Here are the statements of Harry Roque and Palace about the claims of Rodrigo Duterte seeking asylum in China.
Former president Rodrigo Duterte allegedly sought asylum in China before arrest, and the Palace and Harry Roque have this to say about this.
Before the warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court (ICC) against former president Rodrigo Duterte was served, he allegedly sought asylum in China but was rejected.
According to a 24 Oras report by Maki Pulido, a trusted source revealed that the authorities have already been preparing for the arrest since January as part of the Oplan Tugis of the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
PNP chief Rommel Marbil ordered CIDG head Nicolas Torre to put the former president in custody once the arrest warrant was issued, and on March 7, he flew to Hong Kong to attend an event. This was the same day when the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber 1 has already issued the warrant and by this time, the PNP was also closely coordinating with the International Police Criminal Organization (Interpol).
The CIDG would initially like to apprehend Duterte in Hong Kong but was denied as China is no longer associated with the Rome Statute. The same source revealed that he sought asylum in China but was denied.
Regarding this claim circulating online, Presidential Communications Officer (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Friday that the Palace has accordingly not received any information about this. The only information the Palace received was his arrival.
Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque also reacted to this and expressed that this is impossible. Based on a post from Roque, there is no machinery for the application of asylum in China and Hong Kong. Vice President Sara Duterte also previously denied that Duterte sought asylum in China.
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