Malacañang denies Duterte sought asylum in China before arrest

Malacañang has not received any information regarding reports that former President Rodrigo Duterte sought asylum in China before his March 11 arrest by Philippine authorities on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant.

Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro stated during a briefing that they did not receive such information, emphasizing that the only details received were about Duterte's return trip to Manila from Hong Kong.

According to reports, Philippine authorities had been preparing for Duterte's arrest since January as part of Oplan Tugis laid out by the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

On March 7, Duterte flew to Hong Kong to attend an event with Overseas Filipino Workers, while the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber 1 issued a warrant for his arrest on the same day.

Duterte was arrested upon his return to Manila on March 11 by local police based on the ICC warrant and was flown to The Hague in the Netherlands on the same day.

President Marcos revealed earlier that they received the warrant at 3 a.m. on March 11, instructing agencies to proceed with the arrest shortly after.

Malacañang expressed gratitude for the Senate hearing that clarified the facts of Duterte's arrest and explained the legal process involved.