VP Sara: Duterte's ICC case exposes court's 'agenda'

Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday claimed that the prosecution of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, by the International Criminal Court (ICC) has exposed the court’s hidden intentions and agenda. Citing countries that have signaled their withdrawal from the Rome Statute, she raised concerns about political motives and national interests. "The whole world can now see what kind of organization the ICC is. Through the case of former President Rodrigo Duterte, we have shown what kind of institution the ICC is," the Vice President stated. She reiterated her stance that political motives influenced the case against the former president. "Yesterday (at the rally), we clearly showed who started all of this. It’s all about politics… We showed that the subject of the crimes against humanity case is the Philippine government’s drug war program. We also showed that the person who ordered the investigation has a conflict of interest," she said. Furthermore, the Vice President pointed out that the ICC continues to pursue the case despite former President Duterte's advanced age and deteriorating health condition. "We see that they continue to hold on to President Duterte’s case… He is already 81 years old… and is already experiencing various health issues," she said. The Vice President believes this case will serve as an example for other countries in assessing the ICC's reputation and the interests and agenda it pursues. Meanwhile, the Vice President added that she had asked Duterte’s lawyers to seek information from authorities about what caused the skin irritation after the former president said he could not explain how it developed. The anti-illegal drug campaign, a hallmark of the Duterte administration from 2016 to 2022, drew widespread international condemnation for its high death toll. The ICC launched a preliminary examination into alleged crimes against humanity in the drug war in September 2021. Although the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2018, the ICC maintains it has jurisdiction over events that occurred after 2019. The Vice President's remarks suggest the Philippine government continues to challenge the ICC's jurisdiction and prioritizes domestic legal proceedings. Source: GMA News Philippines