Former President Rodrigo Duterte in Hong Kong. Photo: Office of the Vice President 

MANILA, Philippines – “Bakit ko ginawa ‘yan? Para sa sarili ko? Para sa pamilya ko? Para sa inyo at inyong mga anak.” 

This was the statement of former President Rodrigo Duterte in his speech in Wan Chai Hong Kong on Sunday (March 9) addressing the rumors of his looming arrest by the International Criminal Court over deaths linked to his bloody war on drugs. 

“Nakita ninyo na patong-patong ang kaso ko. Eh sa totoo lang, baka … Ang balita ko may warrant daw ako… Hindi, totoo. ‘Yung sa ICC or something. Matagal na akong hinahabol ng mga ptng *na,” he said to Overseas Filipino Workers. 

Duterte maintained his stand of implementing the war on drugs the bloody way to bring back peace and order in the country that has long been threatened by the gravity of drug-related war crimes. 

“Ano man ang kasalanan ko, ginawa ko ‘yun para magkaroon ng konting katahimikan at mapayapa ang buhay ng Pilipino,” he said.

“Assuming na totoo, totoo talaga ‘yung naririnig ninyo, bakit ko ginawa ‘yan? Para sa sarili ko? Para sa pamilya ko? Para sa inyo at inyong mga anak,” he said. 

Duterte has, time and again, expressed willingness to “take full legal responsibility” for all crimes committed during the implementation of his drug war. In his speech, he again said he is willing to go jail if he gets arrested. 

“Okay lang, tatanggapin ko ‘yan. Eh wala tayong magawa eh. Eh hulihin tayo, ikulong tayo. Kaya lang ah… Meantime mag-contribute kayo maski 5 dollars, 10 dollars para paglabas ko sa presohan, pagawa niyo ako monumento katabi ni (Jose) Rizal. Si Rizal may hawak na libro eh. Akin,” he said in his usual playful banter. 

Duterte not escaping PH arrest 

Former Presidential chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo dismissed rumors that the former president’s trip to Hong Kong was an attempt to escape arrest describing it as “fake news.” 

Duterte was accompanied by his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte in Hong Kong. 

According to the Office of the Vice President, the younger Duterte is set to return to the country anytime this week as she is expected to grace the 88th Araw ng Dabaw this coming weekend. 

Arrest rumors yet to be confirmed 

Meanwhile, the alleged issuance of an arrest warrant has yet been confirmed according to ICC Assistant to Counsel and the Secretary-General of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers-National Capital Region lawyer Kristina Conti. 

“Also, waiting for Karim Khan’s/ICC’s official confirmation if a warrant has been issued and already transmitted to the Philippine government,” Conti said. 

The government nonetheless said it is prepared for should the ICC come in to arrest Duterte. 

“We’ve heard that an arrest warrant has been issued by the International Criminal Court against former President Rodrigo Duterte for crimes against humanity,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Ad Interim Secretary Jay Ruiz said in a statement.

“The government is prepared for any eventuality,” he said.