MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang rejected Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s claim that the Palace is reviving the issue on the possible International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest to divert attention from controversies involving the First Lady.

During a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro responded to the senator’s remark that Malacañang was allegedly recycling old issues to shift public focus.

“Unang-una po, iyong possible ICC arrest, hindi po ito old issue. Every now and then may nadidinig po tayo na maaaring mailabas ang warrant of arrest at hindi rin po issue ang ICC iyong case na pending before the ICC,” Castro said.

Dela Rosa, a former police chief and longtime ally of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte, alleged that the administration was “fond of creating new issues, even recycling old ones,” supposedly to steer public attention away from fresh criticism tied to the alleged circulation of an altered police report concerning the First Lady.

But the Palace was quick to push back.

Castro denied this, saying, “Wala naman po tayong nairi-raise na mga old issues maliban lang kung ito ay related sa itinatanong sa atin.” She cited past discussions about a 2012 PDEA operation as an example of old topics resurfacing outside the Palace’s initiative.

She also addressed the controversy over the alleged fake police report involving the First Lady, saying it was not the Palace that raised the issue but was responding to false claims.

“Ang issue po patungkol sa peke na police report or altered na police report ay hindi naman po ang Malacañang ang nag-raise niyan… na kailangan lamang po nating sumagot para maipakita sa taumbayan na may mga fake news peddlers, mga obstructionists, mga propagandist na gumagawa ng kuwento na kinakailangan pang mameke ng papel para lang sirain ang Unang Ginang, ang Pangulo at ang administrasyon,” she said.

Castro questioned Dela Rosa’s decision to speak on the matter, citing his past experience with a fake AI-generated video.

“Siya po ay napaso na noon sa fake video na AI-generated pala. So, bilang senador sana po ay maging mapanuri din po siya sa mga issues dahil never gagamitin, hinding-hindi gagamitin ng Malacañang ang issue na peke na dokumento,” she said.

“Bakit naman gagamitin itong diversionary tactic kung kaya naman pong sagutin ng Malacañang na ang ipinapalabas at ipinapakalat na police report ay peke,” she added.