Malacañang Speaks on Gov’t Complying with Interpol over Arrest of Duterte
MALACAÑANG – The Palace spoke on the prerogative of the government to comply with the Interpol over the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The arrest of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte gathered different reactions from the public. There are Filipinos who rejoiced over the recent turn of events in lieu of the alleged victims of the war on drugs of the previous administration. There are also a lot of Duterte supporters who called it foul and bashed the current administration for allowing his arrest.
Duterte was in Hong Kong in the past few days for the Thanksgiving event of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. It was supposedly a leg of the campaign sorties of the PDP-Laban but the authorities in Hong Kong did not allow them to campaign in a public event.
Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, the founder and leader of KOJC, is one of the senatorial bets of the PDP-Laban. At the event, former Pres. Duterte has spoken on the rumored arrest warrant against him from the ICC saying his actions as president were for the peace and safety in the country.
Upon his arrival from Hong Kong, former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte was arrested by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Interpol. Before the day ended, he was flown to Dubai en route for the Netherlands. There were countless calls on the Marcos government over the recent turn of events.
Recently, Malacañang spoke on the government’s move to comply with the Interpol. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Attorney Claire Castro stressed that it is clearly the prerogative of the government.
”Very clear, it’s the prerogative of the government so if it is the prerogative of the government to comply with the commitment with the Interpol, so that’s it,” Castro expressed.
Based on the report, the Malacañang Press Officer also clarified that former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is not just a Filipino citizen citing there are allegations of crimes against him. Castro stressed that the government has to comply with the law and give justice either to the victims or the accused.
”This is not just surrendering a Filipino citizen, it is surrendering a Filipino citizen who is accused of crimes against… so it would be a different story. So we have to comply with the law and give justice, either to the victims or to the accused,” Malacañang said.
Castro stressed that if the accused will plead not guilty and can defend himself, then it is also justice for him. On the other side, if he is guilty, it will be justice for the victims. Amid his arrest, former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte claimed that his arrest could lead to the presidency of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.