Año denies involvement in Duterte arrest during Senate hearing

By Jet D. Antolin

NATIONAL Security Adviser Eduardo Año testified before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations today, denying any involvement in the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

The hearing, held on March 20, 2025, focused on the alleged coordination between various government agencies in the implementation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant.

Año, who served as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and later as secretary of the Interior and Local Government under Duterte’s administration, stated unequivocally that he was unaware of any core group planning the arrest. He emphasized that his role was solely focused on preventing any escalation of the situation into a national security crisis.

The ICC warrant, issued on March 11, 2025, charged Duterte with crimes against humanity, specifically extrajudicial killings, allegedly committed during his time as Davao City mayor and president. These charges stemmed from his administration’s controversial “war on drugs.” The Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute, the treaty establishing the ICC, in 2019.

Año’s testimony directly countered suggestions of government complicity in the arrest. He maintained that his actions were solely focused on maintaining peace and order, and preventing any potential unrest or violence that could arise from the high-profile arrest.

The Senate hearing continues its investigation into the government’s response to the ICC warrant, seeking to determine the extent of coordination and communication among various agencies. Año’s testimony represents a key piece of evidence in this ongoing investigation.