Malacañang will not interfere in any effort seeking the return of former president Rodrigo Duterte to the country, including the plan of former senator Gringo Honasan to submit a petition to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the same purpose.
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said it is Honasan's right to defend Duterte, thus the Palace will not block his plan to petition for the return of the former president.
"Well, karapatan naman po niya kung anong nais niyang gawin, para ipagtanggol ang dating Pangulong Duterte, pero mas mainam po siguro makipag-usap muna siya sa legal team ni dating pangulong Duterte, baka hindi naman po siya pansinin sa ICC (Well, it is his right to do whatever he wants to defend former president Duterte, but would it be better to talk to Duterte's legal team first because ICC might not accommodate him)," Castro said in a Palace briefing on Wednesday, March 26.
The Palace official stressed anew that the Marcos administration will not involve itself in the ICC's legal process on Duterte's case, saying the government no longer has any responsibility over the case.
"Sa part po ng gobyerno, sa part po ng administrasyon, wala po kaming gagawin dahil wala po tayong—wala na po tayong responsibilidad (On the part of the government, on the part of the administration, we will not do anything because we no longer have responsibility)," Castro said.
"Wala po tayong gagawin anuman patungkol po sa legal system, legal procedures ng ICC (We will do nothing in terms of the legal system, legal procedures of the ICC)," Castro added.
She pointed out that the Marcos administration has not been cooperating with the ICC, considering the stance of President Marcos over the ICC's jurisdiction.
"We have not been cooperating with the ICC – it’s clear, because the stance of the President regarding the jurisdiction of ICC over the Philippines remains," she said when asked if the stance of the country on cooperation with the ICC will change.
Duterte was arrested on March 11 over crimes against humanity. He was surrendered to the ICC on the same day.
His warrant of arrest was coursed through the Interpol, which the Philippines has obligation to comply with.