The Senate report may still be included in the defense of former President Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro stated that it would be better to focus on the real defense against the allegations.

This was the response of Malacañang regarding the plan expressed by former President Duterte’s camp to use the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations’ report as evidence in the case filed against him at the ICC.

Castro said that instead of blaming the current administration, it would be more appropriate for Duterte’s camp to focus on the statements made by the former president regarding extrajudicial killings (EJK) under the drug war campaign.

According to her, the case was filed back in 2017, even before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assumed office, which is why, according to Castro, it is not the current administration’s fault.

It is known that the committee report confirmed that the plan to arrest Duterte was part of a “whole-of-government approach” aimed at removing his family from politics.

However, Castro strongly emphasized that it would be better for Duterte’s camp to focus their efforts on addressing the allegations and the former president’s own statements regarding the killings linked to the war on drugs.