Duterte's interim release requires gov't to comply with ICC – Castro

Malacañang has maintained that the Philippines will not return to the Rome Statute anytime soon even with the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

However, calls for his interim release have surfaced.

For International Criminal Court spokesperson Dr. Fadi El Abdallah, the decision on Duterte's interim release depends on whether the Philippines agrees to the terms set by the ICC.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro emphasized that agreeing to these terms would signal cooperation with the ICC, which goes against the Duterte family's position in the Supreme Court.

“I believe the family of former President Duterte is asking and praying from the Supreme Court that the government should not cooperate with the ICC. So, it means that if we will not cooperate with the ICC, even that prayer or even that manifestation of the ICC, we will not take cognizance of that,” she said.

She explained that although it is hypothetical, if ever the government would express its intention to cooperate with the ICC, it would expose Duterte’s family into the ICC investigation.

“The issue on the freeze order of their assets would also be opened. Would the Duterte family also want us to cooperate with the ICC so that all their assets, whether hidden or not, we will cooperate with the ICC to find all their assets,” she said.

Phl won’t initiate any action

Castro noted that the Philippines will not initiate any action to facilitate the interim release of Duterte stressing that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines.

“We cannot just initiate any action. That should come from the Duterte family because they are the ones who have cases filed in the Supreme Court that would conflict with their opinions, with their beliefs that the ICC has no jurisdiction in the Philippines. So, we cannot take action regarding that,” she said.