MANILA — Malacañang rejected claims by former President Rodrigo Duterte’s legal team that the current administration had “betrayed” him, saying it is the alleged perpetrators and accomplices of crimes against humanity tied to the anti-drug campaign who have betrayed Filipinos.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro made the remarks in Mandaue City, Cebu, responding to statements by Duterte’s lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman.

“It has been one year since the victims of EJK have seen the ray of justice. The justice that they deserve,” Castro said.

“It is not the President who betrayed the Filipinos but the perpetrators and co-perpetrators in the commission of the crimes against humanity who betrayed and continuously betray the Filipino people,” she added.

Castro also accused Duterte’s camp of politicizing the issue to gain sympathy by repeatedly questioning the Marcos administration’s previous decision to facilitate Duterte’s arrest.

Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, launched in 2016, has faced criticism from local and international human rights groups over thousands of deaths linked to police operations and vigilante-style killings.

The campaign remains under scrutiny by the International Criminal Court, which has been investigating alleged crimes against humanity. The Marcos administration has stated it does not plan to rejoin the ICC, following Duterte’s 2019 withdrawal from the tribunal.

Families of extrajudicial killing victims and human rights advocates continue to seek accountability and justice.