NSA Año denies role in Duterte's arrest during Senate hearing

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año denied involvement in a conspiracy behind former President Rodrigo Duterte's arrest last week during a Senate committee hearing on Thursday.

Año emphasized that it was 'very hard' for him to witness the arrest of his former boss and asserted that Duterte's arrest was a 'spontaneous' event, not part of a grand conspiracy.

He stated he had no knowledge of any core group planning Duterte's arrest and denied being aware of an intelligence operation or having prior information about it, noting that Duterte's presence in Hong Kong and return to the Philippines were public knowledge.

Año said his role was strictly limited to assessing the situation to ensure it did not escalate into a national security concern and stressed that he had no part in the execution of the ICC warrant, which was implemented on March 11.

Senator Imee Marcos, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and sister to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., invited Año among other top government officials for the inquiry into Duterte's arrest and transfer to the International Criminal Court's custody.

In a separate interview, Senator Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa admitted being personally upset with Año but stated he had no information confirming rumors of a traitor within Duterte's group.