Rodrigo Duterte back in Manila

Former President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday morning arrived in the Philippines after spending a couple of days in Hong Kong. 

The Duterte patriarch landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 via CX-907 past 9 a.m.

While still in the airplane, Duterte was heard saying, “You will just have to kill me kung hindi ako papayag, kung kakampi ka diyan sa mga puti (if I won’t allow, if you will side with the foreigners).”

Spotted with him was his longtime partner, Honeylet Avanceña, and their daughter Veronica “Kitty” Duterte. He was also accompanied by his former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea.

Security at the NAIA Terminal 3 was also tight upon Duterte’s arrival. 

Among those present were Philippine National Police chief Police General Rommel Marbil and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Major General Nicolas Torre III. A representative from the Interpol was also in attendance.

In an interview with Super Radyo dzBB, lawyer Israelito Torreon said Duterte was taken to a place called Kalayaan.

In her report, Marisol Abdurahman said according to sources the former president will be brought to the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing inside the Villamor Airbase.

Senator Bong Go who also went to NAIA to welcome Duterte said he wanted to ensure the former President’s health as the latter is supposedly scheduled for a check up. 

Along with him in the airport was the personal physician of Duterte.

“Sisiguraduhin lang namin na maayos ang kalusugan ni dating Pangulong Duterte. Actually, scheduled po siya bukas ng medical check up. May gagawing procedure sa kanya bukas dito sa ospital sa Cardinal kaya po siya tumuloy at kailangan niyang magpa-check up talaga. Regular check up,” the senator said in a Facebook live.

(We will just make sure that former President Duterte’s health is good. Actually, he is scheduled for a medical check-up tomorrow. He will undergo a procedure tomorrow at the Cardinal hospital, so he will have to go there and have a regular check-up.)

Go also called on the public to pray for the health of Duterte. 

“Ipagdasal ninyo po, ipagdasal ninyo po ang kanyang kalusugan,” he said minutes after Duterte’s arrival. 

Go also decried the police’s refusal to let the medical staff brought by Duterte’s camp to check on the former leader. 

“Hindi kami pinapasok. May dala kaming ambulansiya, may dala kaming doktor. Karapatan iyan ng bawal Pilipino, medical [check up] muna [para sa] kalusugan,” he added. 

Duterte returned to the country amid rumors that the International Criminal Court has already issued a warrant of arrest against him for his controversial war on drugs.

The former Philippine leader said that he is ready to face the alleged warrant of arrest, stressing that he would deal with it directly as a lawyer and would not escape in another country.

He also allayed concerns that he went to Hong Kong over the weekend allegedly to evade the arrest warrant. He earlier attended a gathering with overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), along with his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte.

“Susmaryosep. Mas lalo akong mahuli dito (sa Hong Kong). I am here as a visitor. We do not enjoy any privileges here. Tsaka kung magtago ako, hindi ako magtago sa ibang lugar. Diyan ako sa Pilipinas. Diyan mo ako hindi makita,” the Duterte patriarch said in an exclusive interview with GMA Integrated News’ Marisol Abdurahman.

(The possibility of me getting caught is bigger here in Hong Kong. I am here as a visitor. We do not enjoy any privileges here. Besides, if ever I hide, I won’t hide anywhere else. I will hide in the Philippines. You won’t see me there.)

Malacañang, meanwhile, has ensured readiness on any eventuality in relation to the rumor.

The Palace also said Monday that it has not received any information regarding the alleged Interpol Red Notice against Rodrigo Duterte.

The ICC has been investigating Duterte and other top officials of his administration for crimes against humanity over the alleged systematic drug war deaths in police operations.

These deaths reached around 6,000 based on police records, but human rights groups contend that the deaths were as much as 30,000, including vigilante killings.—AOL, GMA Integrated News

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