Marcos doesn't need to monitor ICC hearings vs Duterte — Palace

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. does not need to monitor the proceedings of the International Criminal Court next week for the confirmation of charges of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte.

At a press briefing Friday, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro was asked if Marcos will monitor the process.

She responded that the President is focused on monitoring the interest of the country, adding that the outcome of the hearing is a personal matter for Duterte.

''Hindi po kailangang mag-monitor ng Pangulo. Ang sabi nga natin, ang minomonitor po ng Pangulo ay iyong interes po ng ating bansa. Kung mayroon pong mangyayari sa hearing, ito po ay personal na po kay dating Pangulong Duterte. At tatandaan po natin na ang mga nagsampa po ng kasong ito ay kapwa nating Filipino. Filipino ang nagsampa ng kaso, nirereklamo ay kapwa nating Filipino,'' Castro said. 

(The President doesn't need to monitor. Just like what we said, the President monitors the interest of the country. Whatever happens to the hearing, this will be a personal matter for former President Duterte. Those who filed cases against the former President were Filipinos.) 

She, however, said Marcos still needs to be updated on the matter as Filipinos are involved in this case. 

''Hindi po imomonitor, pero siyempre kailangan pong maging updated ang Pangulo sa lahat ng nangyayari, dahil mga kapwa Filipino natin ang nasasangkot dito,'' she added. 

(Pres. Marcos will not monitor but of course he needs to be updated with whatever is happening because those involved are Filipinos.) 

The former Philippine leader has formally waived his right to attend the ICC hearings on the confirmation of charges against him next week in connection with his war on illegal drugs.

In a signed notification dated February 17, the 80-year-old Duterte said he will not attend the hearings from February 23 to 27 for several reasons — but mainly because he does not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction over him.

In response to Duterte's request, the ICC Office of the Prosecutor asked the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I to deny Duterte’s bid, saying he is “available, fit, and should attend the hearing in person.”

Duterte is facing charges for crimes against humanity over his controversial drug war, where government records showed that around 6,200 drug suspects were killed while human rights organizations say that numbers reach up to 30,000 due to unreported related slays.

He was arrested in the Philippines and subsequently transferred to the ICC in March 2025. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News