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Janvic Mateo - The Philippine Star
July 22, 2025 | 12:00am
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. holds a press conference at Malacañang on March 11, 2025.
STAR / Noel Pabalate
MANILA, Philippines — Citing a disparity between words and actions, a lawyer representing victims of the Duterte administration’s deadly campaign against illegal drugs has urged President Marcos to clarify the government’s position on rejoining the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“The President should come out categorically. It’s really not helping, and it’s confusing a lot of victims,” Center for International Law president Joel Butuyan, an ICC-accredited lawyer, told “Storycon” on One News yesterday.
“Once and for all, (the government has to) match its words with its actions. People need direction from the President… There is a difference in the message and action undertaken by the government,” he added.
Although Marcos has repeatedly maintained that the Philippines will not cooperate with the ICC, Butuyan noted that its actions suggest otherwise.
In March, the Marcos administration implemented the ICC arrest warrant and surrendered Duterte to the international tribunal.
The President said the decision was in line with the country’s commitment to the International Criminal Police Organization.
Last month, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said Marcos is open to rejoining the international tribunal. However, she clarified that there are no serious discussions yet for the Philippines to rejoin the ICC.
“We really should resume membership because these kinds of crimes committed during the Duterte administration, they recur,” she said, citing the case of the missing sabungeros.
Interim release
On the recent move of Duterte’s defense team to defer ruling on its interim release plea, Butuyan described it as a “teka-teka” moment.
“The defense moved for interim release, and then when the prosecution filed its response, they suddenly wanted to suspend (the ruling),” he pointed out.
He said Duterte’s lawyer appears to be making a big issue of the country that would take the former president in, should his request be granted.
“The issues in an interim release are whether or not Duterte is a flight risk, whether or not the victims would be at risk… and whether or not Duterte will commit more crimes if he is released,” said Butuyan.
“When you make a motion, you should already be sure that these three basic premises of interim release are in your favor,” he added. — Evelyn Macairan, Delon Porcalla
