THE Philippine National Police (PNP) is not in possession of any arrest warrants against former President Rodrigo Duterte, neither from an international body nor a local court.
In a press conference on Monday, March 10, 2025, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said there is no “verifiable information” regarding the reported issuance of an arrest warrant against Duterte.
“As of now, we do not have any verifiable information regarding the reported warrant of arrest issued by the ICC (International Criminal Court),” Fajardo said in a mix of Tagalog and English. “We do not have any warrant of arrest issued by the local courts against the former president.”
Fajardo said the movement of police forces in various areas of the country is part of security preparations ahead of the May 2025 national and local elections.
She denied reports that the PNP mobilized 7,000 policemen for the arrest of Duterte, who is facing an investigation by the ICC for the alleged crime against humanity of murder, committed from Nov. 1, 2011, when he served as mayor of Davao City, to March 16, 2019, when he ordered the withdrawal of the Philippines’ membership from the Rome Statute, which established the ICC.
Fajardo said the PNP is “prepared for any eventualities” in relation to the ICC’s case against Duterte.
She said in case the ICC issues an arrest warrant against Duterte, the body will tap the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).
The Interpol is then expected to issue an alert among its member countries related to the arrest order.
Fajardo said as of now, there is no coordination between the PNP and the Interpol regarding the matter.
“If the Interpol requests assistance through its National Central Bureau, then the PNP has a legal obligation to reciprocate the courtesy extended to us by Interpol,” Fajardo said in a mix of Tagalog and English, noting the case of dismissed Bamban Tarlac mayor Alice Guo, who was arrested in Indonesia through the assistance of the Interpol.
Duterte, along with his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte, attended a thanksgiving event for overseas Filipino workers on Sunday, March 9, at the Southorn Stadium, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.
In his speech, Duterte said he is aware of the alleged release of an arrest warrant against him.
“Ano na man ang kasalanan ko na ginawa ko man ang lahat sa panahon ko para may konting katahimikan at mapayapa ang buhay ng Pilipino (what is my mistake when I did everything in my time to bring some peace and a better life for the Filipino people)?” Duterte said, adding that he will accept his fate in case he will be jailed.
His unannounced trip to Hong Kong set off speculations on Sunday that he may be trying to evade a possible arrest warrant by the ICC over his bloody crackdown on drugs while in power.
Thousands of cheering and flag-waving Filipino expatriates packed the stadium to watch Duterte speak.
In his expletives-laden speech, Duterte touched on news reports about the ICC possibly issuing a warrant for his arrest and repeated that he was ready to be jailed.
The ICC has been investigating the large number of killings by police and gunmen under the former president’s crackdown against illegal drugs, which left thousands of mostly poor suspects dead.
Duterte has denied he authorized extrajudicial killings but he openly and repeatedly threatened to kill suspected drug dealers while in office 2016–2022.
“What was my sin?” Duterte asked in his speech in Hong Kong. “I did everything in my time so Filipinos can have a little peace and tranquility.”
“If this is my fate in life, it’s OK, I’ll accept it. I can’t do anything if I get arrested and jailed,” said the former populist president, now 79 and in poor health.
He told the crowd in jest to make small contributions for the construction of his monument, which he said should show him holding a gun.
The Associated Press journalists were initially allowed to go into the stadium to cover Duterte, but they were later forced out by unidentified organizers of the event.
A senior Philippine official said the former President was scheduled to fly back to Manila on Tuesday, March 11, but another senior Philippine official said Duterte has the option of extending his stay in Hong Kong.
Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the sensitive issue.
Communications Secretary Jay Ruiz said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration was ready to handle any situation arising from the issuance of an ICC arrest warrant.
“We’ve heard that an arrest warrant has been issued by the International Criminal Court against former President Rodrigo Duterte for crimes against humanity,” Ruiz said in a statement to reporters. “The government is prepared for any eventuality.”
In Davao City, additional police forces were deployed to beef up the security at the international airport and man new checkpoints. Police told reporters the move was part of an exercise to ensure law enforcers would be able to handle any contingency.
President Marcos has said that law enforcement agencies would be bound to fully cooperate if the ICC seeks the custody of his predecessor.
The Hague-based ICC was created in 2002 to serve as a court of last resort for the most serious international crimes: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and aggression. The ICC becomes involved when nations are unable or unwilling to prosecute crimes on their territory.
About 125 countries have signed the court’s foundational treaty, the Rome Statute, but China, which has control over Hong Kong, has not.
Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC in 2019 in a move activists said was an attempt to evade accountability and prevent an international probe into the drug killings. However, the ICC still has jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed when the Philippines was a member.
Duterte has repeatedly dismissed the ICC’s authority, insisting that legal proceedings should be handled domestically.
“The office has an ongoing investigation in relation to the situation in the Philippines. Confidentiality is a crucial part of our work and is essential to protect the integrity of the investigations and to ensure the safety and security of victims, witnesses and all those with whom the office interacts,” the ICC said in a March 10 statement.
While an unverified Red Notice has fueled speculation, Duterte’s refusal to engage with international legal bodies may complicate any efforts to enforce such an order.
The ICC’s probe has intensified political debate in the Philippines. While Duterte’s supporters view it as foreign interference, human rights advocates continue to push for accountability, citing thousands of alleged extrajudicial killings. As the investigation unfolds, questions remain about the former president’s legal fate and the extent of international jurisdiction over his administration’s actions.
Former Bayan Muna representative Neri Colmenares, a counsel for drug war victims at the ICC, confirmed that no official information had been received regarding an arrest warrant. “We haven’t heard or received anything, but under the Rome Statute, a warrant can be issued after the investigation or before charges are filed,” he explained.
As the ICC’s investigation continues, Duterte remains the only individual named in an Interpol Red Notice. Notably absent from the notice is Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who served as PNP chief during the peak of Duterte’s war on drugs. Despite facing criticism for overseeing the campaign, Dela Rosa has not been targeted by formal arrest warrants or Red Notices from the ICC. (with AP, DEF, VoxPop Davao)