Former National Police chief Oscar Albayalde is hoping that the Philippine government will provide legal protection for him against the charges filed at the International Criminal Court in relation to the Duterte administration's bloody war on drugs.

Albayalde together with former PNP chief and now Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa are among former President Rodrigo Duterte's co-accused in the crime against humanity case at the ICC.

"Umaasa din tayo sa ating gobyerno para proteksyunan tayo't hindi tayo nawawalan ng pag-asa dyan sa ating pangulo na si Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr.," Albayalde said in an interview with CLTV36 News that was uploaded online on Thursday.

Albayalde, who is running for mayor of Angeles City, Pampanga, attended a pro-Duterte rally in the city to express his support for his former boss.

"Minabuti na rin naming dumaan dito para magbigay ng suporta sa kanila at hindi kung anuman," he said.

"It's a sad day in the history of the Philippines 'yung ating pangulo ay nadala sa ibang bansa pa for a trial in the alleged crimes against humanity kung saan mayroon naman tayong sovereignty."

Albayalde said he is monitoring the developments regarding the case, which led to the arrest of Duterte. 

The 79-year-old Duterte faces a charge of "the crime against humanity of murder", according to the International Criminal Court, for a crackdown that rights groups estimate killed tens of thousands of mostly poor men, often without proof they were linked to drugs.

Duterte was arrested at Manila's international airport Tuesday after "Interpol Manila received the official copy of the warrant of the arrest from the ICC", the presidential palace said.

An ICC spokesman later confirmed the warrant and said an initial appearance hearing would be scheduled when Duterte was in court custody.

"Matagal po iyang proseso. Alam na naing nandoon na ang ating ating mahal na pangulo. Titignan natin kung anong mangyari dyan. A few days from now malalaman natin kung anong magiging desisyon ng ICC," Albayalde said.

"Mayroon tayong umiiral na maayos na justice system dito sa Pilipinas. May mga legal means para labanan 'yan."

Earlier, lawyer Kristina Conti, an ICC assistant to counsel, said dela Rosa and Albayalde could be the next to receive arrest warrants from the ICC for crimes against humanity over their roles in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.