Screengrab from Senate PH

At a packed Senate hearing, National Security Adviser Gen. Eduardo Año (Ret.) finally broke his silence on the controversial arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Facing a wave of speculation and accusations, Año took the opportunity to clear his name, calling out the “relentless disinformation campaign” against him.

“I have been the victim of a relentless disinformation campaign aimed at destroying my integrity and credibility,” Año told the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, chaired by Sen. Imee Marcos. “For days, I rolled with the punches. But the time has come to air my side.”

Setting the Record Straight

Año categorically denied any involvement in planning Duterte’s arrest, stating that his role as National Security Adviser was solely to ensure that the situation did not escalate into a national security crisis.

“The implementation of the ICC warrant is beyond my mandate, and I had no part in it,” he asserted. “I am not aware of any so-called ‘core group’ that allegedly planned and prepared for the arrest. In fact, I only learned about the INTERPOL Red Notice and the ICC warrant on the morning of March 11.”

He also dismissed claims of a coordinated intelligence operation, emphasizing that Duterte’s movements—both in Hong Kong and his return to the Philippines—were widely covered by media and easily accessible to the public.

A Difficult Situation for a Former Ally

Despite his firm denials, Año acknowledged that Duterte’s arrest was not an easy sight for him. As a former member of Duterte’s Cabinet, he worked closely with the former president during some of the country’s most challenging times.

But he made it clear—his loyalty has always been to the country, not to any individual.

“As a soldier, my loyalty is to the Constitution and the chain of command,” Año stated. “I have never played politics, I have no political agenda, and I have no political ambitions.”

Dismissing the ‘Grand Conspiracy’ Theory

Año was firm in rejecting allegations of a conspiracy against Duterte, calling the events of March 11 “spontaneous.” He expressed frustration that his name was being dragged into what he called an “utterly unacceptable and unfair” accusation.

“I face these accusations against my honor and integrity with a firm resolve,” he said. “I was simply doing my job, upholding truth, justice, and the rule of law.”

Final Word: ‘My Loyalty is to the Constitution’

In closing, Año left no room for doubt about where his allegiance lies.

“My loyalty is always to the country, the Constitution, and not to any person.”

With that, the hearing ended, but the debate surrounding Duterte’s arrest is far from over. Whether Año’s words will put the conspiracy theories to rest remains to be seen.