Amid speculations on the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) issuance of an arrest warrant against former President Rodrigo Duterte, the Malacañang assured on Sunday, March 9, that the government is “prepared for any eventuality.”
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Jay Ruiz informed reporters on Sunday, that they heard an arrest warrant was issued by the ICC against Duterte for crimes against humanity.
“We’ve heard that an arrest warrant has been issued by the International Criminal Court against former President Rodrigo Duterte for crimes against humanity,” the PCO Secretary said in a statement. “The government is prepared for any eventuality.”
However, the Palace Press Officer and Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro clarified the Palace has yet to confirm the alleged arrest warrant against Duterte.
“No confirmation of Issuance of warrant of arrest from the Palace. But as what ES [Executive Secretary Lucas] Bersmin and SOJ [Secretary of Justice] said before, if Interpol will ask the necessary assistance from the government, it is obliged to follow,” Castro said.
'THE GOVERNMENT IS PREPARED FOR ANY EVENTUALITY'
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) March 9, 2025
READ: PCO Sec. Jay Ruiz, naglabas ng pahayag hinggil sa umano'y warrant of arrest na inisyu ng International Criminal Court laban kay dating Pang. Rodrigo Duterte. | RH 14 @leth_narciso, DZRH News pic.twitter.com/yNmDrwMdgS
The same day, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) announced on its social media page that the former President will be attending a thanksgiving event of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at Hong Kong’s Southorn Stadium.
The ICC is conducting an investigation into the bloody war on drugs campaign during former President Duterte’s administration, which left thousands of people dead.
