CIDG chief: E-copy of ICC warrant served to Duterte during arrest

The Philippine National Police (PNP) served former president Rodrigo Duterte an electronic copy of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the airport upon his arrival from Hong Kong on 11 March.

This was confirmed by PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief PMGen. Nicolas Torre III during the Committee on Foreign Relations’ motu proprio hearing on Thursday, 20 March 2025, on the involvement and roles of the International Criminal Court, the International Criminal Police Organization, and various government agencies in Duterte’s ICC arrest.

At the hearing, Senate committee chairperson Imee Marcos asked Torre if Duterte’s camp received the warrant prior to the execution of the arrest.

“Napakita ba ‘yung ICC warrant kay Pangulong Duterte? Pinakita niyo ba sa kanya? Nung inaresto siya, di ba obligado kayong magpakita ng warrant? Anong pinakita niyo? (Was the warrant shown to President Duterte? Did you show it to him? When he was arrested, weren’t you obligated to show the warrant? What did you show him?)” she asked.

Torre replied, “Right at the tube, Ma’am, Usec. Nicky Ty, together with (Prosecutor General) Fadullon, together with me, gave them an electronic copy through retired general Monteagudo. Because that’s their condition—they don’t recognize the diffusion order. They really want to have the copy of the warrant—that’s why a soft copy was given to them on the tube.”

He also noted that a hard copy was printed later and received by Atty. Martin Delgra after the former president was transferred to Villamor Airbase.

Marcos asked if Duterte had a chance to read the arrest warrant. She lamented that the warrant was needed “as soon as practicable,” which was being requested by Duterte’s camp.

Torre argued that the arrest warrant was an attachment to Interpol’s diffusion order.

He said the arrest warrant was served to Duterte inside the aircraft.