Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has boarded a flight bound for the Hague, his lawyer Martin Delgra said Tuesday, following his client's arrest on an International Criminal Court warrant tied to his deadly war on drugs.
Delgra told a group chat open to journalists on messaging app Viber that Duterte boarded the plane at Manila's international airport with three others at about 9 pm (1300 GMT), adding: "We cannot go near the plane. Plane still on tarmac with door open."
Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte said on Tuesday that her father had not sought asylum from the Chinese government when he visited Hong Kong, nor spoken to any Chinese officials.
Sara Duterte was responding to speculation her father's trip to Hong Kong was to seek asylum ahead his arrest on Tuesday at the International Criminal Court's request.
China's foreign ministry had earlier said the ICC should not be politicized.
She also said there was no point speaking to Marcos, her former ally, and said the arrest of Rodrigo Duterte was politically motivated and all about the 2028 election.
Sara Duterte has been widely tipped to contest the presidency in 2028, but is facing an impeachment trial backed by the president's allies.
(AFP and Reuters)
