FPRRD departs for Hong Kong amid speculation

At around 8:00 AM on Friday, 7 March, former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte departed the Philippines via Cathay Pacific flight CX912 from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, bound for Hong Kong.

According to airport sources, Duterte was accompanied by his wife, former first lady Honeylet Avanceña, and their daughter, Victoria "Kitty" Duterte. Also joining the trip were former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea, former Philippine National Police (PNP) intelligence director Nelson Quinsay and his wife, former PNP official Filmore Escobal and his wife, and former National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) director-general Alex Paul Monteagudo.

Duterte reportedly flew from Davao to Manila on Thursday night via Philippine Airlines flight PR 2829 and rested at a residence in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) before heading to NAIA Terminal 3 for his flight. An airport source confirmed that Duterte and his companions underwent the normal immigration departure clearance and final security check before boarding.

While the purpose of Duterte’s unannounced trip remains undisclosed, speculation has arisen regarding his departure. Retired Supreme Court senior associate justice Antonio Carpio and former senator Antonio Trillanes IV have suggested that Duterte may be attempting to avoid a possible arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has reportedly issued a warrant against him.

As of now, there has been no official statement from Duterte or his representatives regarding the trip.