PH gov't not directly cooperating with ICC on drug war witnesses — Palace
Malacañang on Friday clarified that the government is not directly cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC) despite the recent pronouncement of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla that the tribunal had requested the government to provide protection for witnesses.
In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said the government would help witnesses.
"Parang sa ating pagkakadinig ay tutulungan ng DOJ (Department of Justice) ang mga witnesses para makapag-testify, para mabigyan ng hustisya ang dapat mabigyan ng hustisya. Hindi directly makikipagtulungan sa ICC," Castro said.
(From what we hear, the DOJ will help the witnesses to testify so that justice will be attained by those who seek it. Not directly cooperate with the ICC.)
"Still, ang tutulungan po natin ay kapwa Pilipino na nangangailangan ng tulong para mabigyan sila ng hustisya. 'Yan din naman po ang sinasabi ng Commission on Human Rights," she added.
(Still, assistance will be given to our fellow Filipinos who need help so they may achieve justice. This is aligned with the statements of the Commission on Human Rights.)
Pressed if this matter has the go signal of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., Castro said, "'Yun po ay, 'yan din naman po ang gusto ng Pangulo, mabigyan ng hustisya ang dapat mabigyan ng hustisya."
(That's also what the President wants, that justice be provided to those who deserve it.)
Remulla earlier said three to four witnesses in the case of former President Rodrigo Duterte before the ICC are currently under government protection.
According to Remulla, more individuals may be placed under witness protection.
Remulla also said cooperating with the tribunal does not contradict with the government's position that the Philippines is no longer a member of the ICC.
The Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, in March 2019 during the Duterte administration.
Castro recently said the President was open to having discussions with regard to the Philippines rejoining the ICC. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
2 hours ago
- GMA Network
Australia turns down hosting Duterte if ICC grants interim release
The Australian government has declined to host former President Rodrigo Duterte should the International Criminal Court (ICC) grant his request for interim release. While it is aware that Duterte applied for interim release to a third unnamed country, Australia is not considering to grant such a request as the matter is best left in the hands of the ICC, GMA News Online learned Friday. In applying for interim release, Duterte's camp previously told the chamber that an undisclosed country has agreed to take in the former president, who is facing charges of crimes against humanity over his administration's war on drugs. Earlier this week, Vice President Sara Duterte said the former president, her father, is looking at Australia as one of the countries for his possible interim release. Australia is a party to the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court. Duterte is currently under ICC custody in The Hague, Netherlands. Meanwhile, the Office of the Prosecutor has asked the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber to deny Duterte's interim release request. The prosecution also denied that any agreement was reached with the defense regarding Duterte's release to the country proposed by the Duterte camp. Further, the prosecution said it agreed under the condition that Duterte would be released to another country. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 hours ago
- GMA Network
Palace hits VP Sara for saying she doesn't favor any country
Malacañang on Friday criticized Vice President Sara Duterte for saying she does not favor any country at all. This developed after Duterte recently shrugged off allegations that her family is pro-China as she also questioned the Marcos administration's foreign policy. Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro on Friday reiterated that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., for his part, is pro-Philippines. Castro stressed that Marcos has promised that "he will not yield even an inch of our territory." "Ang tunay na Pilipino, umaawit ng Lupang Hinirang na may dangal. Sinasambit ang mga katagang, 'Ang mamatay nang dahil sa 'yo.' Sabi nga po ni Dr. Jose Rizal, 'Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika ay masahol pa sa hayop at malansang isda,"' Castro said when asked about Duterte's recent statements. (A true Filipino sings Lupang Hinirang with dignity. They recite the words, 'To die because of you.' Dr. Jose Rizal even said, 'Those who do not learn to love his or her own language are worse than animals or slimy fish.') "Paano pa kaya ang isang Pilipino at isang lider na umaming hindi mahal ang kaniyang sariling bansa, ano kaya ang kanilang amoy? Iyon lang po," she added. (How about a Filipino and a leader who admitted that she doesn't love his or her country. What's the smell of this person? That's all.) GMA News Online asked Duterte's camp for comment on the matter, but it has yet to reply as of posting time. Last Wednesday, the Vice President expressed frustration with the state of the Philippines under Marcos, saying she gets embarrassed as a Filipino thinking that other countries are seeing its debacle. She said, "Matagal na nilang narrative na pro-China ako. I am not pro any country at all. Ang sinasabi ko lagi, we need to develop, we need to maintain, and we need to level up our relations with all countries, hindi lang sa China." (They've been using that 'I am pro-China' narrative for a long time now. I am not pro any country at all. What I always say is that we need to develop, we need to maintain, and we need to level up our relations with all countries, not just China.) Castro had said that Marcos already expected her criticisms on how the government is handling the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as the Dutertes are pro-China. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 hours ago
- GMA Network
PH, US sign technical aid deal for Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas Railway
The Philippines has tapped the United States for technical assistance in constructing the proposed Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas (SCMB) Railway project. In a statement on Friday, the US Embassy in Manila said the American government, through the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), inked the Beneficiary Agreement for the initiative with the Philippine Department of Transportation (DOTr) in Arlington, Virginia on June 26, 2025. USTDA's technical assistance for the SCMB Railway would involve transport model development, port-rail integration study, and legal and institutional framework analysis, among other areas. The SCMB Railway is meant to link major ports in Luzon and decongest traffic at the Port of Manila. Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said the freight cargo railway also aims to decentralize Manila Port and provide the additional transport capacity needed at the Batangas Port and Subic Bay. "As a freight cargo railway, the SCMB Railway is seen to solve port traffic and congestion in Manila Port, while ensuring the timely movement of products to and from adjacent major transport hubs," Dizon added. Secretary Frederick Go, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs, said the railway project would boost the government's plan of linking major economic hubs under the Luzon Economic Corridor. 'We are grateful for the support in advancing this crucial infrastructure project, which will drive economic growth by improving connectivity between major ports and industrial hubs along the Luzon Economic Corridor. Once operational, the SCMB Railway will attract investments, create new opportunities for businesses, and most importantly, generate quality jobs that will benefit millions of Filipinos,' Go said. Thomas Hardy, USTDA's Acting Director, for his part, said the project underscores the US-Philippine alliance's vital role in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region. 'By supporting the development of the SCMB Railway, we are ensuring that key infrastructure will flourish, increasing economic cooperation to develop an essential trading route that will mutually benefit American and Philippine citizens,' said Hardy. —Ted Cordero/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
