Investor confidence in the Philippines will stay largely unaffected by the recent arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte for charges of crimes against humanity filed before the International Criminal Court (ICC), the presidential palace said on Monday.
Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro told reporters in a briefing in Malacañang investors prefer leaders and countries that abide by the rule of law.
The Marcos administration is not concerned that recent events might drive away foreign investors from the Philippines, she said.
“Hindi po nagkakanlong ng mga tao na involved po, lalong-lalo na sa crime against humanity, specifically murder — hindi po inaayunan talaga iyan ng mga foreign investors
na magkanlong ka ng mga taong involved sa mga krimen (Foreign investors do not favor those that coddle people who are involved in crimes, especially those involved in crimes against humanity, specifically murder),” she said.
Duterte was arrested on March 11 upon his arrival in Manila from Hong Kong, after
the ICC issued an arrest warrant against him for alleged crimes against humanity between November 1, 2011 and March 16, 2019 in connection with his administration’s war on drugs.
The former president was sent on a flight to The Hague the same night he was arrested. He arrived in Rotterdam and entered the Hague Penitentiary Institution or the Scheveningen Prison the following night (March 13 PH time).
During a video conference call, Duterte appeared before the ICC on March 14 (March 15 PH time), while his counsel, former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea, was present in the court.
The next hearing on the confirmation of the charges has been set for September 23.
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In the same briefing, Castro said the administration is even committed to uplift the lives of Filipinos through programs and projects, including more than 70 job fairs nationwide.
She said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is the lead agency in hosting the job fairs. Ten job fairs will be held in Metro Manila alone in the coming days, according to Castro.
The Marcos administration is also positive that the country will keep its national debt within target this year, she said.
The Philippines’ foreign debt grew 9.75 percent to $137.63 billion in 2024 from $125.39 billion in 2023.
“Hindi po kasi dapat nating isipin iyong negatibo, eh, dapat lagi tayong mag-move forward para sa positive na mangyayari sa Pilipinas (We should never think negatively in order to move forward and for positive things to happen in the Philippines),” Castro said.
