By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday firmly rejected allegations that the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is using the International Criminal Court (ICC) to target political rivals, saying the tribunal’s investigation arose from complaints filed by Filipinos years before the current government took office.
The Palace response came after Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte accused the administration of weaponizing the ICC following reports that arrest warrants may have been issued against Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go and two former police officials linked to the previous administration’s anti-drug campaign.
Speaking from Kazan, Russia, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the ICC proceedings should not be portrayed as a political attack, emphasizing that the case originated in 2017 and was initiated by complainants seeking accountability for alleged extrajudicial killings.
“The ICC is a court handling a case filed by our fellow Filipinos. This is not a matter created by the present administration,” Castro said.
She stressed that any warrant issued by the international tribunal would be based on legal grounds and judicial procedures rather than political considerations.
According to Castro, criticism should not be directed at the government when the case itself predates the Marcos administration and remains under the jurisdiction of an independent international body.
The Palace official also cited Republic Act No. 9851, which provides a legal framework for cooperation with international courts in cases involving crimes against humanity and other serious violations of international law.
Castro maintained that accountability mechanisms should be respected and that legal remedies remain available to those facing allegations.
In a social media post, Rep. Duterte questioned what he described as the government’s continued use of the ICC against political opponents.
He also accused state institutions of being used to intimidate critics and divert public attention from other national issues, including alleged corruption in government.
The lawmaker’s remarks underscore the deepening political divide between supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte and the Marcos administration as developments surrounding the ICC investigation continue to unfold.
The ICC probe into alleged abuses during the anti-illegal drug campaign remains among the most contentious political and legal issues in the country.
While Duterte allies insist the investigation is politically driven, government officials continue to argue that the proceedings are independent legal actions initiated long before the current administration assumed office.
As of Thursday, authorities had yet to officially confirm reports regarding alleged arrest warrants involving Sen. Go and the former police officials mentioned in online reports.
ia/xf
