Manila: Malaca±ang announced on Tuesday that the Philippine government will not interfere in the pre-trial proceedings of the International Criminal Court (ICC) concerning former president Rodrigo Duterte. This decision follows the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber 1's announcement on Monday deeming Duterte fit to stand trial, with pre-trials set to commence on February 23.

According to Philippines News Agency, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that the matter falls solely under the jurisdiction of the ICC. "Ang nagpasiya po niyan ay ang pre-trial chamber 1 ng ICC (The decision was made by the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber 1)," Castro informed the media. She emphasized that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s administration respects the processes of international bodies and reiterated the President's stance of non-intervention in the case.

Castro further clarified, "So, kung ganyan po ang kanilang proseso, hindi po makiki-alam ang Pangulo at hindi po makiki-alam ang pamahalaan ng Pilipinas (if that's their process, the President will not interfere, and neither will the Philippine government)." The Palace has consistently maintained that it is leaving the matter to the ICC based on its own rules and procedures.

Previously, Duterte's camp had requested an indefinite adjournment of the proceedings, including the confirmation hearing, citing the former president's unfitness to participate. However, a medical assessment conducted by three independent experts contradicted this claim. The confirmation hearing, initially scheduled for September 2025, will evaluate whether there is sufficient evidence to believe that Duterte, who will turn 81 in March, committed the crimes charged.

Duterte faces allegations of crimes against humanity, including murder and attempted murder, purportedly committed in the Philippines between November 2011 and March 2019 during the war on drugs campaign. He was arrested on March 11, 2025, and is currently in the custody of the ICC in The Hague.