Malacañang said the government is prepared for any possible scenario amid rumors that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant against former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Communications Secretary Jay Ruiz said this following speculations that the former president had left the country to evade a supposed impending arrest.

"We’ve heard that an arrest warrant has been issued by the International Criminal Court against former president Rodrigo Duterte for crimes against humanity," Ruiz said in a statement on Sunday, March 9.

"The government is prepared for any eventuality," he added.

In a statement, Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro acknowledged the rumor and said the country would cooperate through Interpol.

"No confirmation of issuance of a warrant of arrest from the Palace," she said on Sunday.

"But as what ES Bersamin (Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin) and SOJ (Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla) said before, if Interpol will ask for the necessary assistance from the government, it is obliged to follow," she added.

If an arrest warrant against Duterte had indeed been issued, Castro, in an interview with TeleRadyo Serbisyo, said a hold departure order would follow.

However, it was reported that the former president had already left the country for Hong Kong on Friday to campaign for his senatorial candidates.

The ICC has been investigating Duterte and other individuals for the supposed extrajudicial killings and human rights violations committed during his bloody drug war.

During his term, the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute that established the ICC.

President Marcos maintained Duterte's position that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines following its withdrawal. However, Malacañang said the country will only cooperate if the ICC courses its request through Interpol.

No arrest warrant -- OSG

The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) said yesterday it has not received a notice from the ICC on an arrest warrant against any Filipino.

“We have not received any such notice from the ICC,” said Solicitor General Menardo I. Guevarra.

Guevarra pointed this out following a news report that the ICC has issued an arrest warrant against former president Duterte who is facing charges of crimes against humanity over the killings during the illegal drugs war of his administration.

The OSG represented the Philippines in asking the ICC to stop its investigation into the drugs war.

The administration of President Marcos has maintained that the Philippine government will not cooperate in the ICC’s investigation.

The OSG had argued that the ICC no longer had jurisdiction over the country after the Philippines, upon the instruction of Duterte, withdrew in 2018 as a signatory to the Rome Statute that created the international tribunal. The withdrawal became effective in 2019.

Earlier this year, Guevarra said, though the government will not cooperate, it cannot not stop the ICC from conducting its investigation. (With a report from Jeffrey Damicog)