Malacañang maintained that the Philippine government is not cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC), even as the Department of Justice (DOJ) provides assistance to witnesses in the tribunal's ongoing probe into former president Rodrigo Duterte’s alleged crimes against humanity.

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said this after Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed that the ICC has reached out and the DOJ will assist it in securing witnesses in Duterte’s case.

In a press briefing on Friday, June 27, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro clarified that the support given by the DOJ does not equate to formal cooperation with the ICC.

“Parang sa ating pagkakadinig ay tutulungan ng DOJ ang mga witnesses para makapag-testify, para mabigyan ng hustisya ang dapat na mabigyan ng hustisya (As we understand it, the DOJ is helping witnesses to testify so that justice may be served),” she said.

“Hindi directly makikipagtulungan sa ICC (It is not directly cooperating with the ICC),” she added.

Castro said that while the ICC may have initiated the request, the government’s priority is to help Filipinos in need of protection and legal support.

“Still, ang tutulungan po natin ay ang kapwa nating Pilipino na nangangailangan ng tulong para mabigyan sila ng hustisya (We are helping our fellow Filipinos who need assistance to receive justice),” she said.

“It can be said that it is indirectly cooperating with the ICC, but the primary intention of the government is to help the victims and the witnesses of the victims to get the justice they need,” she added.

Asked if the DOJ’s move has President Marcos’ blessing, the Palace official said the Chief Executive wants justice for the victims of the previous administration’s drug war.

“‘Yan din naman po ang gusto ng Pangulo— mabigyan ng hustisya ang dapat mabigyan ng hustisya (That is also what the President wants—that justice be given to those who deserve it),” she said.

Castro also cited the position of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), which emphasized that its services remain available to all victims of human rights violations regardless of venue or jurisdiction.

“The CHR, as constitutionally mandated, has always made its services readily available to the extent possible to all victims, regardless of circumstances and status, in its pursuit of justice and accountability for alleged violations of human rights, whether local or abroad, with the assistance of relevant government agencies, if necessary,” the CHR said in a statement.

Castro said this is consistent with the DOJ’s position that it will assist any witnesses or victims in pursuit of justice, regardless of whether the case is before the ICC or another venue.

Despite these developments, Castro said rejoining the Rome Statute has not been discussed by the President.

“Wala po, sa ngayon. Wala po talaga (As of now, there is none),” she said, noting that the matter is a foreign policy that the President may consider in the future, but there has been no directive so far.