The PCO continued that he was served a warrant of arrest, which was connected to the ongoing investigation being conducted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding alleged human rights violations committed during the long-running Philippine drug war under his presidency.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has not yet released any statement about the arrest.
Furthermore, Duterte’s former legal counsel, Attorney Salvador Panelo, described the arrest in another statement as “unlawful.” According to Panelo, it is an illegal arrest since the PNP did not allow one of his lawyers to meet him at the airport or question the legal basis for his arrest.
Panelo said further that Duterte had been deprived of legal representation. It is unknown if the authorities have a hard copy of the arrest warrant.
Panelo also warned that all those involved in the unlawful arrest, including the public officials who ordered it, could be made liable.
After his arrest, the PCO assured that he was medically checked, after which it was confirmed by government doctors that he was in good condition.
Duterte had said in earlier instances that he was ready to face the charges made against him in the ICC and that he would not evade legal proceedings by running away from the country.
The ICC’s investigation of Duterte, among many other officials in his administration, pertains to the alleged extrajudicial killings related to his controversial anti-drug campaign, which had allegedly resulted in thousands of deaths.
