Vice President Sara Duterte brought her father’s International Criminal Court (ICC) case to the tribunal’s doorstep, accusing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV of betrayal and alleging that the proceedings against former President Rodrigo Duterte had been driven by political motives.

Speaking before her family's supporters, the vice president questioned the legitimacy of the proceedings against the former Philippine strongman—who is facing three counts of crimes against humanity involving 76 deaths and two attempted killings during his time as Davao City mayor and his administration’s nationwide anti-drug campaign.

“Ang ICC ay tuta ni Trillanes at ni Marcos. They are traitors to a Filipino and to the country,” Duterte said in a Facebook Live broadcast by Alvin & Tourism from The Hague on 29 July.

“So where is the justice in all this? There is no justice for the Philippines, there is no justice for the Filipinos, and there is no justice for former President Rodrigo Duterte,” she added.

Duterte also claimed that the ICC had no other Philippine case apart from her father’s and alleged that the tribunal had uncovered links involving Marcos, Trillanes, and money.

Trillanes, however, has denied receiving any payment. In a previous television interview, the former senator rejected allegations that he received $2 million or any amount to support ICC operations.

“I vehemently and categorically deny na meron ako natanggap na $2 million or any amount galing kay Zaldy Co for ICC operations o kung anuman na dahilan. Hindi nangyari ’yan. Hindi totoo ’yan,” Trillanes said.

He said allegations that he paid or influenced the ICC were implausible, arguing that the court’s prosecutors and judges operate independently and that evidence presented in the proceedings came from the ICC’s own investigation.

“We all saw and heard what happened noong mga panahon na ’yan,” he said, referring to evidence presented by ICC prosecutors, including public statements and videos involving Duterte.

Trillanes acknowledged that he had assisted ICC investigators by helping provide information and connect witnesses, saying such actions were part of efforts to document alleged abuses.

“Since 2017, we’ve been helping the ICC sa pagkuha ng documentary evidence, testimonial evidence,” he said.

The ICC has said its proceedings are conducted independently by its Office of the Prosecutor and judges based on evidence gathered through its legal process.

It authorized a formal investigation in 2021, a year before Marcos assumed presidency, after its prosecutor’s office examined allegations of widespread killings.

In April 2026, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I confirmed charges against Rodrigo Duterte, allowing the case to proceed after finding sufficient grounds to believe he may bear criminal responsibility for alleged crimes against humanity.

The case is set to move forward with a 30 November hearing.