Former President Rodrigo Duterte should be held accountable in Philippine courts instead of foreign countries, Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) said on Friday.

In a television interview, INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala stated that they trust the integrity and competence of the country's justice system to decide on Duterte's case.

"Any Filipino or citizen of the country who violated our laws should be tried in our country", Zabala said.

"We are not saying that the (former) President should not be tried for the charges against him. For our part, the Iglesia ni Cristo trusts in the integrity and competence of the country's own justice system", Zabala added.

The Iglesia ni Cristo, an influential religious group whose support is always sought during elections, did not say that the former President should be brought to the Philippines from the Netherlands.

He was arrested on March 11 on the strength of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court and brought to the Netherlands where he is detained.

Vice President Sara Duterte said the former President cannot be returned to the country.

"The (former) President cannot be returned to the Philippines. What we should do as a country is move on from what happened", she said. Marie Manalili/DMS