Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Police Major General Nicolas Torre III. Screen grab from RTVM live
MANILA, Philippines – “Hindi na-deprive ang rights as a suspect.”
This was the clarification of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Police Major General Nicolas Torre III when he laid down exactly what happened on the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday (March 11) from the time of his arrival from Hong Kong all the way to his departure for The Hague to face trial for alleged crimes against humanity.
His fundamental rights as an accused were respected during his arrest and everything that he needed were provided contrary to claims made.
The Malacanang Palace on Thursday (March 13) held a briefing to clarify issues that surrounded the arrest of the former president, among them the questioned validity of the arrest warrant, deprivation of his medical needs and trampling of his rights as an accused.
Videos of Duterte’s arrest went viral showing the former leader swarmed by police officers convincing him to board the plane for The Hague.
His daughter, Veronica “Kitty” Duterte, consistently uploaded and posted updates on what’s happening inside the Villamor Air Base. On fighting mode, the young Duterte who earlier hurled accusations at the government and the arresting officers of harassment, illegal arrest and even kidnapping.
Service, validity of warrant
Torre, along with Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty, testified to following all procedures and made sure Duterte was subjected to a humane and lawful arrest.
“Kami [Department of Justice representatives] ang naging competent judicial authority upang saksikhan ang pagpapatupad ng warrant of arrest at siguraduhin na sumusunod ito dun sa mga kinakailangan upang properly madeliver si PRRD sa kanila,” Ty said.
Ty belied the claim of Duterte’s lawyers, ex Ex-Labor Sec. Atty. Silvestre Bello III and former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea that no warrant was issued.
“At doon naman sa tube noh nung hiningi ng kampo ni PRRD yung kopya nung warrant of arrest ay nakapakita kami at naka share kami sa kanila ng electronic copy nung warrant of arrest,” Ty said.
Ty said Duterte’s Miranda Rights were read to the former president.
“In fact gusto na nga namin ibasa ‘yung Mirana rights niya dun sa tube pero nakiusap yung mga abugado niya na ‘wag muna. So ang naging pasya ay ilipat siya sa mas secure na area which is eventually sa Villamor Air Base at doon na namin, after binigyan sila ng pagkakataon magpahinga, doon binasa ni General Torre ‘yung Miranda rights niya.
Overall, Torre said the service and implementation of the warrant was carried out well despite some given tensions meant to delay Duterte’s departure.
“Sa lahat namang pong stage nung service nung warrant ay okay lang naman, everyone is calm, each one is expressing his own opinion pero at the end of the day, we insisted na sumama siya sa amin dahil siya ay inaaresto namin,” Torre said.
RELATED STORIES:
Duterte: I will continue to serve my country, so be it kung ganun ang destiny ko
A daughter’s cry: Kitty Duterte asks Supreme Court to bring dad Rody back to PH after ICC arrest
VP Sara flies after dad Rody to The Hague, Netherlands
Digong arrested under Interpol ‘commitment,’ not ICC mandate
PDP Laban condemns arrest of ex-Prexy Duterte
Jinggoy: Duterte entitled to ‘due process’ as ICC probes war on drugs
Duterte questions arrest, demands answers for ‘deprivation of liberty’
Republika News 
Leave a comment