No Interpol Red Notice, only diffusion request for Duterte arrest — Sen. Marcos

Metro Manila, Philippines – A Senate hearing on the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, March 20, flagged the warrant coursed through the International Police Organization (Interpol), which put up an informal alert instead of a red notice that indicates urgency.

Foreign relations committee chairperson Sen. Imee Marcos questioned the validity of implementing the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) warrant on the former president’s arrest and transfer from Manila to The Hague, Netherlands on March 11.

The presidential sister said there was no Interpol Red Notice on Duterte. Instead, the organization issued a diffusion notice to local authorities.

“Ito ang kauna-unahang pagkakataon na ang warrant of arrest is honored by a member state samantalang diffusion pa lang ito,” Sen. Marcos said.

[Translation: This is the first time that the warrant of arrest is honored by a member state while it is still a diffusion notice.]According to the Interpol website, a diffusion notice is an informal alert used by member states to inform law enforcement about people wanted for crimes.

Unlike a Red Notice which is the Interpol’s highest form of alert, diffusions are not published on the Interpol website and are circulated through channels by the country seeking assistance for arrest and extradition.

Marcos said after the diffusion request had been issued to the Philippines, authorities skipped other requirements and went straight to implementing the arrest. The neglected requirements include compliance review, preparation of a task force, and notice to the Interpol secretariat.

“Ang sabi nga ng Interpol, hindi wanted si Presidente Duterte ng Interpol. Wanted daw siya ng ICC, pinadala lang daw sa kanila,” Marcos said.

[Translation: Interpol said that President Duterte was not wanted by Interpol. He is wanted by the ICC. Interpol said that it was only coursed through to them.]

Transnational Crime Executive Director Antonio Alcantara confirmed receiving the diffusion request, but noted that it should not be taken lightly as if it were a Red Notice.

“Hindi po ibig sabihin ‘non na wala siyang value [That does not mean that it doesn’t have value],” Alcantara told Marcos. “Whether it is a Red Notice or a wanted person diffusion, obligado po tayong mag-comply [we are obligated to comply].”

Marcos said there were “prior consultations” with the Philippine government on the diffusion request, and that it agreed to comply with the request to arrest Duterte. She said the document called for efforts “to locate and arrest with a view to extradition,” and includes provisions for provisional arrest in line with national laws and/or applicable bilateral and multilateral treaties. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said the government chose to surrender Duterte to Interpol.Duterte was arrested on March 11 for charges on murder related to crimes against humanity. He was sent to The Hague in the Netherlands on the same day.