MANILA, Philippines — July 23, 2025 — The House of Representatives has strongly rejected Vice President Sara Duterte’s recent remarks that the International Criminal Court (ICC) case against her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, is based on mere hearsay.
In a press briefing, House spokesperson Atty. Princess Abante emphasized that the case filed before the ICC is founded on solid evidence and sworn statements from credible witnesses, not on rumors or political noise.
Abante clarified that the legal process in the ICC follows stringent international protocols backed by documentary proof and testimonies from victims, making it far from baseless speculation.
When asked to comment on the Vice President’s appeal for the ICC to drop the case and let the Filipino people decide the fate of the former president, Abante pointed out that the House has no role in the ICC proceedings. She reiterated that the ICC operates independently of the Philippine legislative branch.
Former President Duterte is currently detained and awaiting trial at the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity linked to the deadly war on drugs during his administration.
Despite the Philippines’ formal withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2019, Abante noted that the ICC retains jurisdiction over offenses committed while the country was still a signatory to the treaty.
The House urged the public to respect the rule of law and allow the international justice system to fulfill its mandate without undue interference.
