Mon Mar 10 07:40:00 UTC 2025: **Duterte Defies ICC Speculation with Hong Kong Rally Appearance**

HONG KONG (AP) — Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s surprise appearance at a rally in Hong Kong on Sunday, March 9, 2025, fueled speculation he may be attempting to avoid a potential arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC). Thousands of Filipino expatriates attended the event, organized by Hong Kong-based Filipino workers, where Duterte delivered a speech addressing the ongoing ICC investigation into the thousands of deaths during his administration’s drug war.

Duterte, who served as president from 2016 to 2022, acknowledged the possibility of an ICC arrest warrant, stating he was prepared to face imprisonment. He defended his actions, claiming they were necessary to bring peace and tranquility to the Philippines. His speech included profanity and a humorous suggestion that his future monument depict him holding a gun.

While initially accessible to the press, the event later restricted access to journalists. Conflicting reports emerged regarding Duterte’s planned departure, with some officials stating he would return to Manila on Tuesday, while others suggested a potential extension of his Hong Kong stay.

The Philippine government, under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., declared its readiness to cooperate with the ICC should an arrest warrant be issued. Increased security measures were observed in Duterte’s home region in the Philippines, although authorities described them as routine exercises.

The ICC is investigating allegations of crimes against humanity related to the drug war killings. The Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019, but the court maintains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the country was a member. China, which administers Hong Kong, is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, the ICC’s founding treaty.

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