Palace rejects VP Duterte's claim that President Marcos 'collaborating' with ICC

Malacañang on Thursday dismissed Vice President Sara Duterte’s claim that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is collaborating with the International Criminal Court (ICC), calling her allegation unfounded and likely born out of frustration over her father’s detention.

During a Palace briefing, Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said there was zero basis to link Marcos to the tribunal’s proceedings, noting that the ICC case against former President Rodrigo Duterte was filed in 2017—when Marcos was still a private citizen.

“Maaaring ito ay kanyang nasasabi out of frustration dahil ang kanyang ama ngayon ay nililitis sa ICC,” Castro said. (“She may be saying this out of frustration because her father is now facing trial at the ICC.”)

Castro maintained that Marcos should not be blamed for the former president’s detention in The Hague, emphasizing that the administration was merely adhering to legal obligations.

“Hindi ito kasalanan ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. Tumutupad lang ang Pangulo sa batas,” Castro added. “Kung meron dapat sisihin, walang iba kundi ang kanyang sariling ama dahil sa mga pag-amin nito na siya mismo ay pumatay at nagpapatay.” (“This is not President Marcos Jr.’s fault. The President is simply following the law. If anyone is to be blamed, it is her own father because of his own admissions that he killed and ordered killings.”)

Castro also defended the ICC, describing it as an independent body immune to political influence.

The Palace response follows remarks Vice President Duterte made to supporters in The Hague, where she renewed calls for her father's release, labeled his detention politically motivated, and accused Marcos of cozying up to the tribunal.

“Marcos supporting ICC. ICC supporting Marcos,” she claimed, while also branding both Marcos and former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV as “traitors.”

When asked if the administration is rethinking its stance on rejoining the ICC, Castro clarified that no discussions are underway. The Philippines formally withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019 under the elder Duterte.

Rodrigo Duterte was taken into ICC custody in March 2025 under a warrant for alleged crimes against humanity tied to his administration’s drug war. Despite renewed calls from lawmakers to rejoin the treaty following his arrest, Malacañang maintains it has no plans to do so.

-Paraluman News