Palace: DOJ to aid witnesses, not ICC

The Department of Justice (DOJ) will help witnesses testify in cases related to human rights violations under the previous administration's war on drugs, but it will not "directly cooperate" with the International Criminal Court (ICC), Malacañang clarified Friday.

"Parang sa ating pagkakadinig ay tutulungan ng DOJ ang mga witnesses para makapag-testify, para mabigyan ng hustisya ang dapat na mabigyan ng hustisya. Hindi directly makikipagtulungan sa ICC (It seems, based on what we've heard, that the DOJ will assist the witnesses so they can testify and ensure that justice is served for those who deserve it. They will not be directly cooperating with the ICC)," Palace Press Officer, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro, told Palace reporters in a press briefing.

Asked if the assistance is being extended upon the ICC’s request, Castro maintained the support would focus solely on helping Filipinos seek justice.

“Still, ang tutulungan po natin ay ang kapwa nating Pilipino na nangangailangan ng tulong para mabigyan sila ng hustisya. At iyan din naman po ang sinasabi ng Commission on Human Rights (Still, the people we are helping are fellow Filipinos who need support to acquire justice. That’s also what the Commission on Human Rights is saying)," she said.

She continued by quoting a message from the CHR reaffirming its commitment to assist human rights victims:

“The CHR, as constitutionally mandated, has always made its services readily available to the extent possible to all victims regardless of circumstances and status in its pursuit of justice and accountability for alleged violations of human rights. Whether local or abroad, will assistance of relevant government agencies if necessary.”

Castro also stressed the DOJ's assistance is not limited to ICC cases.

"At ayon din naman po sa DOJ, kahit sino pang witnesses – kung ito po ay witnesses ng mga biktima, mapa-ICC man po ito o sa ibang mga pagkakataon, tutulungan pa rin po nila (“The DOJ has made it clear that it will assist any witnesses who are helping victims—whether the case is with the ICC or in other situations, they will assist them)," she said.

What indirect cooperation?

Castro also confirmed that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has given his approval for the DOJ to assist ICC witnesses during the pleadings in The Hague, Netherlands.

"Iyon din naman po ang gusto ng Pangulo, mabigyan ng hustisya ang dapat na mabigyan ng hustisya (That is also what the President wants, for justice to be served to those who truly deserve it)," Castro said.

Marcos earlier vowed not to cooperate with the ICC “in any way, shape or form.”

However, Castro clarified that while the government stands by this position, it still has a responsibility to support Filipinos seeking justice, whether through local or international channels.

"It can be said that it is indirectly cooperating with the ICC. But, the primary intention of the government is to help the victims and the witnesses of the victims to get the justice they need," she pressed on.

Asked further if the government will cooperate with the ICC, Castro replied: "Yes. Directly hindi po (no)."

Former President Rodrigo Duterte is currently facing charges of “crimes against humanity" before the ICC at The Hague, Netherlands.

The Duterte administration formally withdrew the Philippines’ membership from the ICC on March 17, 2019—exactly a year after it revoked the Rome Statute that created the international tribunal in 2011.

The Marcos administration earlier stated that Duterte’s arrest aligns with the Philippines’ commitments to Interpol, including support for executing additional arrest warrants issued by the ICC in connection with the previous administration’s anti-drug campaign.