The Office of the President (OP) paid for the private plane that flew former President Rodrigo Duterte to the Netherlands, Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro confirmed on Friday, March 14.
“Ito po ay may kaugnayan sa assistance po na ibinigay natin sa Interpol,” she explained in a press briefing.
“Kung wala naman po na ipo-provide na sasakyan para madala ang dating pangulo sa ICC, ay parang hindi rin naging kumpleto ang pagtugon natin sa ating commitment to the Interpol,” she said.
Castro, however, did not disclose how much the government spent for the aircraft.
“Wala po tayong kumpletong detalye about that. Maaari po siguro hindi ko agad masasabi, kung meron man, dahil meron pong kaugnayan ito sa isang pribadong korporasyon,” she said.
She, however, assured the public that the government will make sure that Duterte will get a fair trial as he was set to appear before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the first time on Friday, March 14.
Castro said Duterte’s fate was already out of the government’s hands.
“Wala po kasi tayong jurisdiction sa ano mang gagawin po ng ICC, sa kanilang mga procedures wala pong jurisdiction,” she said.
“After natin madala po ang dating pangulo wala sa ICC, wala na pong kamay o responsibilidad ang gobyerno kay dating pangulong Duterte,” she added.
GOV’T SUPPORT
Despite this, Castro said the government would make sure that Duterte would get a fair trial.
“Kakailanganin din po natin, ng gobyerno, na masigurado natin na nagkakaroon po ng fair trial, lalong-lalo na po Filipino ang dating Pangulo,” she said.
Duterte was arrested and turned over to the ICC through Interpol on March 11. (Argyll Geducos)
