Palace press secretary, Atty. Claire Castro, said on Wednesday that former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte must first undergo proceedings in a local court in the Netherlands before being handed over to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Castro explained that this process is necessary to determine if the procedure for his arrest on Philippine soil was proper before taking the case to the ICC.
“Sa aking pagkakaalam, dadalhin muna siya sa isang local court at doon titingnan, aalamin kung tama ba ‘yung proseso ng pag-arrest at kapag po na-validate na sinabi naman na tama ang pagkakadala sa kanya sa bansang kung saan siya dadalhin, dadalhin na po siya sa The Hague, sa ICC,” Castro said during a press briefing.
Castro added that if Duterte is found guilty, he could face imprisonment ranging from 30 years to life.
On Tuesday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that the Palace had received an official copy of the ICC warrant just hours before the former president’s arrest.
Marcos clarified that the arrest was carried out “because Interpol asked us to do it and we have commitments.”
