang tao, ang taumbayan kung ano ba ang nangyari," said Usec. Castro.
However, Castro reiterated that there was no "mastermind" behind Duterte's arrest, emphasizing that regardless of who planned the operation, the key point was that the execution of the arrest warrant adhered to the law.
"Kung sino po ang nag-utos, wala po tayong personal knowledge diyan. Kung ano po ang napag-usapan, wala pa rin po tayong personal knowledge diyan. Kung naganap na po ang dapat na naganap, ‘yan po ay naaayon naman sa batas," she explained.
During a Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing on Thursday, led by Senator Imee Marcos, Cabinet members of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reiterated that they did not cooperate with the ICC, further refuting claims of a "grand conspiracy" for the former President's arrest.
