On March 19, the Philippine Presidential Palace refuted claims that former President Rodrigo Duterte being sent to the International Criminal Court (ICC) was a tactic by the government to divert public attention. They emphasized that the case had existed before the current administration took office and was unrelated to the current domestic political controversies.
Previously, Davao City Mayor and Duterte's son, Sebastian Duterte, accused the Marcos administration of deliberately targeting the Duterte family and attempting to use this to cover up issues with idle funds at PhilHealth and the constitutionality disputes of the 2025 national budget.
In response, the Presidential Palace stated that the government is not deliberately targeting any family or individual. Deputy Minister and spokesperson of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Claire Castro, stated at a press conference that the government is ready to clarify issues regarding PhilHealth and the national budget at any time, but the ICC case is independent of domestic affairs and they do not want the public to confuse the focus on different issues.
She further reiterated that the ICC's charges against Duterte were raised during his presidency, and the current government has not played a role in promoting this case, nor is there any political oppression involved.
Furthermore, despite the ICC issuing an arrest warrant for Duterte, the Presidential Palace once again emphasized that the Philippine government does not recognize the ICC's jurisdiction over the country and will not cooperate in any form with the case.
