Panelo: Duterte's arrest unlawful, ICC has no jurisdiction

Former President Rodrigo Duterte's arrest at the airport was deemed unlawful by his former spokesperson, Salvador Panelo.

Panelo criticized the Philippine National Police (PNP) for not allowing one of Duterte's lawyers to meet him upon arrival and questioned the legal basis of the arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

He emphasized that Duterte was deprived of legal representation during the arrest and highlighted that the police lacked a hard copy of the arrest warrant.

Panelo argued that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines, making the arrest illegal and potentially criminal for those involved in carrying it out.

Duterte was taken into custody upon his arrival from Hong Kong on Tuesday morning, March 11.

The ICC investigation stems from Duterte's bloody drug war which resulted in thousands of deaths, with human rights groups estimating a much higher number than official police records.