Malacañan Palace has stated that any request from the International Criminal Court (ICC) to freeze the assets of former President Rodrigo Duterte would be referred to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
"We will probably point this out to the AMLC," Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said during a Palace briefing.
"If there is an issue or the ICC issues an order, we will point it out, and we will submit it to the AMLC if necessary," she added.
However, the Philippines is no longer a member of the ICC, having withdrawn from the Rome Statute in 2019.
While the AMLC operates under the Philippine government, Castro emphasized that the government is committed to ensuring due reparations for victims.
"If there’s a need for that; the AMLC doesn’t discriminate. So, if it’s necessary to provide reparation, damages to anyone said to have been victimized, then justice must be given," Castro said.
She further reiterated that justice must be upheld.