Palace won’t oppose De Lima's intention to testify in Duterte ICC trial

Malacañang said Wednesday it will not oppose the intention of former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to testify in the trial of former President Rodrigo Duterte in the International Criminal Court. 

''Siguro kung iyan po naman po ay kaniyang boluntaryong gagawin at kung siya naman po ay papayagan sa ICC sa pamuno po ng prosecutors sa ICC, hindi naman po tayo tututol diyan,'' Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said at a press briefing. 

(If she will do it voluntarily and the ICC prosecutors will allow her, we will not get in the way.)

De Lima, a staunch critic of Duterte and his policies, has expressed willingness to cooperate with the ICC in its investigation into the alleged crimes against humanity committed during the previous administration of the former president.

Earlier reports said De Lima has already submitted evidence to the ICC and is prepared to testify once summoned by the said court.

According to the former senator, Duterte’s ICC trial is grounded on two local laws: Republic Act 9851 or the Act on the Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Crimes Against Humanity; and the July 2021 Supreme Court ruling that mandates the Philippine government to cooperate with ICC proceedings if the alleged crimes were committed while the Philippines was a signatory to the ICC.

De Lima had said that what transpired during Duterte's pre-trial hearing was due process and the observance of Duterte's rights as a suspect or accused before the ICC.

A vocal critic of the Duterte administration and its deadly war on drugs, De Lima was held in detention for seven years on drug charges on three drug charges, all of which were later dropped. The former solon was released on November, 2023. —RF, GMA Integrated News