'So walang Red Notice?': Imee questions Interpol request that led to Duterte arrest | ABS-CBN
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'So walang Red Notice?': Imee questions Interpol request that led to Duterte arrest
'So walang Red Notice?': Imee questions Interpol request that led to Duterte arrest
Jauhn Etienne Villaruel,
ABS-CBN News
Published Mar 20, 2025 02:08 PM PHT
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Updated Mar 20, 2025 07:24 PM PHT
Former President Rodrigo Duterte boards plane going to an undisclosed location, a few hours after a warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court was served by INTERPOL Manila on March 11, 2025. Contributed Photo
Former President Rodrigo Duterte boards plane going to an undisclosed location, a few hours after a warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court was served by INTERPOL Manila on March 11, 2025. Contributed PhotoMANILA (UPDATE) — The Philippine government on Thursday admitted it acted on an Interpol "diffusion," not a Red Notice, to arrest former President Rodrigo Duterte and send him to The Hague, Netherlands to face the International Criminal Court (ICC).
MANILA (UPDATE) — The Philippine government on Thursday admitted it acted on an Interpol "diffusion," not a Red Notice, to arrest former President Rodrigo Duterte and send him to The Hague, Netherlands to face the International Criminal Court (ICC).
During the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations inquiry into the arrest and transfer of Duterte to The Hague, Sen. Imee Marcos, who initiated the probe, presented the Interpol letter that government officials said was the basis for their March 11 operation.
During the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations inquiry into the arrest and transfer of Duterte to The Hague, Sen. Imee Marcos, who initiated the probe, presented the Interpol letter that government officials said was the basis for their March 11 operation.
Sen. Marcos said that the Interpol actually issued a "diffusion," a mechanism separate from the color-coded notices.
Sen. Marcos said that the Interpol actually issued a "diffusion," a mechanism separate from the color-coded notices.
"There was no Red Notice and what was issued was merely a diffusion. Pakita po natin dahil may pagkakaiba 'yan, matindi. Yang diffusion hindi yan pinagtitibay ng Interpol secretariat, hindi dumaan sa commissioner," Sen. Marcos said.
"There was no Red Notice and what was issued was merely a diffusion. Pakita po natin dahil may pagkakaiba 'yan, matindi. Yang diffusion hindi yan pinagtitibay ng Interpol secretariat, hindi dumaan sa commissioner," Sen. Marcos said.
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(Let us show it because there is a big difference between the two. The diffusion was not approved by the Interpol secretariat. That did not go through the commissioner.)
(Let us show it because there is a big difference between the two. The diffusion was not approved by the Interpol secretariat. That did not go through the commissioner.)
From the presentation of Sen. Imee Marcos
From the presentation of Sen. Imee MarcosAccording to the Interpol website, a "Red Notice" seeks the location and arrest of persons wanted for prosecution or to serve a sentence, while a "diffusion" is a request for cooperation "circulated directly by a member country’s National Central Bureau to all or some other member countries."
According to the Interpol website, a "Red Notice" seeks the location and arrest of persons wanted for prosecution or to serve a sentence, while a "diffusion" is a request for cooperation "circulated directly by a member country’s National Central Bureau to all or some other member countries."
Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) executive director Anthony Alcantara, who was the recipient of Interpol correspondence, confirmed that only a "wanted person diffusion" was issued, but claimed that it was "equivalent" to a Red Notice.
Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) executive director Anthony Alcantara, who was the recipient of Interpol correspondence, confirmed that only a "wanted person diffusion" was issued, but claimed that it was "equivalent" to a Red Notice.
"Please arrest the subject of this diffusion," the Interpol communication read, noting that the Philippine government had "agreed to comply with this request for arrest" in prior consultations.
"Please arrest the subject of this diffusion," the Interpol communication read, noting that the Philippine government had "agreed to comply with this request for arrest" in prior consultations.
"This diffusion relates to the International Warrant of arrest (referenced in this Diffusion) which has also been formally transmitted to the Government of the Philippines." the document also states.
"This diffusion relates to the International Warrant of arrest (referenced in this Diffusion) which has also been formally transmitted to the Government of the Philippines." the document also states.
Marcos also noted that the document referenced prior assurances from the Philippine government, which Marcos believed contradicted statements from officials that they only knew of the arrest the day they formally got the notice. Marcos noted the document only referred to provisional arrest.
Marcos also noted that the document referenced prior assurances from the Philippine government, which Marcos believed contradicted statements from officials that they only knew of the arrest the day they formally got the notice. Marcos noted the document only referred to provisional arrest.
"ACTION TO BE TAKEN Locate and arrest with a view to extradition: Assurances are given that extradition will be sought upon arrest of the person, in conformity with national laws and/or the applicable bilateral and multilateral treaties. Provisional arrest: This request is to be treated as a formal request for provisional arrest, in conformity with national laws and/or the applicable bilateral and multilateral treaties."
"ACTION TO BE TAKEN Locate and arrest with a view to extradition: Assurances are given that extradition will be sought upon arrest of the person, in conformity with national laws and/or the applicable bilateral and multilateral treaties. Provisional arrest: This request is to be treated as a formal request for provisional arrest, in conformity with national laws and/or the applicable bilateral and multilateral treaties."
Sen. Marcos questioned why the Philippine government mobilized law enforcers to arrest Duterte when no Red Notice was even issued.
Sen. Marcos questioned why the Philippine government mobilized law enforcers to arrest Duterte when no Red Notice was even issued.
She said the government mobilized police officers based on an Interpol request, claiming also that the request was not official.
She said the government mobilized police officers based on an Interpol request, claiming also that the request was not official.
According to Sen. Marcos, this was the first time that an Interpol member executed a warrant that was not contained on a Red Notice.
According to Sen. Marcos, this was the first time that an Interpol member executed a warrant that was not contained on a Red Notice.
"Ito ang kauna-unahang pagkakataon na ang warrant of arrest was honored by a member state. Samantalang, diffusion pa lang ito," the senator said.
"Ito ang kauna-unahang pagkakataon na ang warrant of arrest was honored by a member state. Samantalang, diffusion pa lang ito," the senator said.
During her virtual appearance at the hearing, Vice President Sara Duterte said the non-existent Red Notice was the reason why other countries were "clueless" about it.
During her virtual appearance at the hearing, Vice President Sara Duterte said the non-existent Red Notice was the reason why other countries were "clueless" about it.
"Hindi siya nagkaroon ng Red Notice kaya iyong ibang bansa, hindi nila alam, wala silang notice na mayroong ganoong warrant. Ang nangyari, ICC [to] Interpol, Interpol binigay sa Philippine authorities and the Philippine authorities or the Philippine National Police in-implement nila iyong warrant diretso doon sa akusado. Hindi nila dinala sa korte natin diyan sa ating bansa," Duterte said.
"Hindi siya nagkaroon ng Red Notice kaya iyong ibang bansa, hindi nila alam, wala silang notice na mayroong ganoong warrant. Ang nangyari, ICC [to] Interpol, Interpol binigay sa Philippine authorities and the Philippine authorities or the Philippine National Police in-implement nila iyong warrant diretso doon sa akusado. Hindi nila dinala sa korte natin diyan sa ating bansa," Duterte said.
Alcantara said that it was up to Philippine government how to "pan out" the Interpol diffusion, which was seconded by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.
Alcantara said that it was up to Philippine government how to "pan out" the Interpol diffusion, which was seconded by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.
"Baka dahil sa panahon, dahil mabilis po ang pangyayari. Marahil sa ordinaryong pagkakataon nandyan po ang Red Notice," Remulla said.
"Baka dahil sa panahon, dahil mabilis po ang pangyayari. Marahil sa ordinaryong pagkakataon nandyan po ang Red Notice," Remulla said.
(Maybe it was because of the time element, because it was developing quickly. It is likely that under ordinary circumstances, they would have issued a Red Notice)
(Maybe it was because of the time element, because it was developing quickly. It is likely that under ordinary circumstances, they would have issued a Red Notice)
Remulla added that the letter is just a form letter and that the government exercises its option to turn Duterte over under Republic Act 9851, or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law.
Remulla added that the letter is just a form letter and that the government exercises its option to turn Duterte over under Republic Act 9851, or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law.
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., the brother of the senator who initiated the probe, had said that the Philippines' commitment to Interpol was the basis for arresting Duterte, which was the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., the brother of the senator who initiated the probe, had said that the Philippines' commitment to Interpol was the basis for arresting Duterte, which was the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The camp of Duterte however said that the arrest was unlawful, calling it "state kidnapping."
The camp of Duterte however said that the arrest was unlawful, calling it "state kidnapping."
However, families of Duterte's drug war victims believe that seeking accountability from local courts has become impossible due to alleged intimidation and harassment. —With reports from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News
However, families of Duterte's drug war victims believe that seeking accountability from local courts has become impossible due to alleged intimidation and harassment. —With reports from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News
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