Palace opposes Harry Roque's call for People Power

A government official in the Philippines has criticized former spokesperson Harry Roque for calling for a People Power movement. This call came after the International Criminal Court (ICC) took custody of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Press Officer Claire Castro spoke at a briefing on Tuesday. She questioned the purpose of Roque's proposed gathering, asking, "For what?" Castro suggested that Roque and his supporters could discuss their views online instead. She emphasized that if they wanted peace, they shouldn't demand the resignation of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. Roque made his call during a Facebook Live event. Castro stated that the Marcos administration is not worried about potential protests in support of Duterte. The Philippine National Police is prepared for any demonstrations that may occur. Additionally, Vice President Sara Duterte has raised concerns about Marcos's leadership, especially as calls for his resignation grow louder among Duterte supporters. These supporters protested in The Hague, chanting for Marcos to step down. In response, Vice President Duterte distanced herself from those calls. Former President Duterte is facing charges at the ICC related to his drug war, which reportedly led to thousands of deaths from 2016 to 2019. Official data claims around 6,000 fatalities, but human rights groups suggest the number could be as high as 30,000.