National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Ano denied his participation in an alleged "grand conspiracy" that led to the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from Hongkong last week.

Ano was Department of Interior and Local Government secretary after ending his term as Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff under the ex-president.

During the Senate hearing of the Committee on Foreign Relations led by Senator Imee Marcos, Ano admitted that as a former member of the cabinet of the Duterte administration, it is very hard for him to see the arrest of the former president. He explained that his role as the present national security adviser was only limited to the mandate of his office which is to "assess that the situation does not escalate into a national security concern"

"It is utterly unacceptable and unfair that my name is being dragged into an alleged grand conspiracy. I firmly deny any allegations of a grand conspiracy. In fact, the events on March 11 were spontaneous. As National Security Advisor, I was merely doing my job," he said.

"However, I faced all these accusations against my honor and integrity with full reserve knowing that I am the side of the truth, and I was simply doing what I had to do, and in doing so, I upheld the truth, justice and the role of the law. Again, my loyalty is always to the country, to the Constitution, and not to any person," he added.

Ano said the implementation of the warrant of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is beyond his mandate.

"I have no part in it. And may I also state for the record that I am not aware of any core group, nor am I a member of such a group that allegedly planned and prepared for the arrest of former President Duterte," Ano said.

"In fact, it was only on Tuesday morning, March 11, 2025, that I learned that there was already an Interpol Red Notice and that the ICC warrant arrest will serve, there was also no intelligence operation. The former president's presence in Hongkong as well as his return to the country, was public knowledge since it was heavily reported in both mainstream and social media," he added.

In a television interview, Interior and Local -Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla named Ano and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro as among those who planned the arrest of the former president. Following the interview, Ano was attacked and branded as a traitor by supporters of Duterte.

Teodoro also explained that "the Department of National Defense, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, has no law enforcement mandate".

"Our sole mandate is to give support to the Philippine National Police when it is asked for. And therefore, such ends our jurisdiction. The operation is clearly a law enforcement one, and the Philippine National Police has the power to ask the Armed Forces to assist. And that is the extent of the participation of my Department and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. And all other matters in supporting the Philippine National Police are governed by operational security," he said.

During the hearing, Vice President Sara Duterte who joined via online video teleconferencing also asked why the AFP allowed the arrest of the former president noting that under the law, "the Presidential Security Command is in charge of the security of former presidents".

Teodoro explained that the DND and AFP "were deputized to support the Philippine National Police. And it is part of the constitutional duty of the armed forces to follow processes."

"If we were to question those orders, even under color of law, under color of right, then it would amount to the armed forces acting unilaterally on its own, which is anathema to civilian authority over the military," he said.

"As we said, our jurisdiction ends in providing support to the Philippine National Police. And with respect to the Presidential Security Command, that is a highly secure unit and operational security is strictly followed," he added. Robina Asido/DMS