MANILA — Malacañang on Thursday reiterated that it will not cooperate with the International Criminal Court on the crimes against humanity charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte as it does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC in the Philippines. 

This was the Palace’s response when asked to comment on a recent statement by the ICC that the Philippine government must first accept the technical measures and conditions before judges would consider any application for the interim release of the former President, who is currently detained at the Hague. 

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 “With that, does it mean that we have to recognize that ICC has jurisdiction over the Philippines? I believe the family of former President Duterte is asking and praying from the Supreme Court that the government should not cooperate with the ICC. So, it means that if we will not cooperate with the ICC, even that prayer or even that manifestation of the ICC, we will not recognize as of that,” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a Malacañang briefing. 

Castro pointed out should the Philippines cooperate with the ICC on the request for Duterte’s interim release, the government will also be constrained to comply with the international tribunal if or when it releases a freeze order for the assets of the Duterte family. 

“Mahirap po kasi na sasabihin natin—although, that’s hypothetical, sasabihin natin na makikipag-cooperate tayo sa ICC pagdating po sa interim release dahil lahat po ng isyu diyan ay mabubuksan. Mabubuksan din po kung magkakaroon ng freeze order sa kaniyang mga assets.”

 “Gugustuhin po ba din ng Pamilya Duterte na makipag-cooperate tayo sa ICC para lahat ng kanilang assets, nakatago man o hindi nakatago, ay makikipagtulungan tayo sa ICC para mahagilap lahat ng kanilang assets?” Castro added. 

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 “Though it’s hypothetical, but as we speak now, we do not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC over the Philippines. So, that’s it.” 

Duterte was arrested on March 11  on his arrival from Hong Kong at the request of the International Criminal Court (ICC) as part of its probe into his "war on drugs" that defined his presidency.

The ICC warrant for Duterte's arrest said that as president, the 79-year-old Duterte created, funded, and armed death squads that carried out murders of purported drug users and dealers.

He was brought to The Hague in the Netherlands on the same day he was arrested.

Duterte on March 14 appeared via video link before ICC judges. He is set to attend a September 25 hearing to confirm the charges against him.