Malacañang on Tuesday dismissed accusations that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had “betrayed” former President Rodrigo Duterte, stressing that accountability for alleged crimes tied to the anti-drug campaign rests with those directly involved.
The statement came after Duterte’s legal counsel Nicholas Kaufman accused the current administration of turning against the former leader.
Speaking in Mandaue City, Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro underscored that justice for victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) should remain the priority.
“It has been one year since the victims of EJK have seen the ray of justice. The justice that they deserve,” Castro said.
“It is not the President who betrayed the Filipinos but the perpetrators and co-perpetrators in the commission of the crimes against humanity who betrayed and continuously betray the Filipino people,” she added.
Castro criticized what she described as political maneuvering by Duterte’s camp, accusing them of attempting to gain public sympathy by repeatedly questioning the Marcos administration’s earlier move to facilitate Duterte’s arrest.
Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, launched in 2016, has faced widespread condemnation from local and international human rights groups due to thousands of deaths linked to police operations and vigilante-style killings.
The International Criminal Court continues to investigate alleged crimes against humanity connected to the campaign.
While the Marcos administration has maintained it will not rejoin the ICC following Duterte’s 2019 withdrawal, families of victims and human rights advocates continue to press for accountability.