Manila: Malaca±ang has refuted claims that the Marcos administration is utilizing the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a tool to target political opponents. This assertion follows allegations by Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte, who claimed the government is using the ICC to suppress opposition voices.

According to Philippines News Agency, Duterte stated he had information from a "highly reliable source" about an ICC arrest warrant issued against Senator Christopher Lawrence Go. Go, a former aide to ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte, is currently detained at the ICC facility in The Hague, Netherlands, facing charges related to alleged crimes against humanity amid the anti-drug campaign.

In an interview from Kazan, Russia, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro dismissed the allegations, highlighting that cases against Duterte and other respondents, including Go, were initiated in 2017, five years before President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. took office. Castro emphasized that the ICC functions as a court, and the cases filed were by Filipinos concerning alleged extrajudicial killings.

Castro explained that if a valid arrest warrant is issued, it remains legitimate and aims to ensure accountability. She noted that under Republic Act (RA) 9851, the Philippines can extradite individuals to appropriate international courts or other states as per applicable extradition laws and treaties.

The Palace Press Officer expressed concern that the ICC-related issues are being exploited to create division among Filipinos. Castro stressed that the cases were filed long before the current administration, and the government's actions are not a weaponization of the ICC but a response to the concerns of Filipinos.

Castro further stated that accountability is necessary for those found guilty, while those innocent should have their names cleared. She lamented that the ongoing discourse is being manipulated to stir public emotions and shift attention to sovereignty issues.

Finally, Castro noted the public's awareness of how arrest warrants are executed, referencing attempts to serve a warrant on Senator Ronald dela Rosa, the former top police official during the anti-drug campaign. She added that operational aspects of such cases should be managed by the Department of Justice.