Former Senator Leila de Lima speaks at the House of Representatives on October 22, 2024, during the Quad-Committee hearing on extrajudicial killings tied to former president Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA -- Malacañang disclosed Wednesday it will not oppose former Senator Leila De Lima should she volunteer to testify before the International Criminal Court. 

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said they will not object if De Lima will be allowed by the ICC prosecutors to testify against former president Rodrigo Duterte who is accused of "crimes against humanity" for his bloody drug war. 

DOJ to defend gov't in SC case questioning Duterte arrest

"Siguro kung iyan po naman po ay kaniyang boluntaryong gagawin at kung siya naman po ay papayagan sa ICC sa pamuno po ng prosecutors sa ICC, hindi naman po tayo tututol diyan,"  Castro said in a press briefing Wednesday, March 19. 

De Lima, a known critic of Duterte's war on drugs, had been incarcerated for almost seven years for drug-related charges before she was cleared in 2024. 

Content creator cop refuses to resign, denies calling for gov't overthrow

"Si Senator Leila de Lima ay willing mag-cooperate sa ICC. Matatandaan natin si Senator Leila de Lima ang unang-unang nagpa-imbestiga sa Davao Death Squad,"  De Lima's lawyer Dino de Leon De Leon said in a television interview Tuesday, March 18.

The 79-year-old Duterte faces allegations of crimes against humanity over his deadly war on drugs during his administration.

He is the first ex-Asian head of state charged by the ICC.