THE Police Regional Office-Davao Region (PRO-Davao) has pledged full cooperation with any directives from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Central Office regarding the recent arrest of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Duterte was apprehended on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila, shortly after arriving from Hong Kong, where he attended a thanksgiving gathering of overseas Filipino workers.
Normal operations
PRO-Davao spokesperson Police Major Catherine Dela Rey told SunStar Davao in a phone interview that the agency’s operations remain unaffected despite reports that Duterte's arrest warrant was issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) through Interpol.
She said there is no information on whether Duterte or ICC officials will visit the region or any planned movements by his supporters in Davao. However, she assured personnel would be deployed if any rallies arose to ensure public safety.
“Sa karon, we have no information about the rally, and our operation diria sa sa atoang region is normal but if naay rally, mag deploy mi, as usual for security reasons (As of now, we have no information about any rally, and our operations here remain normal. However, if a rally occurs, we will deploy forces as usual for security reasons," Dela Rey said.
Miranda rights
During the arrest, former PRO-Davao Regional Director and current Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Chief, Police Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III, read Duterte his Miranda rights at the 250th Villamor Air Base of the Philippine Air Force (PAF).
Torre, who led the operation against alleged human trafficker Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, said that all detainees—regardless of status—must be informed of their right to remain silent and have independent legal counsel. He noted that Duterte’s arrest relates to crimes against humanity, including extrajudicial killings during his "war on drugs" from 2016 to 2022.
Speculations before arrest
On March 9, the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) of PRO-Davao conducted a simultaneous exercise (Simex), deploying police vehicles and armed units at midnight. While authorities described it as a routine security drill, some locals speculated it was linked to rumors of an ICC arrest warrant for Duterte.
Meanwhile, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime Santiago dismissed reports of an Interpol Red Notice, which had suggested Duterte might be arrested upon arrival in Manila or Davao. An unverified report also claimed that the PNP had been placed on heightened alert, with up to 7,000 officers allegedly deployed at key entry points, including seaports and airports in Metro Manila and Davao.
Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, attended the Hong Kong thanksgiving event organized by the PDP Laban party, addressing the OFWs. His visit drew attention due to his ongoing legal battles, including the ICC’s arrest warrant related to his controversial drug war.
Legality of arrest
Now in government custody, Duterte has strongly challenged the warrant’s legality, arguing that the ICC has no jurisdiction over him since the Philippines withdrew from the court under his administration.
“So what is the law, and what is the crime that I committed? Show to me now the legal basis of my being here. As I, apparently was brought here not of my own volition, it's somebody else's. Kung hindi ibang tao, ikaw siguro... the constitution structure (If not another person, then maybe you… the constitutional structure). So you have to answer now for the deprivation of liberty,” Duterte questioned in a video posted by a family member. DEF