The Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) issued a bold statement on Friday, asserting that any Filipino who has violated the nation’s laws should face trial within the country’s borders.

Breaking its silence, the influential church criticized the arrest and detention of former President Rodrigo Duterte overseas and emphasized the importance of upholding the country’s legal system and safeguarding its autonomy.

“Any Filipino or citizen of our country who has violated our laws should be tried here in our nation. Why? Because our justice system works,” said INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala in Filipino.

“We are not saying that the former president should not be tried for the accusations against him. What we are saying is that the Iglesia Ni Cristo trusts the integrity and capability of the judiciary to decide on such matters and issues,” he said.

Zabala said the country should not surrender its sovereignty.

“Our judges have the ability to fulfill their duties and administer proper justice and uphold righteousness at all times,” he said.

Zabala underscored the importance of upholding what is right and following the country’s laws.

“The Iglesia does not agree with any actions that are not in accordance with our country’s laws. Because it is the law that upholds order in our nation. When the law is disregarded, it leads to chaos, conflict and injustice, and you know that,” he said.

The ICC has a legal aid system designed to ensure effective legal representation for the defense and for victims who may be partially or wholly indigent.

Recalling the 13 January INC rally for peace, Zabala said they called on the nation’s leaders to prioritize peace, unity, and the pressing concerns of the Filipino people.

“What is unfortunate is that the call of the Iglesia Ni Cristo seemed to have been ignored by those in power. And now we are witnessing the consequences of that,” he said.

“No one can deny that there is a deep division within our government and among our people. It’s not just us, the Filipinos, who know that we are not united. What is even more troubling is that even foreigners who are watching what is happening here in the Philippines know it all too well. We are not united. It’s chaotic,” he said.

Duterte’s condition improves

In The Hague, the Netherlands, Vice President Sara Duterte gave an update on the condition of her father, saying that his health has improved. After spending a week in the hospital wing of the International Criminal Court (ICC) detention center, the former president has been moved to a regular room.

The Vice President emphasized that despite his health challenges, her father was in constant communication with his lead counsel, Nicholas Kaufman, in preparation for his defense.

Kaufman, an experienced international lawyer, is overseeing Duterte’s legal team as the former president faces charges of crimes against humanity in connection with his controversial war on drugs.

In an update to the press, Kaufman said a provisional core team of lawyers is ready to begin preparations for the defense starting next week. While he did not disclose the identities of the legal team, he confirmed that a Filipino lawyer is part of the group.

He said the defense team will be composed of five members, with additional members to be appointed as needed.

“We’ve finalized a team. It’s going to be a core team of a maximum of five members, and we’ll be appointing other people to assist us on a need-be basis,” Kaufman said.

He would not divulge the names of the team members, saying it was agreed with Vice President Duterte that only he would speak to the press on matters concerning the legal team.

“The press doesn’t hound other members of the team,” Kaufman said.

Sara discusses legal aid plans

In a separate development, Vice President Duterte disclosed on Thursday that the Duterte family may seek legal aid from the ICC to help cover the mounting legal expenses of the case. In a media interview, Sara said she had discussed the possibility of applying for legal aid with Kaufman.

“At this point, we haven’t discussed anything in detail with the lawyer yet, but I have already hinted to him about the possibility of applying for legal aid with the ICC. We are still in the process of discussing this,” Sara said in Filipino.

She clarified, “Just the other day, I informed him there is a high possibility that we will apply for legal aid, and this will not be a privately funded case.”

The ICC has a legal aid system designed to ensure effective legal representation for the defense and for victims who may be partially or wholly indigent. This system is critical for ensuring access to justice for those who cannot afford the costs associated with international legal proceedings.

Legal costs and funding concerns

Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque had estimated the cost of the legal defense for former President Duterte at approximately P2.8 million per month.

Given the significant costs involved, the potential application for ICC legal aid may be a crucial step for the Duterte family in ensuring that the former president’s defense team is fully equipped to handle the legal challenges ahead.

As the case progresses, the Duterte camp is closely monitoring both the legal strategy and the financial considerations, with an eye toward ensuring that the legal process unfolds in accordance with the rights of the former president.