Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Former President Rodrigo Duterte. Jonathan Cellona/Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Wednesday his department was preparing in case the Supreme Court scheduled oral arguments on the petitions to bring back former president Rodrigo Duterte to the Philippines from the Netherlands.

Remulla said in the Kapihan sa Manila Bay Forum that he was ready to face the court in the place of Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, who recused himself from the habeas corpus petitions filed by Duterte’s children.

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“Of course, we always prepare. If I have to, I will do it,” Remulla said of possible oral arguments at the Supreme Court.

The DOJ submitted its comment on Monday and asked the court to deny the petitions filed by Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, and Veronica Duterte.

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Remulla stressed that Duterte is now under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“It is beyond the scope of our legal system, we have turned him over already,” Remulla said.

Addressing a circulating video where he said that requests for arrest from the International Criminal Police Organization or Interpol should go through courts, Remulla emphasized the legality of the actions of the Philippine government under Republic Act No. 9851 or An Act Defining and Penalizing Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law.

“I have no qualms about what we did being right or wrong. I think we were right,” Remulla said. 

Duterte stands accused of the crime against humanity of murder over his years-long campaign against drug users and dealers that rights groups said killed thousands.

Presiding Judge Iulia Motoc set a date of September 23 for the next stage of the process: a hearing to confirm the charges.

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At that hearing, a suspect can challenge the prosecutor's evidence.

Only after that will the court decide whether to press ahead with a trial, a process that could take several months or even years.

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— With a report from Agence France-Presse