Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has rejected Vice President Sara Duterte’s claims that the International Criminal Court (ICC) functions as a tool for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and himself, as the tribunal prepares for the November 2026 trial of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Rebuffing her statements, Trillanes addressed the accusations on social media:
“Nahihibang na talaga si Sara,”
He emphasized the tribunal’s independence, noting that the case against the former president stems from years of thorough inquiry rather than political influence.
“Ang ICC ay hindi tuta nino man. Ang kaso ni Digong sa ICC ay bunga ng isang malalim na imbestigasyon na inabot ng ilang taon,”
Trillanes also underscored that the thousands of fatalities linked to the previous administration’s anti-drug operations remain undeniable facts.
“Bukod pa rito, alam nating mga Pilipino na totoong nangyari ang libu-libong patayan dahil sa war on drugs policy ni Digong,”
The Vice President raised these accusations while addressing supporters near the ICC headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands, where she characterized the international court as a puppet and accused Marcos and Trillanes of treason.
“Ang ICC ay tuta nina Trillanes at Marcos,”
During her speech, she questioned the investigation’s credibility by pointing to allegations involving former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co.
She urged that reports claiming Co funneled money to ICC investigators via Trillanes should be taken seriously, alleging that intermediaries managed the transactions by converting local currency into US dollars to deliver the funds.
Trillanes—who filed a supplemental complaint against the former president with the ICC in 2017—previously refuted claims from February alleging he received $2 million from Co intended for ICC officials.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte faces charges of crimes against humanity regarding alleged extrajudicial killings during his tenure as president and his earlier term as Davao City mayor. He has been held in ICC custody in The Hague since March 2025 ahead of his trial set for November 2026.