MANILA – China refuted a report from a local news channel in the Philippines that former president Rodrigo Duterte was denied of his asylum request in their country.
According to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, China never received a request for asylum from Duterte or any of his family members, as claimed by GMA News.
“Mr. Duterte’s visit to Hong Kong is a private holiday. China has never received an application from the so-called former President Duterte and his family to seek asylum from the Chinese government,” said Guo.
A recent report from GMA News, quoting an unnamed source, said that the former President tried to run to China to escape the ICC warrant, but it rejected his request.
Based on the report, Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) had wanted to arrest Duterte in Hong Kong, but Hong Kong authorities did not want to cooperate with Interpol.
It also said four PNP-CIDG agents followed Duterte’s movements in Hong Kong, while six members of the Hong Kong police made sure he boarded his flight to the Philippines.
Duterte went to Hong Kong to attend an event for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) on March 7, the same day, the Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court released the warrant arrest against him.
Upon his return to the Philippines on March 11, Duterte was apprehended by local authorities. He was subsequently placed on a chartered flight bound for The Hague in the Netherlands to address the charges before the ICC.
The former president faces allegations of crimes against humanity linked to fatalities resulting from his anti-drug campaign./PN
