Photo credit: Inday Sara Duterte

Vice President Sara Duterte warned that new testimonies from former security personnel of Zaldy Co add significant weight to long-standing concerns about alleged operations of the International Criminal Court inside the Philippines.

Duterte expressed admiration for the former security aides, noting that their willingness to speak up reflects an unusual level of courage, especially given the possible risks to their lives. She said their accounts align with information she has been aware of for some time regarding supposed coordination between certain Philippine officials and ICC investigators.

According to Duterte, she previously sought formal clarification from the President to have the administration’s position placed on record. She said the reply she received made it clear that the government rejects any form of cooperation with the ICC, viewing its actions as a direct intrusion into the country’s sovereignty.

She also emphasized that these testimonies reinforce the warnings she earlier raised with former president Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, including incidents connected to the alleged kidnapping involving her father. Duterte added that such information cannot simply be dismissed or minimized.

She stressed that the issue is not a matter of politics or personal conflict. Instead, she framed it as a fundamental question of national sovereignty and the extent to which foreign institutions can interfere in the country’s internal affairs.

Duterte warned that weakening the principle of sovereignty does not only affect individual leaders or families but impacts the nation’s dignity and the public’s trust in institutions meant to safeguard them. She ended her message with a note of gratitude.

As of this report, neither the administration nor Co’s office has issued a detailed public response to the testimonies raised by his former security personnel.