Philippine officials denied coordinating former President Duterte’s arrest with the ICC, despite conflicting suggestions from a recent Interpol diffusion. Justice Secretary Remulla insisted on the lack of prior communication, while Vice President Sara Duterte alleged political motives behind the arrest. Tensions between the Duterte and Marcos families continue to rise amid ongoing legal and political battles.
Philippine officials faced scrutiny over the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who was detained on March 11 and flown to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to address charges related to crimes against humanity from his drug war. During a Senate hearing, Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla denied any advance coordination with the ICC, maintaining that the government had kept its distance until receiving the arrest warrant via Interpol.
Remulla stated, “We never, up to now, had any communication with the ICC, officially or unofficially.” However, Senator Imee Marcos highlighted wording in the Interpol diffusion, which suggested prior consultations and collaboration with the Philippine government regarding Duterte’s arrest.
Remulla dismissed this, claiming the diffusion’s language was generic, asserting that no one from their government was in discussion with Interpol. Until recently, the Philippine government had consistently refused to cooperate with the ICC, asserting that they had no jurisdiction due to Duterte’s withdrawal from the ICC in 2019. This stance changed only after officials indicated an obligation to respond to Interpol requests, signaling a shift in sentiment.
Vice President Sara Duterte, joining the hearing remotely, contended that her father’s arrest was politically motivated, intended to undermine opposition to the current administration. She stated, “This is all about politics. The administration is using government resources, the ICC to demolish the opposition,” and urged voters to support her party’s candidates in the upcoming May elections.
The political rivalry between the Duterte and Marcos families, which had been brewing since their joint electoral success in 2022, intensified recently. Vice President Duterte faces impeachment for various serious charges, including accusations of plotting an assassination against her former running mate. In light of these events, she mentioned discussions with legal counsel about potentially seeking help from the ICC for covering legal expenses, indicating a collective legal approach for her family.
In summary, Philippine officials deny prior coordination with the ICC over Duterte’s arrest, maintaining the government acted independently. Despite official claims, suggestions of collaboration surfaced during Senate hearings. Furthermore, the political landscape remains tumultuous, with Vice President Duterte facing impeachment while arguing her father’s arrest is politically charged. The political feud between the Duterte and Marcos clans is escalating, impacting legal strategies moving forward.
Original Source: www.france24.com
