ICC witness protection an ‘indirect cooperation’ — Palace

Metro Manila, Philippines - Malacañang said the Marcos administration is committed to protecting witnesses in the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation on former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, but clarified it was tantamount to direct cooperation with The Hague-based tribunal.

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said Friday that while the Department of Justice (DOJ) is assisting people who may testify in the ICC probe, the government is focused on ensuring justice for Filipinos - not on formally engaging with the court.

“Parang sa ating pagkakadinig ay tutulungan ng DOJ ang mga witnesses para makapag-testify, para mabigyan ng hustisya ang dapat na mabigyan ng hustisya. Hindi directly makikipagtulungan sa ICC,” Castro said in a Palace press briefing.

[Translation: From what we’ve heard, the DOJ is helping witnesses testify to ensure that justice is served to those who deserve it. But this is not direct cooperation with the ICC.]

She said government support for witnesses is consistent with the stance of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), which has said it will continue aiding victims regardless of the forum.

“Still, ang tutulungan po natin ay ang kapwa nating Pilipino na nangangailangan ng tulong para mabigyan sila ng hustisya,” she said.

[Translation: Still, we are helping fellow Filipinos who need assistance in seeking justice.]

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier confirmed that his department is providing assistance to witnesses related to the ICC investigation, which is probing allegations of crimes against humanity during Duterte’s bloody anti-drug campaign.

When pressed whether this assistance has the blessing of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Castro said: “Iyon din naman po ang gusto ng pangulo, mabigyan ng hustisya ang dapat na mabigyan ng hustisya.”

[Translation: That is what the president wants - that justice is served to those who deserve it.]

“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,” Castro added.

She maintained, however, that there is still no direct engagement with the court:

“Yes, directly hindi po.”

[Translation: Yes, not directly.]

Meanwhile, on whether the Philippines is considering rejoining the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, Castro said there is no movement on that front.

“Sa ngayon, wala po talaga. Kapag po siguro nabigyan kami ng pagkakataon ng pangulo na mabanggit ko ito natalagang mas malaliman, tingnan natin kung ano iyong kaniyang magiging reaksyon. As of now, sa foreign policy, wala pa po .”

[Translation: Maybe if we’re given the chance to discuss this more deeply with the president, we’ll see his response. But as of now, in terms of foreign policy, there’s really nothing. There’s nothing at the moment.]

Duterte is detained in The Hague, Netherlands.