March 10, 2025
Manila – “Nothing I did during my term was not the president, not for myself and my family, but for the Filipino people.”
Here is former President Rodrigo Duterte's comment on his looming arrest warrant for the International Criminal Court (ICC). He is allegedly facing crimes against humanity, suspected of committing crimes on drugs in his government.
Duterte reiterated that his actions in the drug war were for the benefit of the Filipinos.
“Assuming Na Totoo, Totoo Talaga'Yung Naririnig Ninyo, Bakit Ko Ginawa'Yan? para sa sarili ko? para sa pamilya ko? Duterte said in a campaign for the PDP-Laban Senator Candidate in Hong Kong on Sunday:
(Suppose you hear it is true, why am I doing this? For myself? For my family? No, for you and your children, for our country.)
Read: Duterte's expected PDP Sortie in Hong Kong; Travel sparks the buzz of ICC's “escape”
He also claimed that the International Criminal Court had followed him for a long time.
“Kaya Naman Ako, Nakita ninyo ninyo ninyo ninyo ninyo ninyo ang kaso ko…ang balita ko, probably guaranteed daw ako pag…hindi, totoo, 'yung sa icc or something, Matagal na akong na akong hinahabol ng hinahabol ng mga p *********************************,”
(That's why, as you can see, I have a lot of cases…I heard I have an arrest warrant…No, really, this m **** f ******* icc or something I've followed me for a long time.)
“Ano Man Ang Kasalanan KO? Na Ginawa Ko Man Ang Lahat Sa Panahon Ko Para might be at Konting Katahimikan Konting Katahimikan at Mapayapa Ang Buhay ng Pilipino,” he added.
(What is my fault?
Duterte then signaled as if cutting a man's head, while saying that the ICC might see him as the killer.
The former president also said he resigned and waited for his fate.
“Kaya Ako Man…Ang Hinaing Ko na lang sa inyo, tutal kung ganito man talaga ang swerte ko sa buhay, OK, lang, tatanggapin ko yan. EH, Wala Tayong Magawa eh. Well, Hulihin Tayo, Kung Fu ikulong Tayo,” Duterte said.
(For me…my only request from you is that if it is indeed my destiny for life, that's OK, I'll accept it. There's nothing we can do. If I get arrested, if I get jailed, that's fine.)
Read: Duterte dares to get ICC in before ICC dies
Duterte once again proved his government’s positive stance on crime, saying people were forced to face evil when it was right before them.
“Tayo Mga Ayaw ng Gulo, Napipilitan Tayo, because Nandyan Sa Harap Natin. Chinese ba namang gustong pumatay? p **** i ****'yan. Why am I wasting my time?” he said.
(We don't want trouble to be sometimes forced to face evil because it's right before us. Who wants to kill? These m **** f *******.
Duterte then joked that the audience would donate to a monument in memory of him.
“Kaya Lang, Mag-Contribute Kayo, Maski $5, $10. Para Paglabas Ko Sa Presuhan, Pagawaan Ninyo Akong Monumento Katabi Ni [Jose] Rizal,” he quipped.
(At the same time, something was contributed, even five to $10. So when I left the prison, you could build a monument next to Jose Rizal.)
Rizal is a national hero of the Philippines.
Duterte reportedly left the Philippines on March 7 for Hong Kong. It was also reported that information about the possible release of Duterte's arrest warrant on March 8 has been leaked to his camp.
Read: Duterte
Meanwhile, the Marcos administration said that the ICC issued an arrest warrant to the former president “was ready for any accident”.
“The government is ready for any possible situation,” the secretary of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said on Sunday, when asked about a possible warrant.
Colonel Randulf Tuaño, head of the Philippine National Police Public Information Office, also told the inquirer in his Viber message.
On the other hand, PCO Deputy Secretary Claire Castro said the office has not received any confirmation about issuing an ICC arrest warrant.
