Duterte's judicial skepticism contradicts anti-ICC position, lawmaker argues

MANILA — Manila Representative Joel Chua highlighted an apparent contradiction in Vice President Sara Duterte's stance on judicial proceedings during a Wednesday press briefing, noting that her expressed distrust of the Philippine judiciary conflicts with her earlier position on the fate of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Chua pointed out that the Vice President has previously argued that the former President should be tried in Philippine courts rather than before the International Criminal Court, which has been investigating allegations of extrajudicial killings during his administration's war on drugs.

However, Chua contended that Duterte's recent public statements questioning the reliability and trustworthiness of the domestic judiciary weaken that argument. If the Vice President lacks confidence in the Philippine court system, the lawmaker suggested, it becomes difficult to justify why domestic trials would be a preferable alternative to international proceedings.

The remarks come amid ongoing tensions over the ICC's investigation into alleged human rights violations in the Philippines, an issue that has remained contentious within the government and among officials linked to the previous administration.