MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will not monitor the International Criminal Court (ICC) confirmation of charges hearing against former president Rodrigo Duterte, set to start on February 23, stressing that his focus remains on national issues.

“Hindi po kailangang mag-monitor ng Pangulo (There is no need for the President to monitor it),” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press briefing Friday.

“Ang sabi nga natin, ang mino-monitor po ng Pangulo ay iyong interes po ng ating bansa (As we’ve said, what the President monitors are the interests of our country),” she added.

Castro noted that while the President will not actively follow the proceedings, he will be kept informed of developments.

“Hindi po imo-monitor, pero siyempre kailangan pong maging update ang Pangulo sa lahat ng nangyayari, dahil mga kapwa Filipino natin ang nasasangkot dito (He will not monitor it, but of course the President needs to be updated on what is happening, because fellow Filipinos are involved),” she said.

She emphasized that any outcome from the hearing is personal to former President Duterte, noting that the case involves fellow Filipinos.

The confirmation of charges hearing before ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the former president’s anti-drug campaign. Duterte, who was arrested in March 2025, has indicated he would waive his right to attend the hearing personally, though the prosecution has opposed this and requested his presence.

Castro also dismissed claims by Duterte’s camp that the former president was “kidnapped” when transferred to The Hague.

“Tayo nga po ay lubhang nagtataka dahil patuloy nila itong ginagawang naratiba at ang purpose lamang nito ay sirain at ibagsak ang imahe ng ating Pangulo (We are puzzled why they continue to push this narrative, and its only purpose is to destroy and bring down the image of the President),” she said.

Citing Duterte’s own statements before his arrest, Castro said the former president was willing to be taken into custody if the ICC warrant was issued.

“So, papaano nilang masasabing may kidnapping kung mismo ang dating Pangulong Duterte ay handang magpaaresto kapag ang warrant of arrest ng ICC ay nandiyan na? (So how can they claim there was kidnapping when former president Duterte himself was willing to be arrested once the ICC warrant was there?),” she said.

The Palace reiterated that the government acted in accordance with the law and in coordination with international authorities during Duterte’s transfer to The Hague.