Duterte did not seek asylum in China – Chinese Foreign Ministry

Former President Rodrigo Duterte — SCREENGRAB FROM THE ICC

MANILA, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte did not seek asylum in China, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun.

In a press conference on Monday, Guo was asked to comment on reports that Duterte applied for asylum in China, but was rejected.

The reports also said the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group preferred to arrest Duterte in Hong Kong, but the Hong Kong Police refused to cooperate with the International Criminal Police Organization since China is neither a state party nor a member state to the Rome Statute.

All of these, according to Guo, were unverified.

“Let me point out in particular that Mr. Duterte’s visit to Hong Kong was a private vacation trip. We have never received the so-called application for asylum to the Chinese government from former president Rodrigo Duterte or his family,” he said.

“We hope people from the media can be careful about the so-called information from sources, either unfounded or ill-motivated, and do not easily believe what they hear,” he added.

An asylum-seeker is defined as someone who is seeking international protection.

READ: Arrested Duterte to face legacy of thousands killed in drug crackdown

Duterte was served an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court upon arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from Hong Kong on March 11.

The arrest warrant was issued on the grounds of crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.