By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – Malacañang on Wednesday distanced itself from the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision to formally charge former President Rodrigo Duterte with three counts of crime against humanity over the deaths linked to his war on illegal drugs.
In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Philippine government is not involved in the ICC’s investigation or proceedings.
Castro said Duterte’s fate now rests with the international court’s prosecutor and drug war witnesses.
“No reaction. The Philippine government has nothing to do with the investigation, with the hearing or the proceedings before the ICC,” she said.
“So, hayaan lang po natin ang mga prosecutors doon at mga witnesses na silang gumanap ng katungkulan (let the prosecutors and witnesses perform their duties).”
In a court document signed by Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang, Duterte was charged with three counts of murder against humanity for the deaths of 78 individuals during the anti-illegal drugs campaign he initiated when he was Davao City mayor and during his presidency.
The first count involves murder in Davao City, where 19 victims died between 2013 and 2016.
The second count pertains to the murder of “High-Value Targets” across the Philippines, involving 14 victims from 2016 to 2017, while the third count covers murder and attempted murder during barangay clearance operations nationwide, with 45 victims between 2016 and 2018.
Castro also responded to Vice President Sara Duterte’s statement that there is a commitment from another country to host her father, should his request for interim release be granted by the ICC.
“Nagbunga naman po yata ang madalas niyang pagbabiyahe. So kung iyan ay good news po sa kanila at kung ano po ang magiging decision ng ICC, tatanggapin naman po ‘yan ng pamahalaang Marcos Jr. (It seems that her frequent travels have borne fruit. If that is good news for them, then whatever decision the ICC makes, the Marcos Jr. administration will accept it),” she said. (PNA)
