MANILA, March 15 -- Justice is "starting to roll down" after the International Criminal Court (ICC) held its "fair" pre-trial on former president Rodrigo R. Duterte's drug war case, Malacanang said on Saturday.

"This is what we call fair trial," Palace Press Officer and Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a statement when asked about the ICC's pre-trial for Duterte's alleged commission of crimes against humanity over his brutal war on illegal drugs.

"Witnessing the first appearance attended by FP (former president) Duterte before the ICC, everybody could see how justice starts to roll down," she added.

Duterte was allowed to make his first appearance before the ICC via a video link on Friday night (M...