National Security Adviser Eduardo Año denied on Thursday, March 20, participation in any so-called "conspiracy" that led to the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
"It is utterly unacceptable and unfair that my name is being dragged into an alleged grand conspiracy. I firmly deny any allegations of a grand conspiracy," he said this during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
As part of the past administration's cabinet, Año said that it was hard for him to see Duterte getting arrested.
He explained that his role was limited to the mandate of his office which was to assess that the situation does not escalate into the security concern.
"The implementation of the ICC warrant is beyond my mandate and I have no part in it. And may I also state for the record that I am not aware of any core group, nor am I a member of such group that allegedly planned and prepared for the arrest of former President Duterte," Año said.
In an interview on Wednesday, March 19, Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa admitted that he is "personally" upset with Año. Año said that he only learned of the arrest on March 11.
Dela Rosa said that out of courtesy, he could have told Duterte who at that time was in Hong Kong about the impending arrest in his return to the Philippines.
Although he heard rumors regarding a supposed traitor in Duterte's inner circle, Dela Rosa stated that he had no idea who it was.
"May narinig rin ako, but I cannot confirm or deny dahil hindi ko man kilala kung sino ang tao 'yun na alluded to, na nagsabi ng gan'un. Hindi ko man alam, hindi ko kilala kung sino. Pero may mga tsismis na ganon (I heard something too, but I can't confirm or deny it because I don't even know who the person referenced is, the one who said that. I don’t know them, so I can’t really say. But there are rumors like that)," he added.
Duterte was arrested on March 11, after Interpol received an arrest warrant from the ICC.
Duterte was brought to The Hague in the Netherlands, where he will be facing charges of crimes against humanity in relation to the bloody anti-drug war during his administration. His confirmation of charges hearing is set for Sept. 23.