Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

Vivienne Gulla

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<p>The International Criminal Court declined to comment on the accusations made by Vice President Sara Duterte as it affirmed its independence being an international judicial institution. </p><p>This was in response to the remarks made by Duterte in a speech to supporters near the ICC headquarters in the Hague, the Netherlands on July 29 accusing the tribunal of being a ‘lapdog’ or ‘puppet’ of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former lawmaker Antonio Trillanes IV.</p><p>“The International Criminal Court will not comment on these statements,” ICC spokesperson Oriane Millet said in a statement.</p><p>“ICC is an international judicial institution which carries out its mandate independently and impartially, in accordance with its founding treaty, the Rome Statute,” she added. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/30/vp-duterte-urges-icc-to-expedite-dad-s-trial-amid-detention-concerns-0646"><strong>VP Sara urges ICC to expedite Rodrigo Duterte trial over detention concerns</strong></a></div><p>Administration of the ICC is done by a Presidency elected from among its judges, who are themselves also elected by the Assembly of States Parties.</p><p>That assembly has oversight and legislative powers over the court and approves its annual budget — €196,852,900 in 2026. </p><p>Earlier, Malacañang dismissed Duterte’s tirades against Marcos Jr. and the tribunal as “baseless, senseless, useless, and nonsense.&quot;</p><p>While Trillanes, in a Facebook post, claimed that Duterte ‘has lost her mind’, emphasizing that the ICC is not a lackey of anyone.” </p><p>“Nahihibang na talaga si Sara. 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. Bukod pa rito, alam nating mga Pilipino na totoong nangyari ang libu-libong patayan dahil sa war on drugs policy ni Digong,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;HUGE IRONY&#x27;</strong></div><p>House Prosecution Adviser and Spokesperson Robert Ace Barbers sees “huge irony” in Vice President Duterte’s recent statements in a gathering of supporters in the Hague on gun violence in the Philippines.</p><p>Barbers said that during the administration of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, then Vice President Leni Robredo was criticized for speaking about the government’s drug war at an event abroad. </p><p>“Masyadong malaking irony. During the father of VP Duterte, kinall out nila ‘yung mga ganyang statements issued by the former Vice President, si Leni Robredo. In fact, sinasabi nga nila at galit na galit sila na you are painting a bad picture ng Pilipinas pagka ganyan ang sinasabi mo. But I remember that what the former Vice President was saying was based on data that she was holding onto. Mayroon siyang ipinakapakitang mga dokumento,” Barbers said.</p><p>He added that the Vice President’s statements paints a bad picture of the country.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/30/sara-duterte-calls-icc-a-puppet-of-marcos-jr-trillanes-1538"><strong>Sara Duterte calls ICC a &#x27;puppet&#x27; of Marcos Jr., Trillanes </strong></a> </div><p>“Nakakasira ito sa imahe ng ating republika, ng ating mga kababayan dito. Imagine painting a picture na pwede palang mag-hire ng assassin dito sa halagang P5,000,” Barbers said.</p><p>“Hindi dapat na nagsasalita ng gano&#x27;n ang isang bise presidente considering that the office that she represents must have a very, very high standard of propriety, decency, and of course, dignity. Now, if the office, the one sitting in that office is actually saying na meron siyang kilalang mga ganyang mga kriminal, malaking question mark ‘yun para sa akin,” he added.</p><p>The former chairperson of the 19th Congress House Quad Committee said if Duterte has information on gunmen for hire in the country, she should assist law enforcement agencies.</p><p>“Dapat nga bigyan niya ng lead ‘yung ating PNP, NBI and all law enforcement agencies kung sino itong mga ito, nang sa ganoon, matigil ‘yung ganitong mga krimen na pagpatay. ‘Yun ang ating panawagan d’yan. Hindi dapat i-tolerate ito, lalu na ng isang mataas na opisyal ng ating gobyerno. Dahil nakakabahala ito. This is very alarming,” Barbers said.</p><p>He also believes the Vice President’s remark may impact public perception on an allegation in the impeachment complaint against her, that she spoke with an individual to supposedly kill the President, the First Lady, and the former House Speaker.</p><p>“Parang kinumpirma niya na mayroon siyang kilalang gunman at alam din niya ang presyo. ‘Yan ang nakakagulat diyan,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>DISTRACTION </strong></div><p>House Prosecution Spokesperson and Counsel Atty. Benjamin Tolosa Jr., meanwhile, said the public should not to be “distracted” from the impeachment trial amid such statements from Duterte.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/29/vp-sara-denies-rumors-duterte-to-be-released-by-icc-1004"><strong>VP Sara denies rumors Duterte to be released by ICC </strong></a></div><p>“Kung kailan, eto na, nagsisimula na ‘yung trial doon sa usapin ng confidential funds, tapos kahapon, nakuha na natin ‘yung mga napakahalagang financial documents na magpapakita ng kabuuang yaman ng bise presidente… Huwag tayong magpa-distract din sa ganitong mga klaseng statements. Yes, may shock value ‘yan, nakakagulat ‘yan pero hindi tayo dapat ma-distract d’yan at mag-focus tayo sa pag-usisa, pag-dinig, pag-intindi ng mga ebidensya na ilalatag dito sa impeachment proceedings,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;GAS LIGHTING&#x27;  </strong></div><p>One of the lawyers for extrajudicial killing victims, Attorney Gilbert Andres, said Vice President Duterte is “gaslighting” the ICC “big-time” after her comment calling the ICC a puppet of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former senator Antonio Trillanes IV.</p><p>Talking to reporters at the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday, Andres said Duterte’s actions show she does not respect institutions of accountability like the ICC. </p><p>Andres added, the ICC only looks at justice, truth, and accountability, and not Philippine politics.</p><p>“First, the ICC doesn&#x27;t care about Philippine politics. It only cares about justice, truth, and accountability,” Andres said.</p><p>“Second, let&#x27;s never forget that the victims of Duterte&#x27;s war on drugs are crying for truth, justice, and accountability. What VP Sara is doing is big-time na gaslighting of the ICC. And it shows that she does not respect institutions of accountability such as the ICC,” Andres added.</p>

<p>The International Criminal Court declined to comment on the accusations made by Vice President Sara Duterte as it affirmed its independence being an international judicial institution.</p>

The International Criminal Court declined to comment on the accusations made by Vice President Sara Duterte as it affirmed its independence being an international judicial institution.

ICC upholds independence, impartiality after Sara Duterte’s ‘puppet’ claim

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ICC upholds independence, impartiality after Sara Duterte’s ‘puppet’ claim

Harlene Delgado,

Vivienne Gulla,

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 31, 2026 05:57 PM PHT

Read More:

ICC

Sara Duterte

Rodrigo Duterte

Robert Ace Barbers

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