President Rodrigo Duterte talks delivers a national address from he Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on Aug. 30, 2021. Simeon Celi, Presidential Photo/File

MANILA — Hours before his arrival in the Philippines where he was arrested Tuesday morning upon ICC's arrest warrant, President Rodrigo Duterte had denied any wrongdoing in relation to his anti-drug campaign.

ICC issues arrest warrant vs Rodrigo Duterte, Palace confirms

Duterte gave the statement before his March 11 return flight to Manila, in an interview with SMNI, a media entity controlled by his ally and Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

“Hindi ako yumaman, wala akong nakuha, pobre pa rin ako and wala kayong nakitang nadagdag na ni-isang nipa hut sa bahay ko. Wala kayo nakita na bagong kotse,” he added.

In the same interview recorded before his arrival in Manila, Duterte questioned why the Philippine government reportedly mobilized thousands of police just to arrest him at the airport.

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“Come to think of it, bakit gawin nila sa bayan ko at sa akin mismo? Am I worth the toil of the police? Ako presidente noon, may gagawin akong kalokohan?” he said.

“If they want to arrest me, I will go to them,” he added.

The 79-year old former President said he is already “old” for this kind of ordeal, claiming that even death “does not scare [him] a bit.” 

“Ano ba nakain nila? All they have to do is call me and say, ‘Come here because there is a complaint against you or there’s a valid summons or whatsoever from the court,’” he said.

“Crimes against humanity na kaya? Pati yung mga hindi ninyo nasali na pinatay ni Hitler, dagdag niyo na sa akin… or the unsolved massacres of the world. Charge it to me because isang impyerno lang ito, walang anuman to,” he added. 

Ex-President Duterte arrested on ICC warrant

“I’m old for that actually. Even if you kill me now, totoo talaga, truly, it does not scare me a bit. Hindi naman ako magpasalamat pero ikaligaya ko na lang magpahinga na.” 

Duterte arrived in Manila on Tuesday morning from a weekend trip to Hong Kong. Authorities were waiting for him at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Hours after Duterte’s arrival, Malacañang confirmed that the ICC’s Prosecutor General has served the former President a “notification for an arrest warrant” for allegedly committing crimes against humanity. 

The case stems from the thousands of extrajudicial killings recorded under Duterte’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.

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