Nelson Morales

Palace: Duterte's ICC issues began long before Marcos Jr was president

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Palace rejected the claims of Davao City Mayor Sebastian &quot;Baste&quot; Duterte that the clan is being singled out by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and that his father former president Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s arrest was meant to divert attention from issues the administration is facing.Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the younger Duterte is trying to portray the family as victims.&quot;Ang warrant of arrest po ay para lamang po kay dating Pangulong Duterte, wala pa po ang ibang mga co-perpetrators na nakasaad doon. So, hindi po tayo makakaiwas na si dating Pangulong Duterte lamang po ang i-surrender sa [International Criminal Court],&quot; Castro said in a press briefing Wednesday, March 19.(The warrant of arrest was only for former president Duterte, there were no co-perpetrators named. So we cannot avoid surrendering only him to the ICC.)<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/17/duterte-provided-overwhelming-evidence-for-his-conviction-expert-1948">Duterte provided ‘overwhelming evidence’ for his conviction: expert</a><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/17/duterte-provided-overwhelming-evidence-for-his-conviction-expert-1948"> </a></div>Castro also reiterated that the case against the former president was brought up to the International Criminal Court long before Marcos Jr. came into office.&quot;Ang nangyayari dito, iyong mga kasong tungkol sa crimes against humanity kagagawan din po ng kaniyang ama na ibinibintang sa kanila,&quot; Castro added.(What is happening here, the case for alleged crimes against humanity is happened because if his father&#x27;s actions.)In a Facebook live stream, the Davao City mayor said that it is difficult to be placed in a situation where they are being singled out and &#x27;targeted&#x27; by a president.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/18/duterte-risks-facing-more-charges-due-to-his-supporters-behavior-on-social-media-1414">Duterte may face more trouble after supporters spam ICC judge&#x27;s social media, says lawyer</a></div>Castro also denied that Duterte&#x27;s arrest is meant to divert attention from issues related to the 2025 national budget, adding the Palace is ready to discuss those issues as well.&quot;Hindi po ito diversionary tactic, okay! Ang hindi na nga po napag-uusapan ngayon ay iyong tungkol sa confidential funds,&quot; she said.(This is not a diversionary tactic, okay? What has been pushed out of the conversation is the issue of [Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s] confidential funds.She added: &quot;Kung mayroon po sigurong dapat sisihin kung bakit nagpatuloy ang ICC iyon na rin po ay ang dating administrasyon, dahil hindi sila agad kumilos patungkol dito sa mga kasong ito na nirireklamo patungkol sa madugong war on drugs.&quot; (If there is anyone who should be blamed for the ICC going forward with the case, it is the former administration. They did not act on the cases that were filed related to the war on drugs.)Castro said the Duterte administration failed to conduct an inquiry and file appropriate charges in relation to the bloody drug war, which prompted ICC prosecutor Karim Khan to reopen the investigation in 2023.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro also denied that Duterte's arrest is meant to divert attention from issues related to the 2025 national budget, adding the Palace is ready to discuss those issues as well.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro also denied that Duterte's arrest is meant to divert attention from issues related to the 2025 national budget, adding the Palace is ready to discuss those issues as well.