MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday night said that the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte was carried out in line with the Philippines’ obligations to the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), not as a directive from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Speaking at a Palace briefing, Marcos clarified that Interpol Manila had received an official copy of the ICC warrant against Duterte. The Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Prosecutor General subsequently served the warrant upon Duterte’s arrival from Hong Kong.

“Interpol asked for help, and we obliged because we have commitments to the Interpol which we have to fulfill. If we don’t do that, they will not – they will no longer help us with other cases involving Filipino fugitives abroad,” Marcos said.

“This is what the international community expects of us as the leader of a democratic country that is part of the community of nations,” he added.

Duterte was taken into government custody at Villamor Air Base after landing at 9:20 a.m. on Cathay Pacific flight No. CX 907, accompanied by his common-law wife, Honeylet Avanceña, and members of his entourage.

The aircraft later departed Manila for The Hague, Netherlands, where Duterte is set to face charges of crimes against humanity over his administration’s controversial war on drugs.