Malacañang on Thursday pushed back against Vice President Sara Duterte’s claim that many Filipinos remain angry over the arrest and detention of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
During a press briefing on Thursday, March 12, Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro responded to Duterte’s remarks on March 11, which marked the first anniversary of the former president’s arrest and detention in connection with the crimes against humanity case before the ICC.
“Galit ang mga tao. Isang taon na silang galit. Hindi huhupa yung galit hangga't hindi maibalik dito sa Pilipinas si dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte,” the vice president said.
Castro, however, said it could not be assumed that all Filipinos share the same sentiment.
“Sana tinanong niyo siya, Gaano karaming tao ang galit?...Wala po tayong masasabi kung lahat ba ng Pilipino ay galit. Malamang sa kanilang parte dahil ang kanyang ama ang naaakusahan at nililitis sa salang crimes against humanity, malamang ito po talaga ang kanilang magiging reaksyon,” Castro told reporters.
The Palace official added that other sectors of society, particularly those advocating for human rights and accountability, hold a different view on the matter.
“Sa parte po ng mga tao na nagsusulong ng human rights at lumalaban sa mga karumal-dumal na pagpatay na bunga ng EJK at war on drugs ni dating Pangulong Duterte, hindi naman sila galit at sila ay nagpupunyagi,” Castro said.
She added that Duterte’s transfer to The Hague could be seen as the beginning of efforts to deliver justice.
“Itong pagpapadala kay dating Pangulong Duterte sa The Hague ay unang hudyat para mabigyan ng hustisya, hindi lamang po ang mga biktima ng EJK, pati na rin po ang dating Pangulong Duterte,” Castro said.
Castro stressed that the government’s actions "were not meant to protect any individual but to respond to complaints filed by Filipinos who sought legal recourse through the ICC.
“Sila mismo ang pumili na magsampa ng kaso sa ICC dahil sa naramdaman nilang walang hustisya silang natanggap noong panahon ni dating Pangulong Duterte,“ she noted.
