Malacañang said it would not oppose the Senate's investigation on the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte, asserting that it is an opportunity to show the government simply followed the law.

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said this as presidential sister, Senator Imee Marcos, launched a probe into Duterte's arrest on March 11.

In a press briefing on Thursday, March 20, the Palace Press Officer said the administration welcomes the inquiry and does not intend to block it.

"Kung anuman daw po ang gagawing paghi-hearing sa Senado hindi naman po natin ito tututulan dahil para ipakita sa taumbayan na tayo po ay sumusunod lamang sa batas (Whatever hearings the Senate will conduct, we will not oppose them to show the public that we are merely following the law)," she said.

"Kapag po kasi nagtatago, ayaw makipag-usap, lahat ng mga officers niya ay sasabihing walang alam ay mas lalo tayong magpapakita na may itinatago tayo (If we hide, refuse to speak, and officials claim ignorance, we would only appear to be concealing something)," she added.

Castro likewise rejected Senator Marcos' claim that the government surrendered Duterte to a foreign power.

"Ito naman po ay nasa batas Republic Act 9851, hindi po natin nilalabag ang anumang batas (This is in RA 9851, and we are not violating any law)," she said.

“Maliwanag po kahit po si [former Associate] Justice [Antonio] Carpio ay ipinaliwanag po ito na maaari po nating i-surrender ang sinuman sa international court (It is clear, as even Justice Carpio explained, that we can surrender anyone to the international court)," she added.

Castro has been referring to RA 9851, or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity. She specifically cited the law's Sec. 17, which states that "the authorities may surrender or extradite suspected or accused persons in the Philippines to the appropriate international court, if any, or to another State pursuant to the applicable extradition laws and treaties."

Meanwhile, the Palace slammed the video shown during the hearing, saying it failed to provide a complete picture of events during Duterte's arrest.

"At nais lang po—sana iyong gumawa po sana ng video ay hindi po na-cut o na-splice, napakita rin po sana kung papaano na-harass ang kapulisan habang isinasagawa po ang pag-aaresto (We only hope that the one who made the video did not cut or splice it and also showed how the police were harassed while serving the warrant of arrest)," Castro noted, also noting the sound effects that aimed to make the clip more dramatic.