Camille Naredo

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee secretary administers the oath of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte Monday, October 28, 2024 before he begins his testimony before the subcommittee investigating motu proprio the alleged extra-judicial killings during his administration. Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau/File

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee secretary administers the oath of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte Monday, October 28, 2024 before he begins his testimony before the subcommittee investigating motu proprio the alleged extra-judicial killings during his administration. In his opening statement, Duterte defended his war against illegal drugs, which he said was not about killing people but about protecting the innocent. “My mandate as President of the Republic was to protect the country and the Filipino people. Do not question my policies because I offer no apologies nor excuses. I did what I had to do,” the former chief executive said. “My job as President was never easy... I have tried to do the best I can to address the problem of illegal drugs firmly and without compromises. For all of its successes and shortcomings, I, and I alone take full legal responsibility,” he added. Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau

Article (news)

SENATE PROBE- EJK

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174169140363720241028-senate-probe-duterte-SPRIB-8.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee secretary administers the oath of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte Monday, October 28, 2024 before he begins his testimony before the subcommittee investigating motu proprio the alleged extra-judicial killings during his administration. Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee secretary administers the oath of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte Monday, October 28, 2024 before he begins his testimony before the subcommittee investigating motu proprio the alleged extra-judicial killings during his administration. <em>Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — Former President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday declined to be flown to the Hague in the Netherlands to face trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC), underscoring that the foreign entity no longer has jurisdiction over the Philippines.</p><p>Duterte — who earlier said that he is ready to face arrest — told police officials at the Villamor Air Base he would only face charges before a Philippine court.</p><p>&quot;ICC is out of the question… We are not a signatory of the ICC. Diyan ako hindi papayag,&quot; the former president said, as heard through an Instagram livestream conducted by his daughter, Veronica.</p><p>&quot;I am a Filipino, you are all Filipino. Ako, pag nagkasala, you prosecute me in Philippine courts with a Filipino judge, with a Filipino prosecutor at magpakulong ako sa bayan ko kung sakali,&quot; he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/11/dozens-of-cops-at-naia-ahead-of-rodrigo-duterte-s-expected-arrival-0951">READ: Ex-President Duterte arrested on ICC warrant</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/11/duterte-questions-icc-warrant-of-arrest-demands-answers-for-deprivation-of-liberty-1239">READ: Duterte questions ICC warrant of arrest, demands answers for &#x27;deprivation of liberty&#x27;</a></div><p>As of 7 p.m., or about 10 hours since his arrest at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Duterte continued to refuse to go with authorities, claiming that the move is a form of &quot;kidnapping&quot; after officials initially refused to tell him the destination of the chartered flight.</p><p>&quot;That is kidnapping,&quot; Duterte said</p><p>The former President added he is certain that the Supreme Court would eventually block orders to take him to The Hague.</p><p>&quot;If you detain me there, you have to start a machinery of justice,&quot; </p><p>&quot;I am sure the Supreme Court will rebuke them. Hindi papayag ang Supreme Court… Wala tayong extradition treaty at saka nag-withdraw na tayo. Bakit mo ako dadalhin doon sa international body na hindi na tayo miyembro? That is a big question,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Whether rightly or wrongly ang decision na mag withdraw tayo sa ICC the fact that we are already not a member so dapat intindihin ng mga abogado yan,&quot; he said.</p><div><strong>&#x27;SARA WILL BECOME PRESIDENT&#x27;</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IOwd7di9o7Y?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>Arresting officials told the former President that he can bring up to three people with him on the chartered flight.</div><p>The former President said he might consider bringing some of his lawyers, but would not allow any family members to come on the said flight.</p><p>Duterte, however, told officials to rethink their moves, and consider that his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte may soon become the next president.</p><p>&quot;My family, lalo na si Vice President, bukas, kung mag presidente yan? For a longer term kapag tumakbo yan, mananalo yan dahil sa ginawa ninyo,&quot; he said.</p><p>Despite his refusal to board the chartered flight, Duterte assured authorities that he does not intend to escape.</p><p>&quot;Tutal nandito naman tayo sa government facility, escape is not the problem,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Dumaan na ako sa lahat. Okay na ako, nothing to lose, absolutely nothing,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/war-on-drugs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">War on Drugs, The Unheard Voices | ABS-CBN News</a></div><div><strong>SARA SLAMS FATHER&#x27;S ARREST</strong></div><p>In a statement, Vice President Duterte slammed her father&#x27;s arrest, calling it &quot;a blatant affront to our sovereignty and an insult to every Filipino who believes in our nation&#x27;s independence.&quot;</p><p>&quot;As I write this, he is being forcibly taken to The Hague tonight. This is not justice—this is oppression and persecution,&quot; the second-in-command said.</p><p>&quot;This act shows the world that this government is willing to abandon its own citizens and betray the very essence of our sovereignty and national dignity,&quot; she said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/11/-blatant-affront-to-our-sovereignty-sara-duterte-decries-father-s-arrest-1935">READ: &#x27;Blatant affront to our sovereignty&#x27;: Sara Duterte decries father&#x27;s arrest</a></div><p>The Vice President noted that her father has been &quot;denied [of] his fundamental rights&quot; since his arrest at NAIA.</p><p>&quot;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,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;God save the Philippines,&quot; she added.</p><p>Duterte&#x27;s arrest stems from an ICC arrest order for the former president to be put on trial for allegedly committing crimes against humanity, but the Davaoeño politician&#x27;s  camp maintained that no warrant was served during his arrest.</p><p>The case stems from the thousands of extrajudicial killings recorded under Duterte&#x27;s presidency, when he repeatedly ordered the police — in public speeches — to kill drug users and peddlers. The policy saw the deaths of minors and by-passers who were allegedly identified as drug suspects without due process.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4_uV63vtEjk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y2L_YxryOu0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>Duterte — who earlier said that he is ready to face arrest — told police officials at the Villamor Air Base he would only face charges before a Philippine court.</p>

Duterte — who earlier said that he is ready to face arrest — told police officials at the Villamor Air Base he would only face charges before a Philippine court.

'This is kidnapping': Duterte declines to be taken to The Hague for ICC trial

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'This is kidnapping': Duterte declines to be taken to The Hague for ICC trial

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 11, 2025 07:11 PM PHT

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Updated March 12, 2025 09:40 AM PHT

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