Manila, Feb. 20 -- There is no need for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to monitor the International Criminal Court's (ICC) pretrial hearing on the crimes against humanity case against former president Rodrigo Duterte in connection with his deadly drug war, Malacanang said Friday.

"Hindi po kailangang mag-monitor ng Pangulo. Ang sabi nga natin, ang minomonitor po ng Pangulo ay 'yung interes po ng ating bansa (There is no need for the President to monitor. As we said, what the President monitors is the interest of our country)," Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing.

She stressed that whatever happens to ICC's confirmation hearing next week, it would be "personal" to Duterte.

Castro, nevertheless, said Marcos wil...