Senator Imee Marcos revealed that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was displeased with her decision to push through with a Senate hearing regarding the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) warrant of arrest against former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Despite the possible political consequences, Marcos proceeded with the investigation, arguing that the Philippines is not obligated to recognize the ICC’s warrant since the country withdrew from the international tribunal in 2019. She also claimed that Duterte’s constitutional rights had been violated and that any legal proceedings against him should be handled by the Philippine justice system rather than an international body.
In addition, Marcos addressed developments within the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas (Alliance for a New Philippines). She revealed that the coalition, which initially endorsed a full slate of candidates for the upcoming elections, has now trimmed its lineup to 11. In response, she decided to withdraw from the campaign to avoid causing further political friction, emphasizing that it was her voluntary decision and not due to external pressure.
Her statements highlight the ongoing political tensions within the Marcos administration and its allies, particularly concerning the ICC’s involvement in Philippine affairs and the shifting political strategies ahead of the elections.
