• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Vice President Sara Duterte condemned last night the arrest of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, saying “this is a blatant affront to our sovereignty and an insult to every Filipino, who believes in our nation’s independence.”
In a statement issued past 7 p.m., the former presidential daughter said “our own government has surrendered a Filipino citizen—even a former President at that — to foreign powers.”
This is not justice—this is oppression and persecution, she stressed. “Worse, former President Duterte is being denied his fundamental rights. Since he was taken this morning, he has not been brought before any competent judicial authority to assert his rights and to allow him to avail of reliefs provided by law.”
This act shows the world that this government is willing to abandon its own citizen and betray the very essence of our sovereignty and national dignity, VP Sara said. “As I write this, he is being forcibly taken to The Hague tonight.”
Duterte, 79, was staying at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, as of press time, after his arrest Tuesday morning at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport upon his arrival from Hong Kong.
Duterte’s arrest warrant was reportedly issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) “to ensure his appearance before the tribunal in connection with its investigation of his bloody war on drugs.”
The Philippine National Police, meanwhile, urged the public to remain calm and avoid spreading misinformation, adding it deployed 379 personnel to the NAIA Terminal 3 and other key locations to ensure a peaceful and orderly process of serving the warrant, which the International Police Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) Manila received from the ICC.
“In fulfilling this role, the organization upholds its duty to enforce the law with professionalism and adherence to due process,” the PNP said in a statement.
The Supreme Court, on the other hand, said it received at 4:27 p.m. March 11 a petition for Certiorari and Prohibition with Prayer for the Issuance of Temporary Restraining Order and/or Writ of Preliminary Prohibitory and Mandatory Injunction, filed by the former president and Senator Ronald Dela Rosa.
The petition challenges the Philippine government’s cooperation with the ICC and names as respondents Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, PNP chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil, PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director general Nicolas Torre III, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff, General Romeo Brawner Jr. | CGC
