Philippine officials on Thursday defended before the country's Senate the arrest and transfer to the International Criminal Court of former President Rodrigo Duterte, as they faced allegations he was illegally abducted at the behest of a foreign institution.

Rodrigo Duterte was surrendered to authorities based on a Philippine law, Department of Justice Sec. Boying Remulla said during a Senate hearing into the International Criminal Court's issuance of an arrest warrant against the former president.

Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go pleaded to authorities during a Senate hearing on Thursday to immediately bring former President Rodrigo Duterte back to the Philippines. Go, Duterte’s former aide, made the appeal as the Senate committee on foreign relations began its investigation into the former leader’s arrest following a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).