Former President Rodrigo Duterte may be seeking refuge in China due to a looming warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court (ICC). This assertion was made by Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who expressed concerns about Duterte’s intentions and actions. According to Carpio, the Philippines’ decision to withdraw from the Rome Statute does not necessarily protect its leaders from ICC prosecution.
Carpio believes that other countries may issue arrest warrants against Duterte if the ICC confirms the charges against him. This situation could potentially lead to a diplomatic crisis between the Philippines and China, which has invited Duterte for talks on improving ties between the two nations.
However, Duterte’s legal counsel, Harry Roque, dismissed Carpio’s remarks as ‘nonsense,’ citing the country’s withdrawal from the ICC and its refusal to cooperate with the tribunal. The Supreme Court had previously ruled that the Philippines still has an obligation to cooperate with the ICC, even after withdrawing from the Rome Statute.
As tensions rise over Duterte’s potential refugee status, questions are being raised about his motivations for seeking refuge in China. Was it a genuine attempt to improve relations between the two nations or a calculated move to divide Filipinos?
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