Malacañang on Wednesday defended the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) amid renewed political friction over the government’s legal posture on the International Criminal Court (ICC), insisting the agency is merely fulfilling its mandate as the government’s chief legal defender.

In a statement, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro said the OSG acted “within the bounds of the law” when it asked the Supreme Court (SC) for permission to represent government officials in a petition questioning the Philippines’ continued cooperation with the ICC’s probe into the Duterte administration’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.

“It is only right that the OSG act in accordance with the law and in line with its mandate, without protecting the interests of a select few,” Castro said in Filipino.

Castro’s remarks came after the OSG, in a Dec. 1 manifestation, sought to enter its appearance for officials named in a March petition filed by lawyers of former president Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Ronald dela Rosa. The petition challenges the legality of ongoing cooperation with ICC investigators despite the Philippines’ 2019 withdrawal from the Rome Statute.

Reframing the narrative?

In a notable shift, Castro stressed that the administration cannot speak for the actions or personal views of former Solicitor General Meynard Guevarra on the ICC matter. She emphasized instead that the current OSG leadership is “correcting what needs to be corrected in accordance with the law.”

Solicitor General Darlene Berberabe has also moved to withdraw an earlier request—filed under Guevarra’s tenure—for the SC to inhibit from hearing the same case.

Palace counters VP Duterte’s criticisms

The Palace also pushed back at Vice President Sara Duterte, implying that her criticisms of government messaging were attempts to divert attention from “issues recently flagged” by the Commission on Audit (COA).

Castro said the OVP’s public assertions of sound financial management were inconsistent with COA’s findings, which noted missing documents, unverified beneficiaries, and gaps in reporting.

“The Vice President does not want the public to listen to the Palace because people are becoming aware of the truth—and of the President’s programs for the nation,” she said.

“Where should the people listen? To the misinformation she and her allies are spreading?” she added.

The rift between the administration and the Duterte camp has deepened, with the ICC controversy and recent audit findings emerging as new flashpoints in an increasingly public and heated political clash.