Malacañang on Monday advised individuals identified co-perpetrators of former President Rodrigo Duterte in the International Criminal Court’s drug war case, including Senators Ronald “Bato“ dela Rosa and Christopher “Bong“ Go, not to go into hiding, stressing that those who are innocent have nothing to fear.

In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro emphasized that the ICC currently has no jurisdiction over the Philippines. Nonetheless, she assured the public that the government will continue cooperating with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), citing the previous coordination during Duterte’s arrest.

“Una-una, kung kayo'y magtatago, ano bang ibig sabihin niyan? Kayo ba'y may kasalanan? Tinatago niyo para hindi po kayo madinig at ma-escape kayo or ma-evade the liability of what you had done?” Castro said.

She added, “Hindi po kinakailangan magtago kung alam po nila na sila'y walang kasalanan, humarap sila at maging matapang sa mga maaaring proseso.”

At present, Malacañang sees no reason to monitor the eight individuals named by the ICC in connection with the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

“Kapag kami warrant of arrest na na-issue na po, kailangan i-implement. Kung babantayan sila, sa ngayon wala pa pong dahilan para sila ay bantayan dahil wala pa pong narireceive ang gobyerno ng warrant of arrest,” she explained.

Those named by the ICC as allegedly complicit in the war on drugs include Senators Bong Go and Bato dela Rosa, former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, former PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde, and former NBI Chief Dante Gierran. Also listed are former PDEA Chief Isidro Lapeña, former Police Chief Vicente Danao, and the late Police Chief Camilo Cascolan.

Both Go and Aguirre have denied involvement in the Duterte administration’s campaign of extrajudicial killings.

While, Dela Rosa has not attended Senate sessions since November 8, when Ombudsman Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla announced on DZRH's Executive Session, that an arrest warrant had been issued for the senator by the ICC in connection with crimes against humanity.

Earlier, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) claimed that the inclusion of Go and Dela Rosa in the ICC drug war case was an attempt to divert public attention from other pressing national issues, including allegations of corruption.

Malacañang, however, rejected these claims, stressing that ICC proceedings began long before President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. assumed office, and that the case cannot be used to implicate the current administration in any alleged diversionary tactic.

The Palace reiterated that the Marcos administration has no influence over ICC actions or proceedings.