Due process was observed when authorities arrested former president Rodrigo R. Duterte on Tuesday, March 11, the Department of Justice (DOJ) assured.
Prosecutor General Richard Anthony D. Fadullon said “we observed due process by reading him his rights and ensuring that the dignity of the former President is protected.”
Philippine authorities took custody of Duterte upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) based on the warrant of arrest (WA) issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Fadullon, who was among the officials who met Duterte at the airport, said the warrant was served by Philippine Center for Transnational Crime (PCTC) Executive Director Anthony Alcantara.
“The former President was read his rights and informed of the charges against him,” he recounted.
“Clearly it was read to him that the WA issued by the ICC was on the following charges, crimes against humanity and murder,” he added.
The charges Duterte is facing before the ICC concerns his involvement in the extrajudicial killings that took place during the illegal drugs war of his administration.
“If questions wish to be raised on the validity of the warrant, it should be raised before the court that issued it and not before the arresting officers implementing the same,” Fadullon said.
“We are here only to ensure that the manner of arrest is done in accordance with the law,” he added.