According to a senior source, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has deployed a large number of police forces in Namao City, Bangbangya Province Clark, and the Greater Manila area, preparing for a possible "high-profile arrest operation".
Although the source did not directly name the arrest target, it is widely speculated that this deployment may be related to former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is investigating alleged crimes against humanity during Duterte's "drug war" tenure and is said to have issued an arrest warrant for him, also requesting Interpol to issue a red notice.
"This deployment is to ensure that law enforcement units can respond quickly and effectively to possible major arrest operations, especially those involving national figures," the source said.
He further emphasized that although there is no specific execution target at present, the police must ensure that they are fully prepared for any emergencies, including cases involving international judicial procedures.
It is reported that Duterte, currently in Hong Kong, is expected to return to Manila on a Cathay Pacific flight at 4:35 PM on March 12 (Tuesday), landing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA T3).
In response to the significant increase in police forces around Namao International Airport, Philippine Police spokesperson Brigadier General Jane Fahada explained that this is due to security drills for the 2025 midterm elections, unrelated to the ICC's possible arrest warrant for Duterte.
"We want to clarify that such security drills are not limited to Namao City. The police are conducting regular election security deployments, just like other regions," Fahada said.
Fahada further emphasized that the Philippine Police have not yet received any official information about the ICC's arrest warrant, nor have they received a request for assistance from Interpol.
"As of now, we cannot confirm the existence of the ICC arrest warrant for Duterte," she said at a press conference, "but if Interpol requests assistance, we are ready to respond."
She also refuted reports that "the Philippine Police mobilized 7,000 officers to pursue Duterte," stating: "That is incorrect information."
The Manila Times previously cited authoritative sources stating that Interpol has issued a red notice for Duterte.
A red notice is the highest level of alert issued by Interpol to global law enforcement agencies, indicating that the person involved is suspected of committing a crime and may face extradition or legal prosecution.
Although the Philippine government has not officially responded to this matter, it is generally believed that this notice may be directly related to the ICC's investigation into crimes against humanity during Duterte's "drug war".
