Joel Butuyan, an ICC-accredited lawyer, offered a similar view, as reported in one of our articles: "Chances of Duterte going home sans ICC ruling are slim, says expert."
Butuyan also answered the vice president's claim that her father's arrest was "warrantless." And here's another INQUIRER.net article about that: "Rodrigo Duterte's arrest being 'warrantless' false – lawyer."
Speaking of moving on, as the vice president suggested we do, the focus of the ICC case will eventually have to shift to the evidence against the former president, which is expected to be provided by, among others, two key witnesses — Edgar Matobato and Arturo Lascañas.
Here's a piece about them: "DDS hit men Matobato, Lascañas as ICC witnesses vs Duterte: Who are they?"
In a related development, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa raised eyebrows again, as he seems to be adept at doing, when he kept changing his tune on his possible arrest under an ICC warrant.
At first, he said he would be "ready" to join the former president in the Netherlands. Then he said he would seek Senate protection. And just recently, he said he was thinking of going into hiding.
It probably shouldn't be surprising if he tells us next where he is planning to hide.
On another related development, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who's no longer part of former President Duterte's legal team, is bent on seeking asylum in the Netherlands.
Is he seeking refuge from political persecution or criminal prosecution?
Various government officials — and even the Palace — have been urging him to come home.
But Roque insists he's confident of being granted asylum.
Another Filipino abroad who's in legal trouble is expelled Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., who's wanted for the murder of his political rival, former Gov. Noel Degamo.
But at the moment, he seems to have gotten off the hook.
A court in Timor-Leste, where he's been staying, has rejected the Philippine government's request for his extradition — after previously granting it twice.
The DOJ has called the development "peculiar and improbable."
On a lighter note, let's cap this Weekend Roundup off with this story, which might strike some of you as funny: "Bookstore pulls out cash envelopes from 'election essentials' display."
So here are some other stories we have for you for this weekend.
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