Malacañang on Thursday asserted that former President Rodrigo Duterte himself is to blame for his detention at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and not President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who was a private citizen when the former's alleged crimes against humanity caught the international tribunal's attention.
During a Palace press briefing on July 30, Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro dismissed the Vice President Sara Duterte’s remarks accusing President Marcos of supporting the ICC and calling him a “traitor,” alongside former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, over her father's arrest and subsequent transfer to The Hague.
Castro emphasized that the ICC case against former President Duterte was filed in 2017, when President Marcos was still a, ordinary, private citizen, and had no role in the proceedings.
“Tandaan din po natin, uulit-ulitin natin, ang kaso na naisampang kay dating Pangulong Duterte ay noong taong 2017 habang ang Pangulo, si Pangulong Marcos Jr., noon ay isang ordinaryo at pribadong mamamayan lang,” she said.
Castro maintained that President Marcos is simply complying with legal processes and denied that the administration caused the former President’s legal situation.
“Hindi ito kasalanan ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. Tumutupad lang ang Pangulo sa batas,” she added.
She further said that accountability should be directed elsewhere, citing statements attributed to former President Duterte.
“Kung meron dapat sisihin, walang iba, kundi ang kanyang sariling ama,” Castro said.
The Palace official said the ICC operates as an independent and impartial court that cannot be influenced or intimidated.
“Ang ICC ay isang impartial court. Hindi maaaring gamitan ng impluwensya at hindi kayang takutin na saktan o anuman pwedeng gawing karahasan,” she said.
Castro reiterated that Malacañang stands by its position that President Marcos is following the law and respecting the established process.
“Ang mga sinabi po ni Vice Presidente ay pawang walang katotohanan, useless, baseless, nonsense,” Castro said.
The remarks came after Vice President Duterte, during an appearance in The Hague, criticized President Marcos over the ICC proceedings involving her father and accused him of supporting the international tribunal.
