The Philippine government said on Monday that it has not yet received any communication from the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the alleged warrant of arrest issued against former President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer and Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Philippine government has not yet received a copy of the warrant of arrest.

"We haven't received any communication regarding the red notice and we talked with Asec. (Assistant Secretary) Mico (Clavano) from the (Department of Justice) DOJ and as of now they are also looking into their records. As of now, we have not received any communication regarding that," she said.

"There was news about the issuance of the warrant of arrest but as of now like what I have said we cannot confirm this immediately if we do not yet have a physical copy of the warrant of arrest," she added.

In a radio interview, ICC Assistant to Counsel, Kristina Conti could not confirm the reported issuance of the warrant of arrest noting that it should only be announced by the Philippine government or the ICC prosecutor.

I am not dismissing the possibility that it could be true. It could be true, but it is difficult for us to confirm it," she said.

"There is a factor in the announcement of the issuance of the warrant of arrest. In the ICC, that’s a secret. They don’t usually announce it to ensure the arrest. Now, if you announce it, then there’s a risk that the person could escape," she added.

In Hong Kong on Sunday, Duterte said he heard that there was arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

"If this is my fate, it's OK. I'll accept it. I can't do anything if I get arrested and jailed,'' he said.

Conti also explained that because the Philippines is no longer a member of the ICC, the warrant of arrest against Duterte will not be forwarded to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

"It should be the DFA if we are a member state because that is our representative. But now that we are no longer a member, that may be forwarded to the Office of the President and it is up to him where he will forward it," she said.

"The warrant of arrest will be forwarded to either the DOJ or (Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). DILG because it has the police and DOJ because it has the NBI which is also a liaison of the Interpol... these are the law enforcement agencies that can implement the warrant of arrest," she added.

Castro said the government will coordinate with the Interpol if the ICC will seek the help of the Philippine government to implement the warrant of arrest against Duterte.

Conti said once Duterte is placed under the custody of the ICC, the former president cannot be detained in the Philippines.

"He will be arrested by the local police then he will be transferred to the member state of the ICC. There is a process, in Southeast Asia, it is Cambodia and Timor Leste are the members of the ICC, if he will be transferred there, there is a process that he will be transferred by the Timor Leste Police to the jurisdiction of The Hague in particular because there is a detention facility there for the detainees of ICC," she added.

Conti said the charge against Duterte for crimes against humanity committed during the war on drugs was pending at the ICC from 2018 until its preliminary examination was completed in 2021.

She said that once Duterte is placed under the custody of the ICC, an investigation against other suspects like Senator Ronald Dela Rosa who served the chief of the Philippine National Police during the war on drugs may also be conducted by the international court. Robina Asido/DMS