Officials deny coordinating Duterte’s arrest with ICC

Philippine senators on Thursday grilled government officials over their decision to hand former president Rodrigo Duterte to the Inter- national Criminal Court (ICC) last week, with the country’s justice minister denying coordinating the arrest ahead of time.

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Duterte was detained on March Il and put on plane to the ICC in the Netherlands the same day to face crimes against humanity charge tied to his drug war in which thousands were Killed.

Speaking at Thursday's hearing, Secretary of Justice Jesus Remulla said the government had kept the ICC at “arm’s length” until receiving the arrest warrant via Interpol.

“Wenever, uptonow, had any communication with the ICC, officially or unofficially," he told the hearing called by Senator Imee Marcos, a close friend of Vice President Sara Duterte who is the daughter of the detained ex-leader.