No Interpol notice yet for Duterte co-accused – Palace

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

“Sa ngayon, wala pa po tayong natatanggap na anumang communication kung mayroon na pong warrant of arrest para sa mga co-perpetrators ni dating Pangulong Duterte (As of now, we have not received any communication regarding arrest warrants for the co-perpetrators of former president Duterte),” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing. (PNA file photo by Robert Alfiler)

MANILA – Malacañang said Thursday the government has not received any official communication from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) regarding arrest warrants for individuals linked to former president Rodrigo Duterte in connection with the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) crimes against humanity case.

“Sa ngayon, wala pa po tayong natatanggap na anumang communication kung mayroon na pong warrant of arrest para sa mga co-perpetrators ni dating Pangulong Duterte (As of now, we have not received any communication regarding arrest warrants for the co-perpetrators of former president Duterte),” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing.

This comes as Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin was quoted as saying in a report that an arrest could be made against Duterte’s co-accused if the ICC issues a warrant and it is accompanied by an Interpol red notice.

Duterte was arrested at the airport upon returning from Hong Kong on March 11 for his bloody anti-drug campaign.

He was immediately flown to The Hague, Netherlands, where he was turned over to the ICC Detention Center in Scheveningen on March 12 while awaiting trial.

Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa was among the former president’s co-accused, being the latter’s chief of police and lead implementer of his administration’s controversial war on drugs.