Malacañang on Tuesday said the administration has yet to make a commitment on whether they will cooperate, if the International Criminal Court (ICC) requests to freeze the assets of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“There is no commitment on our part, on the part of the administration, if we will comply with any order issued by the ICC—considering that the ICC, as of the moment, has no jurisdiction over the Philippines,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a Malacañang briefing on Tuesday.
Castro’s remarks came after reports that a freeze order on Duterte’s might be released any time as part of the ongoing investigation on the charges of crimes against humanity against the former president.
In a separate statement, Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Executive Director Matthew David said if a request arises, it would be assessed in coordination with other government offices to determine the appropriate response.
He also reaffirmed its commitment to fulfilling its mandate under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) and its implementing rules and regulations.
“We assure the public that the AMLC will continue to discharge its duties in accordance with the law and established procedures,” David said in a statement.
However, David said AMLC has yet to receive an official request from the ICC or any relevant government agency regarding the freezing of Duterte’s assets.
“As we have yet to receive an official request from the ICC or from the relevant government agency responsible for addressing the matter, it would be premature to comment further,” David said.
Duterte is currently under the custody of ICC in The Hague as he faces charges of crimes against humanity over his controversial anti-drug campaign during his administration.