The Department of Justice's (DOJ) move to prepare a legal brief for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was just "standard procedure" to lay out his options over arrest warrants of the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Filipino nationals.
Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said this in a statement on Thursday even as she added that the President’s stance on the ICC issue “remains clear and consistent.”
However, Garafil noted that it is the duty of the DOJ, as the government’s principal law agency, “to explore all legal avenues and ensure that the President is fully informed of his options.”
“This is standard procedure, not a change in position, ensuring that our administration remains prepared for any scenario,” Garafil said.
On Wednesday, the DOJ announced that it is preparing a legal brief to help Marcos weigh in on several others.
"The Department is now preparing a legal briefer for the President, which will describe to him yung mga options na available sa kanya (the options available to him) in relation to any arrest warrants by the ICC. So, the briefer would be an objective statement or an analysis of the pros and cons of each option,” DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said in a press briefing.
“Once the ICC warrants of arrest, if ever, are issued, then he will know kung ano yung mga legalities, yung mga options niya, and yung mga remedies din ni president (what are the legalities, options, and remedies available to the president).”
Clavano said among the matters that will be forwarded to Marcos are the possible pros and cons of rejoining the Rome Statute.
He pointed out that the discussions and legal analysis are only “for the eyes of the President” until he chooses a direction or decision on the matter.
Clavano added that the government is yet to receive a formal communication, much less a warrant, from the ICC for the arrest of persons in the country.
This follows the claim of former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV that the ICC may issue an arrest warrant against Duterte by June.
The Marcos administration has repeatedly said that it would not recognize the ICC as the country is no longer a member and is more than willing and capable of prosecuting erring individuals.
Duterte is facing an ICC investigation for alleged crimes against humanity over his controversial war on drugs. PNA
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