MANILA — United States President Donald Trump’s call for countries to abandon the International Criminal Court (ICC) will neither change the Philippines’ decision to stay outside the tribunal nor affect the ongoing proceedings against former President Rodrigo Duterte, Malacañang said.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remains firm that the Philippines is not ready to rejoin the ICC, even as Trump urged member states to withdraw from the international tribunal.
“Hindi pa po napapanahon ang pag-rejoin sa ICC sa ngayon,” Castro told reporters.
Trump, during his address to the United Nations General Assembly, strongly criticized the ICC and called on its member states to leave the tribunal.
He described the ICC as a “rogue institution” run by an “evil group of people.”
Despite Trump’s remarks, Castro said Marcos’ position on the Philippines’ possible return to the ICC remains unchanged.
“Kung ano po iyong kanyang nasabi before, patungkol sa pagre-rejoin sa ICC, hanggang sa ngayon ay ‘yun pa rin po ang stance ng ating Pangulo,” she said.
Castro said Washington had also been informed of the Philippines’ position regarding the ICC, including the ongoing proceedings involving Duterte.
Duterte is facing crimes against humanity charges before the tribunal over alleged killings connected to his administration’s campaign against illegal drugs.
Malacañang said it does not expect Trump’s latest attack on the ICC to interfere with or derail the proceedings against the former Philippine president.
“Sa atin po, nakikita sa ngayon, pangkalahatan naman, ay nakikita natin ‘yung umuusad ang hearing sa nasabing kaso ni dating Pangulong Duterte,” Castro said.
She noted that the parties involved in the proceedings — including complainants, lawyers, prosecutors and Duterte’s defense team — continue to participate in the judicial process.
“So, ang mga complainants, ang mga abogado, ang mga prosecutors, kahit naman po ang depensa, ay nakikita po natin na iginagalang nila ang umaandar na paghi-hearing, paglilitis sa nasabing kaso na kinakaharap ni dating Pangulong Duterte,” Castro added.
The Philippines formally withdrew from the ICC on March 17, 2019, one year after the Duterte administration notified the United Nations of its decision to withdraw from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the court.
The withdrawal took place after the ICC prosecutor opened a preliminary examination into alleged crimes committed in connection with Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.
Despite the withdrawal, the ICC maintains that it retains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the Philippines was a state party to the Rome Statute — from November 1, 2011 to March 16, 2019.
Duterte remains in ICC custody in The Hague, Netherlands, over alleged crimes against humanity committed during that period./PN
