PCO denies hiding Duterte arrest

THE PALACE on Wednesday said the Cabinet officials did not hide any information about former President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s arrest after Senator and presidential sister Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos questioned the details provided before a Senate probe.

“There is nothing to hide, as the lengthy time allotted during the first hearing was sufficient for our Cabinet officials to provide the necessary information regarding the surrender of former President Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC),” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Clarissa A. Castro told a Palace briefing.

“The administration believes that the information provided during the previous hearing was sufficient.” The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, which was led by Ms. Marcos, on March 20 launched an inquiry into the arrest of Mr. Duterte citing questions on the jurisdiction of the ICC over the Philippines.

Local police arrested Mr. Duterte after the ICC ordered his arrest and sought the help of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol). The tough-talking leader was arrested shortly after arriving from Hong Kong and was put on a chartered plane to the Netherlands on March 11.

Ms. Marcos has withdrawn from administration-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas, citing differences in the administration’s actions regarding the arrest of the tough-talking leader.

Allies of Mr. Duterte have questioned the validity of his arrest, citing the country’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute.

During the firebrand leader’s six years in office, 6,200 suspects were killed during anti-drug operations, by the police’s count. Human rights groups say the deaths could be as many as 30,000. — John Victor D. Ordoñez