'We are not in a barbaric world': Palace hits Paolo Duterte over threats after ICC's rejection of father's interim release
PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro | Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte
Malacañang has slammed Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte for threatening to get back at the people behind his father's arrest, reminding him that he should not be making such threats in a "civilized society."
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro schooled Duterte, stressing that the Philippines is only adhering to the rule of law and does not belong to a "barbaric world."
"Unang-una po, hindi po dapat tayo mabuhay sa mga pagbabanta. Tayo po ay nasa sinasabing civilized society at wala po tayo sa isang barbaric world (First of all, we should not live in threats. We are part of what is called a civilized society, not a barbaric world)," Castro said on Monday, Oct. 13.
"So, dapat po tayong tumugon kung ano po ang rule of law at hindi po tayo dapat natatakot or lagi na lamang nabubuhay sa pananakot (Therefore, we must act in accordance with the rule of law and should not be afraid or live constantly under intimidation)," Castro added.
The Palace official made the statement when sought for reaction on Duterte's statement following the denial of the International Criminal Court (ICC) of former president Rodrigo Duterte's interim release.
He was quoted saying: "It is a political theater... To all kidnappers of my father, I will make sure that you will pay for this crime that you have committed."
Meanwhile, the Palace press officer maintained distance to the former president's fate under the ICC, saying it is up to Duterte's legal team to act on the recent ICC decision.
"[U]ulitin po natin na ang pamahalaang Marcos Jr. ay hindi po kasama sa kasong kinakaharap po ngayon ni dating pangulong Duterte. So, kung anuman po ang naging desisyon ng ICC, hayaan na lang po natin ang mga abogado nila at ang mga parties diyan na sila po ang gumawa ng aksiyon (We would like to reiterate that the Marcos Jr. administration is not involved in the case currently being faced by former president Duterte. Therefore, whatever decision the ICC makes, we should leave it to their lawyers and the concerned parties to take the appropriate actions)," she said.