Malacañang firmly refuted the allegations of betrayal on Friday after assisting Interpol in executing an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against former President Rodrigo Duterte. Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro emphasized on Unang Balita that no betrayal transpired, stating, ‘Kung iisipin po natin, wala pong ginawang betrayal ang Pangulo kanino man po dahil po tinutupad lamang ang sarili nating batas’ (If we think about it, the President has not committed any betrayal to anyone because we are only enforcing our own laws).
Castro highlighted that complying with local laws, including Republic Act 9851, which addresses international humanitarian law and other crimes, precluded any sense of betrayal. She noted, ‘It’s just so happened that there is already pending case before the ICC, and we are just complying and enforcing RA 9851 especially Section 17,’ which allows extradition to international courts.
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa accused President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. of betrayal, referencing Marcos’s prior assurance of non-cooperation with the ICC due to potential repercussions for his own family. Despite Dela Rosa’s ‘Feeling betrayed. Betrayal to the max’ sentiment, Castro dismissed these claims, explaining that the arrest warrant was implemented upon arrival from Interpol.
Castro also corrected misconceptions of eagerness in Duterte’s arrest by stating, ‘Noong dumating ang warrant of arrest sa pamamagitan ng Interpol, doon lamang natin pinatupad.’ Additionally, it was confirmed by CIDG Chief Police General Nicolas Torre III that a hard copy of the warrant was acknowledged by Duterte’s lawyer, Atty. Martin Delgra.