MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has stated that former President Rodrigo Duterte will receive legal assistance from the government if necessary, as he faces charges of crimes against humanity linked to his controversial war on illegal drugs.
During a briefing on Wednesday, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro was asked whether the government would extend any form of assistance to Duterte.
“Papaanong tulong po aasahan kung mayroon naman siyang sariling abodago?” she said, questioning the need for government intervention given that Duterte already has his own legal counsel.
(“What kind of help can be expected if he already has his own lawyer?”)
Legal Framework for Assistance
Despite this, Castro pointed out that Republic Act (RA) 9851 outlines provisions that could apply in Duterte’s case.
“Mayroon naman po tayong batas – ang RA [Republic Act 9851] – kung saan sinasabi po na kahit po ang dating Pangulong Duterte ay masasabi pong dapat na usigin, or kailangang magkaroon ng hearing sa International Criminal Court [ICC],” she explained.
(“But anyway, we have a law – RA 9851 – which states that even former President Duterte can be prosecuted or should undergo a hearing at the International Criminal Court (ICC).”)
She further assured that the Philippine government would not abandon Duterte, particularly in matters concerning his legal rights.
“Hindi naman din po pababayaan ng ating gubyerno, lalung lalo na po kung ito ay tungkol sa kanyang karapatan,” Castro emphasized.
(“However, our government will not abandon him, especially when it comes to his rights.”)
At the moment, Castro noted that she has no information on whether Duterte’s camp has officially requested assistance from the Palace.
Duterte’s Departure for The Hague
On Tuesday evening, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed that Duterte had departed for The Hague, Netherlands to face the charges before the ICC.
“The plane carrying former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte took off at 11:03 p.m. this evening and exited Philippine airspace,” Marcos said in his address.
The Drug War Controversy
Official government records estimate that Duterte’s anti-drug campaign claimed at least 6,000 lives. However, human rights organizations place the death toll between 12,000 and 30,000 from 2016 to 2019, alleging that many were extrajudicial killings.
The ICC’s investigation into Duterte’s war on drugs has been a contentious issue, with mixed reactions from government officials and international watchdogs.
