“Wala pa ho.” (“There is none.”)
That was the brief response of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime Santiago when asked if the bureau had received an Interpol Red Notice against former President Rodrigo Duterte.
This statement comes after news reports alleged that a Red Notice had already been issued, suggesting that Duterte could be arrested upon arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) or Davao City airport.
The unverified report claimed that the Philippine National Police (PNP) was on heightened alert and preparing to deploy thousands of officers to apprehend Duterte following the Interpol notice. The report stated that at least 7,000 police personnel would be mobilized to track down and arrest the former president. Security forces were allegedly assigned to secure major entry points, including seaports and airports, with deployment efforts reportedly concentrated in Metro Manila and Davao, Duterte’s home province.
Additionally, the report compared this alleged deployment to the manhunt for Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy, stating that the number of police officers involved would be twice as many as those deployed in Quiboloy’s case. The report cited an anonymous high-ranking police official as confirming the deployment, but authorities have not officially verified these claims.
An Interpol Red Notice is a global request sent to law enforcement agencies to arrest a person based on a judicial warrant or court order from a requesting country. However, as of now, the NBI has not received any such notice for Duterte.
Authorities continue to urge the public to rely on official sources and avoid spreading unverified information.