Mr Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s preliminary look occurred on Friday, 14 March 2025, at 14:00 hours (The Hague native time), earlier than Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “Court”). ©ICC-CPI
MANILA, Philippines — The Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC), a supporter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, on Friday mentioned the native justice system was working and that he ought to be tried within the nation to uphold Philippine sovereignty.
“We’re not saying the former president should not be tried for the accusations against him,” INC spokesperson Edwin Zabala mentioned in an interview on the sect’s tv station Net 25. “Our stand is that the INC believes in the integrity and capability of our judiciary to decide these matters.”
READ: Points of competition: Int’l regulation specialists’ views on Duterte ICC case
No give up
Duterte was flown to The Hague and surrendered by Philippine authorities to the International Criminal Court (ICC) final week to face trial for crimes in opposition to humanity for the hundreds of alleged victims of extrajudicial killings in his drug battle.
Malacañang mentioned the transfer to deliver him to The Hague was legitimate and authorized, citing the nation’s personal regulation penalizing crimes in opposition to humanity and the Rome Statute which created the ICC which we had been a member of earlier than Duterte ordered the nation’s withdrawal that grew to become efficient in March 2019. (See associated story on this web page)
“Whatever is right and whatever is in our laws, that should prevail. This should not be twisted to suit the desire of anyone,” Zabala mentioned, with out figuring out the particular person of group he was referring to.
“The law is the foundation that keeps order in our country. If the law is ignored it leads to disorder, feuds and injustice,” he added. “That’s why we should not surrender our country’s sovereignty to others.”
The INC held massive rallies calling for “unity” across the nation in January because it opposed plans to question Vice President Sara Duterte, following her bitter breakup with President Marcos and the collapse of their vaunted “Uniteam” that swept the polls in 2022.
The rallies, nevertheless, didn’t cease an awesome majority of the House of Representatives to proceed together with her impeachment the following month. She will probably be tried by the Senate in July, in accordance with Senate President Francis Escudero.
READ: ICC EXPLAINER: Fine factors within the arrest of Rodrigo Duterte
Catholic name to prayer
At the Archdiocese of Manila, Archbishop Jose Advincula known as on Catholics to wish an “oratio imperata for the nation” in all Masses beginning subsequent week, saying the nation was in “a time of crisis, conflict and confusion” and on the “turning point of history.”
He made the decision in a one-page round on Friday addressed to the clergy and neighborhood of consecrated individuals within the archdiocese, which additionally covers Mandaluyong City, San Juan City, most of Pasay City, and components of Taguig City and Quezon City.
The oratio imperata will probably be prayed every day after the postcommunion prayer in all Masses beginning the Third Sunday of Lent on March 23, together with the anticipated Mass on March 22.
Your subscription couldn’t be saved. Please strive once more.
Your subscription has been profitable.
“We have witnessed emotionally intense events and discourses in the nation’s political spectrum. We have heard different opinions and viewpoints on various platforms. Our country is in a time of crisis, conflict and confusion,” he mentioned.