Former presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo questioned the legality of the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, saying he was deprived of legal representation when authorities served the arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) over crimes against humanity.
“It’s unlawful arrest. The PNP (Philippine National Police) didn’t allow one of his lawyers to meet him at the airport and to question the legal basis for PRRD’s arrest,” Panelo said.
“He was deprived of legal representation at the time of his arrest,” Panelo added.
The former presidential spokesman pointed out that the police “could not have a hard copy of the warrant arrest.”
He stressed that by not allowing one of Duterte’s lawyers to meet him, the arresting officers “could avoid being asked if they have the hard copy of the arrest warrant.”
Panelo further argued that the arrest was illegal, considering that the ICC, where the arrest warrant came from, has no jurisdiction over the Philippines. He also said that the public officials, who ordered the arrest, and the arresting officers could be criminally liable for carrying out the “unlawful arrest.”
“It is an illegal arrest because the ICC arrest warrant comes from a spurious source, the ICC, which has no jurisdiction over the Philippines,” Panelo said.
“The government action will make the arresting team as well as the public officials ordering the arrest criminally liable,” he added.
Duterte was taken under police custody upon arrival at the airport from Hong Kong on Tuesday morning, March 11.
Malacañang confirmed that Interpol Manila received the official copy of the warrant of arrest against him early dawn on Tuesday. (Betheena Unite)
