A storm of justifications and debates unfolded in the Senate on Thursday as brothers Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla adamantly refuted claims that the government assisted the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

The Senate hearing, chaired by Senator Imee Marcos under the Committee on Foreign Relations, saw heated exchanges questioning the government's position on the ICC, its evolving stance on international law, and the sudden surrender of a former head of state to a foreign tribunal.

'We never assisted the ICC'

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla forcefully denied any direct contact or cooperation with the ICC, asserting that the Philippines is not a member of the court.

“We are not members of the ICC, Ma’am. So whatever relationship we have with the ICC is on an ‘arms-length’ basis... but we have never spoken to them,” he declared.

Despite this, Remulla acknowledged that the government had obligations under international humanitarian law, which the Philippines has adopted alongside 150 other countries. However, he maintained that any legal action taken against Duterte was independent of ICC intervention.

“We surrendered an individual to the ICC who is subject to a warrant of arrest. That is what we did,” he admitted, stressing that their decisions were based solely on adherence to legal commitments.

A shift in rhetoric?

Senator Imee Marcos, a staunch Duterte ally, pointed out what she perceived as inconsistencies in the government’s approach. She noted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had previously taken a hard stance against the ICC’s jurisdiction, only to see that position "soften."

“Why did it change? There was a pivot. At first, we firmly stood our ground that we would never assist the ICC, but now we have softened and are allowing them to enter,” she questioned.

Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, however, brushed off allegations of a shift in position, saying that ICC investigations had been ongoing for seven years, dating back to the height of Duterte’s war on drugs between 2016 and 2019.

“They have been investigating for seven years. This is not new,” he retorted.

DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla also emphasized that no government agency planned or orchestrated Duterte’s surrender to the ICC. This was his response after a TV interview he himself gave was presented.

“I state it very clear that there was no mastermind... There was no planning. I did not plan anything. We were all talking about a rumor and that is all,” he declared.