DFA: No directive for PH Embassy on Duterte arrest

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo stated on Tuesday that no directive has been issued to the Philippine Embassy in The Hague regarding former President Rodrigo Duterte's arrest for crimes against humanity.

Manalo said they need to observe how events unfold and declined to comment further when asked about the DFA's role, noting that Manila withdrew from the Rome Statute during Duterte's presidency in 2019.

Duterte was arrested upon his arrival from Hong Kong after an ICC warrant was served and is now in police custody following a long investigation by the International Criminal Court into his deadly crackdown on drug suspects during his presidency.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Department of Justice (DOJ) are handling the matter, according to Manalo.

While the exact number of deaths is disputed, government records indicate that at least 6,200 drug suspects were killed in police operations from June 2016 to November 2021 under Duterte's rule.