The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is taking an all hands on deck approach amid the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is accused of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday.
AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the military will adhere to any order coming from their Commander-in-Chief, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., in light of this development.
“The AFP adheres to the chain of command and we remain focused on our mandate,” Padilla said. “However, together with the appropriate government agencies, we stand ready to reinforce efforts to uphold national security and stability when necessary.”
Padilla refused to entertain thoughts if Duterte’s arrest will lead to political destabilization or trigger threats to national security. “We cannot speculate on what will ensue when it comes to these activities,” she said.
“We are ready and prepared to augment (security personnel) as necessary when requested,” she added.
Duterte was arrested around 10:00 a.m. Tuesday upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3. He and some of his entourage, including youngest daughter Kitty, went straight to the Villamor Air Base with local authorities, according to Senator Bong Go.
Reports indicate that Philippine authorities are preparing to turn over Duterte to the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands, where he is expected to be detained pending his trial.
Villamor Air Base is the headquarters of the Philippine Air Force (PAF). According to PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo, it is normal for such facility to serve as departure and arrival points for the air movements of certain personalities.
“For operational security, we however defer to the concerned government agency responsible for this activity to confirm and give specific details. Thank you for your understanding,” Castillo said in a statement.
