MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has withdrawn from participating in the consolidated habeas corpus petitions filed by the Duterte family, distancing itself from the legal battle over the former president’s potential arrest.
In a Manifestation and Motion filed on Monday, March 18, the OSG stated that it would not take part in the proceedings, citing its long-held position that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has no jurisdiction over the Philippines. The agency pointed to the country’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2019 as the basis for its stance.
“The Philippines is no longer a state party to the ICC, and as such, the Court has no authority over any Filipino citizen,” the OSG argued. This position aligns with the Marcos administration’s previous assertions that it would not cooperate with the ICC’s probe into Duterte’s bloody drug war.
The OSG’s withdrawal raises questions about how the Duterte family’s legal defense will proceed. The former president and his allies have repeatedly dismissed the ICC’s investigation, calling it politically motivated. However, legal experts say the ICC can still assert jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed before the Philippines’ withdrawal took effect.
With the OSG stepping back, the Duterte camp faces a tougher battle ahead. Whether the courts will weigh in favor of the former president remains to be seen, but the legal and political stakes continue to rise.