Gov’t obliged to ensure fair ICC trial for Duterte – Palace

MANILA – The Philippine government remains obligated to ensure that former president Rodrigo Duterte receives a fair trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC), Palace Press Officer and Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Friday.

“Base po sa RA 9851, bilang Pilipino, hindi lang dahil dating pangulo si dating pangulong Duterte, kailanganin din po natin ang gobyerno na mai-sure po, masiguro natin na nagkakaroon po ng fair trial lalong-lalo na po Pilipino po ang dating pangulong Duterte (Under Republic Act 9851, as a Filipino – not just because he is a former president – the government must ensure that Duterte gets a fair trial, especially because he is a Filipino),” Castro said in a Palace press briefing.

She, however, noted that the government would not fund Duterte’s legal defense.

“May kanya-kanya po silang mga abogado. Sabi nga po natin ay wala tayong responsibilidad or wala tayong hand over the ICC proceedings (They have their own lawyers. We’ve said that we have no responsibility or hand in the ICC proceedings),” she added.

Castro pointed out that the government has no jurisdiction over the ICC’s handling of Duterte’s case.

“Wala po kase tayong jurisdiction sa ano mang gagawin ng ICC, sa kanilang mga procedures. Wala pong jurisdiction at after natin madala po ang (former) pangulo sa ICC, wala na pong kamay o responsibilidad ang gobyerno kay dating pangulong Duterte (We have no jurisdiction over ICC procedures. After we bring the former president to the ICC, the government will no longer have any responsibility over him),” she said.

When asked if the government would comply with a possible ICC order to freeze Duterte’s assets, Castro said any action would depend on Philippine law.

“Kung meron naman po tayong batas at ina-allow po tayo, ipakita lamang po nila, tayo po ay magco-comply dahil lagi po sinasabi natin lahat po ng gagawin natin ay dapat lamang base sa batas (If there is a law that allows it and they show it to us, we will comply because we have always said that we will act in accordance with the law),” she said.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Tuesday night that Duterte’s arrest was consistent with the Philippines’ commitment to the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).

Interpol Manila received an official copy of the ICC warrant, which was served by the Prosecutor General of the Department of Justice upon Duterte’s return from Hong Kong.

“Interpol asked for help, and we obliged because we have commitments to Interpol, which we have to fulfill. If we don’t do that, they will no longer help us with other cases involving Filipino fugitives abroad,” Marcos said.

Duterte was placed in government custody before being transferred to The Hague, Netherlands, to face charges of crimes against humanity related to his war on drugs.