By Genalyn Kabiling President Rodrigo Duterte is not keen on filing charges against people vilifying his administration even though he has such legal option, a Palace official said Thursday. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the President does not mind his detractors and recognizes that such discourse is part of the country's vibrant democracy. President Rodrigo Duterte chats with Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo (KING RODRIGUEZ/PPD / MANILA BULLETIN) Panelo made the comment after lawyer Jude Sabio withdrew a complaint against Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC). Sabio sought the junking of his communication which he claimed has been used by the opposition for political propaganda. "It can if it wants to, I mean, the complainant," Panelo said in a Palace press briefing when asked if the government will pursue charges against Sabio. "If you noticed, the President doesn’t mind all of this. Pinapabayaan niya lang iyong naninira sa kanya, ‘di ba. Wala naman siyang dinidemanda (He just lets his detractors be. He does not pursue cases against them)." With the pullout of Sabio from the ICC process, Panelo said the President's detractors are now being unmasked."Lies can be sustained only for some time. Once it haunts the peddler, then those lies melt in the heat of truth." "Kahit anumang—iyon naman ang ano ni Presidente eh, lahat ng mga kasinungalingan ninyo, lumalabas eventually hindi totoo (Regardless of the lies about the President, eventually the truth comes out) It only shows that this is a robust democracy in place." On reports the ICC inquiry will continue despite Sabio's withdrawal, Panelo insisted that Duterte cannot stand trial before the ICC because the tribunal has no jurisdiction over him. The Philippines is also not under the jurisdiction of ICC since the Rome Statute that created the tribunal was never enforced in the country. "Hindi mo naman mapigilan sila (you cannot stop them) but the fact remains is that it has no jurisdiction whatsoever over the President and for that matter this country," he said. "We have repeatedly said that the very source of its authority never gave birth. Why?  Because we have to follow certain processes in giving teeth or enforceability to the particular law, it has to be published in a newspaper in general circulation or on the Official Gazette. And the Rome Statute was never published in either of the two mentioned processes." Panelo also said ICC must realize it has received the communication from a "polluted source," as shown by Sabio's withdrawal. The complaint against Duterte was part of the vilification campaign pursued by the detractors as well as the political opposition, he added.