Go pleads for Duterte repatriation as Senate probes ICC arrest

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go pleaded to authorities during a Senate hearing on Thursday to immediately bring former President Rodrigo Duterte back to the Philippines.

Go, Duterte’s former aide, made the appeal as the Senate committee on foreign relations began its investigation into the former leader’s arrest following a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“My main question in this hearing is, how and why did we end up in this situation? We have justice prevailing in the country, and we have our own laws and courts. Why did the government allow the arrest of a Filipino in our own country?” the senator asked.

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Although he welcomed the probe initiated by Sen. Imee Marcos, Go believes it is already “too late the hero,” as Duterte was already arrested and detained at the ICC prison in The Hague, Netherlands.

Go then asked if Duterte could still be brought back to the Philippines.

“All of these hearings are useless if Tatay Digong cannot be brought back,” he lamented.

READ: Duterte’s arrest an affront to PH sovereignty – Sen. Bong Go

“So my request is, if you were able to bring him there in less than one day, within 13 hours, you should also be able to bring him back here as soon as possible because the Filipino people are longing for him and cannot accept what happened to him,” Go added.

Duterte and other former government officials are facing allegations of crimes against humanity before the ICC in connection with his administration’s war on drugs that claimed thousands of lives.

Immediately after he arrived from Hong Kong on March 11,  Duterte was arrested and sent to The Hague to face the charges against him.

He already faced a pre-trial hearing on March 14 while the confirmation of charges against him is scheduled for September 23.