Politics

Source tells GMA News that Duterte was allegedly denied asylum in China

Friday, March 21, 2025 at 12:11 AM by Daniel Joseph Navalta 3 min read

- Rodrigo Duterte allegedly sought asylum in China before his arrest but was denied according to a trusted source

- Philippine authorities prepared for Duterte’s arrest under Oplan Tugis after the ICC issued a warrant for crimes against humanity

- Duterte flew to Hong Kong on March 7 where CIDG agents monitored him but Hong Kong police refused to assist in his arrest

- The former president returned to the Philippines on March 11 and was arrested, after reportedly securing multiple flight bookings back

- Family and allies of Duterte have denied the rumors that the former president sought asylum in China

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China allegedly rejected former President Rodrigo Duterte’s request for asylum before he was arrested by the International Criminal Court (ICC), according to a trusted source who detailed to GMA News how Duterte was placed under Philippine authorities’ custody.

In a 24 Oras report by Maki Pulido on Thursday, the source revealed that Philippine authorities had been preparing for Duterte’s arrest as early as January under Oplan Tugis, an operation planned by the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) for the implementation of the ICC arrest warrant.

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On March 7, Duterte flew to Hong Kong to attend an event with Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). According to the source, the CIDG initially preferred to arrest Duterte in Hong Kong. However, the Hong Kong Police Force refused to cooperate with Interpol, citing that China is not a member or party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC.

Despite the setback, authorities closely monitored Duterte’s movements through four CIDG agents assigned to Hong Kong. Duterte eventually returned to the Philippines on March 11, escorted by six members of the Hong Kong Police, who ensured that he boarded his flight back.

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The same source said Duterte sought asylum in China during this period but was denied. Duterte had reportedly secured five confirmed flight bookings back to the Philippines, but ultimately returned on March 11, where he was arrested.

Duterte is currently detained by the ICC, facing trial for charges linked to alleged extrajudicial killings.

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Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, and former PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa have already denied the rumors that the former President tried to seek asylum in China. In a report by the New York Times, Salvador Panelo also denied the speculation.

Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte was the 16th President of the Republic of the Philippines. He left Malacañang on June 30, 2022. The newly inaugurated President of the Philippines is Bongbong Marcos who got 31 million votes in the May 2022 elections. The new Vice President of the Philippines is VP Sara Duterte, the daughter of the former president.

Earlier, the former president was apprised of his rights under the Miranda Doctrine. In a video shared by GMA News, CIDG chief, Police Major General Nicolas Torre III, is seen reciting the Miranda Doctrine to the former president. The reading of the Miranda rights is a standard procedure for persons being arrested to ensure that the latter fully understands their rights upon their arrest. It can be recalled that the International Police (InterPol) has confirmed the issuance of the arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court against the former president.