Malacañang on Thursday reiterated that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will not involve himself in the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) pre-trial proceedings against former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro told reporters that the government respects the ICC’s decision to grant Duterte’s request to waive his right to attend the hearing scheduled for Friday.
“Ang Pangulo po kasi at ang administrasyon na ito ay hindi po makikialam sa nasabing hearing. Kung ang nais po ng dating Pangulong Duterte ay hindi magpakita sa taumbayan, kaniya pong desisyon iyan,” Castro said.
“At kung ito naman po ay naresolba ng ICC na payagan siya na huwag magpakita at hindi maging present sa kaniyang sariling hearing, igagalang po natin iyan,” she added.
Castro also dismissed claims that the Marcos administration was secretly cooperating with the ICC, following allegations from former Marines about cash deliveries to court personnel. She insisted the accusations were baseless.
“Malamang, kung anuman ang motibo nila, malamang na maaaring i-discredit at tanggalan ng kredibilidad at integridad ang ICC, but mas concerned po tayo sa mga kasinungalingan na kanilang ibinabato sa ating Pangulo,” she said.
She further clarified that there have been no discussions about the Philippines rejoining the ICC.
The Philippines formally withdrew from the tribunal in March 2019, but the ICC has maintained jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the country was still a state party to the Rome Statute, from November 1, 2011 to March 16, 2019.