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PH laws have nothing to do with ex-president Duterte's legal battle—Enrile

Philippines | National

PH laws have nothing to do with ex-president Duterte's legal battle—Enrile

By Betheena Unite

The Philippine government should not be blamed for the current legal challenge that former president Rodrigo Duterte is facing, following his arrest, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile said.

Duterte, Enrile (Malacañang photo) — Former president Rodrigo Duterte and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile (Photo courtesy of Malacañang)

Enrile pointed out that Duterte's legal problem is not caused by Philippine laws, but laws enforceable by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

"The current legal problem of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte is not caused by Philippine laws," Enrile said in a Facebook post on Tuesday afternoon, March 11.

"His legal problem is caused by laws enforceable by the International Criminal Court. It is not correct to blame the Philippine government for the current legal problem of ex-PRRD," Enrile stressed.

The Presidential legal counsel even suggested Duterte's lawyers to secure a copy of the ICC charges against the former president in order to further understand why he was arrested.

"His lawyers should endeavor to secure a copy of the ICC charges against him so that they will know why he was ordered to be arrested by the ICC," he said.

"Philippine domestic laws have nothing to do with his current legal problem," he added.

Duterte was arrested by authorities on Monday morning upon his arrival at the airport from Hong Kong for crimes against humanity.

After his arrest, Malacañang confirmed that Interpol Manila received the official copy of the warrant of arrest against Duterte early dawn on Tuesday.

Duterte has been investigated by the ICC due to his administration’s bloody “drug war.”

According to police records, around 6,000 drug suspects died under Duterte's anti-illegal drug campaign but human rights groups estimated the number could go as high as 30,000, including those killed vigilante-style by motorcycle riding-in-tandem suspects.

Related Tags

International Criminal Court (ICC) interpol Juan Ponce Enrile arrest warrant Rodrigo Duterte

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