Former President Rodrigo Duterte arrives at the Senate of the Philippines on October 28, 2024, to attend a Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on extrajudicial killings, addressing alleged human rights violations from his administration’s war on drugs. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA  — The Philippine government on Wednesday said it will continue to honor its commitments with Interpol, including help in serving more warrants of arrests issued by the International Criminal Court in connection with the Duterte administration's war on drugs.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Malacanang does not have information if more warrants will be issued in the ICC investigation.

“As of now wala kaming nare-receive na information kung may darating pa na warrant of arrest through the Interpol. Kung meron man po ay ganon pa rin ang magiging tugon namin kapag hiningi ng Interpol ang tulong ng administrasyon. Tutugon pa rin tayo," she told reporters. 

"Magiging iba siguro ang sitwasyon kung 'yung mga subject ng warrant of arrest ay kusang magsu-surrender, hindi na po siguro kakailanganin yung naging drama kahapon."

Castro said the government's decision to "surrender" former President Rodrigo Duterte to international authorities to face trial at the ICC is legal under Republic Act 9851. 

Duterte was turned over Tuesday to the Interpol, which was tasked to arrest him upon the orders of the ICC, where the former leader was charged with crimes against humanity.

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"He was not extradited in the first place, he was surrendered... It is regular, what the government did, it was based on the law, RA 9851," Castro said in a briefing, referring to the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9PqGCzsblE&t=9s

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"I can say it is normal but this is the first time that we did this so if you did everything based on the law, I think there could be no question on that," she added.

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President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in a late night address Tuesday said the Philippines was merely cooperating with the Interpol when it turned over Duterte. 

Duterte and his camps have questioned the arrest, with Vice President Sara Duterte calling it a "state kidnapping."

Petitions for temporary restraining order and habeas corpus have also been filed to bring Duterte back to the Philippines. 

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Duterte was arrested after landing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from Hong Kong on Tuesday. He was whisked off on a chartered flight to The Hague, Netherlands where the ICC is located.

What awaits Duterte: ICC detention center in The Hague

Duterte touched down in Dubai for a layover on Wednesday morning.

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