Malacañang on Monday called for restraints on issuing threats in relation to the ongoing International Criminal Court’s (ICC) trial of former President Rodrigo Duterte, emphasizing the need to “uphold the rule of law in a civilized society.”
Meanwhile, a latest survey showed that half of the Filipinos believed that Duterte should be held accountable before the ICC for the killings linked to the war on drugs during his administration.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro made the statement after Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte denounced the ICC proceedings as a “political theater” and vowed retribution against those he accused of “kidnapping” his father.
“We should not have to live in threats. We are in a so-called ‘civilized society’ and we are not in a barbaric world,” Castro stressed during a Palace briefing.
“We should respond to what the rule of law is, and we should not be afraid or constantly living in fear,” she added.
Castro said while the administration is monitoring developments, it is not a party to the case. The ICC recently denied Duterte’s appeal for interim release as it continues its probe into the former leader’s alleged crimes against humanity linked to the bloody anti-drug campaign.
“The Marcos Jr. administration is not involved in the case currently facing former President Duterte,” Castro said, adding that legal action should be left to the former President’s counsel and the tribunal.
Asked whether these public outbursts could impact Duterte’s case, Castro declined to speculate, noting that such assessments rest with the ICC judges.
The Marcos administration has maintained its stance of non-cooperation with the ICC, insisting that domestic institutions are capable of handling any legal inquiries.
However, Castro’s remarks manifested one of the strongest rebukes from the Palace against incendiary rhetoric surrounding the proceedings.
“We must respond through lawful means,” she said.
In the Social Weather Station survey commissioned by the think tank Stratbase, the results showed that 31 percent of the respondents strongly agree, while 18 percent “somewhat agree” that Duterte being accountable. On the other hand, 32 percent disagreed to the proposition.
The call for accountability was more pronounced in Visayas at 54 percent, followed by Metro Manila with 53 percent, and Balance Luzon at 52 percent. Meanwhile, 39 percent are from Mindanao.
The survey also revealed that Filipinos aged 55 and above agreed the strongest at 62 percent, followed by ages 45 to 54 at 52 percent, millennials at 45 percent, and Gen Zs at 43 percent.
The face-to-face survey was conducted on Sept. 25-30, with 1,500 respondents aged 18 and older.
The sampling margins of error are ±3 percent for national percentages, ±4 percent for Balance Luzon, and ±6 percent each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.
